New Testament History [Paperback]

F. F. Bruce (Author), F.F. Bruce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1983

This book recounts the Roman and Jewish context of New Testament times...the lives of John and Jesus, and the history of the first two generations of the Church.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best available treatment by an evangelical Christian. "--Christianity Today

From the Publisher

"The best available treatment by an evangelical Christian. "--Christianity Today

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Product Details

• Paperback: 462 pages
• Publisher: Galilee / Doubleday (March 15, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385025335
• ISBN-13: 978-0385025331
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.3 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful believer's history from (around) 200 BC to 100 AD, September 21, 2004

By 

torowan (Tangará da Serra (MT) Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Testament History (Paperback)

In this book Dr. Bruce explores Jewish and Christian history leading up to and including the time of the early Christian church, focussing mainly on the centuries immediately surrounding Jesus' life.

Bruce looks at both Biblical and external sources to tell of the major political, sociological and religious themes of the period from an historical perspective. He provides a running assessment of the degree reliability of each along with the content they provide. Bruce strikes an honourable balance: not "critically" dismissing Biblical evidence as unreliable, not picking out of it the elements that happen to agree with his preconceptions as the only reliable bits, but also not accepting the New Testament record without even considering any other sources to understand its contextual meaning. He rather builds the history of the current events to give context to the different views expressed in each source as they were being written. Generally, Bruce finds the Biblical documents as trust-worthy, while for example dividing Josephus' writings into the bits that are more accurate and those which were likely "spun" to gain the favour of his audience.

This book is structured largely chronologically.

In the period from the Hasmoneans through the time of Jesus, Bruce looks at the various competing schools of thought within Judaism, and provides insight into how they tie together. The intrigue by which the Herod who kills the infants of Bethlehem kills his own children, the politics around which the various governing parties who periodically appoint and fire high priests, the influence between Jewish and Roman rulers, the structure of the TNK Old Testament which explains Jesus' own quotes, all add depth to what I have long been familiar with from the Bible itself.

In the era immediately following Jesus, Bruce casts light on the differences between the Jewish and Gentile churches, and provides context around much of Paul's and Luke's writings in this light. Most of the discussion on this period within the church is limited to the New Testament documents, though the fewer details available from external sources are also listed. Finally, Bruce describes how after Titus' destruction of the Temple, the various schools within Judaism were reduced to one "accepted" thread which no longer included Christianity.

Bruce introduces us to variants in the historical record - including such factors as people not well familiar with Christianity referring the Jesus not as Christos, but rather Chrestos - a common slave name - or how the (Christian) "Nazarenes" were confused with another sect, the "Nazaraeans". There are several such changes in expression -- very similar in the language of the day, but totally lost on those of us who speak languages to the west of Greek -- that are interesting and provide some insight into how non-Christians then and now today see Christianity.

I am saddened first to read Dr. Bruce's work only now, 14 years after his "glorification" (to use an example of the New Testament language he interprets for us). Equally, though, we are fortunate to still benefit from his knowledge and wisdom now. I heartily commend this book to everyone who values the New Testament, to better understand the backdrop of the world in which its authors lived and wrote.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An academic work, but worth it., March 12, 2006

By 

Adam Goldman "Adam Goldman" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Testament History (Paperback)

I read this work because it was reccomended through Ligonier Ministries, which was founded by the venerable Dr. RC Sproul (who I've met several times and yes, he is that smart).

There's a lot for everybody in this one: archaeology, theology, history (back to classical antiquity), you name it. This book is for the higher critic/revisionist who gleefully promote new works everyday finding alleged contradictions and other fallacies within the NT. F.F. Bruce raises problematic areas for consideration, but tries to resolve them where he can. Where he cannot, he simply states so. I can't think of a more honest and serious book of its kind, which is why this one has stood the test of time. The higher-critic crowd is always foisting their speculation-based conclusions on us in their books. But F.F. Bruce refreshingly uses his expert command of Greek and Hebrew and applies these scriptures to the historical context in which it was written.

Forget the lazy, fluff-stuff at your local Christian bookstore and pick this one up.

A. Goldman
Tallahassee, FL

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Testament History, March 15, 2006

By 

Joanne M. Miegel "divintiy student" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Testament History (Paperback)

I found this book very helpful in my study of the New Testament. The background information is great. The book is very readable. In college I was a history major, I wish we had had more of this kind of book. Dr Bruce brings things alive. He uses his resources well and paints a complete picture of the period. I am so glad this book was required for my New Testament Survey class at seminary.