I am a now-retired pastor with an academic background who teaches in a lay-training program for our Lutheran synod. I ordered this as a possible text to use for a New Testament class. It took only a short time to decide that I needed to look no farther: this is the text I will use. Among its features:
-- A reasonable price for a quality hardback, especially in comparison to other NT Intros (a significant matter with lay volunteer students)
-- Many maps and pictures--always a plus in my mind
-- Especially laudable is access that is given to a website with a plethora of materials from background information to time-lines to lists and explanations of names (or terms or coins) to descriptions of topics (e.g., Jewish religious 'parties' or popular Greco-Roman philosophical 'schools') to extensive and wide-ranging bibliographies for each chapter, any or all of which the user can download for his/her notebook for personal use, or print for a Sunday-School or adult class he or she may be teaching in his/her own congregation.
-- As the author points out, the chapters of the book can be used in the order they come, or they can be shuffled around to use in a different order (as I intend to do). Each chapter can stand on its own, and does not assume that the reader has already dealt with the previous chapter(s). This means, of course, that there is some repetition here and there, but it's not burdensome, and sometimes repetition brings a topic back to mind.
-- The author states in his introduction that there is often a wide variety of views on just about any New Testament topic (take authorship of virtually any book, for example); he says he intends to offer the arguments of the major 'sides,' but unlike what other NT Intros often do, he does not then push his own opinion on the reader, but may note where the majority seems to stand and let the teacher and/or student make their own decisions. He is very even-handed on these topics.
-- The author writes in a relaxed, conversational style; reading is not a matter of plowing through a lot of dense text.
-- For each NT book the author offers an introduction, a kind of precis for the book, then a discussion of major topics or concerns in the book, followed by a conclusion.
-- The author reflects general 'mainstream' scholarship regarding the New Testament, and does not try to beat his own idiosyncratic drum, so this text can be used across a spectrum of denominations with adults of various ages, and probably even with (serious) senior-high students.
....... All in all, an excellent resource and highly recommended.
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Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey
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This is an absolutely incredible book. I recieved it in the mail today and have read 300 pages and my eyes are still glued to the book. This book will make a great reference and learning tool for all Christian's. So happy I bought this!
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 16, 2016
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2017
... entire book of Introducing The New Testament was a fantastic read. I learned so much about the disciples ...
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Top reviews from other countries
BaggieJim
A hugely entertaining introduction to the New Testament
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 1, 2015A. J. S. White
Excellent introduction to the New Testament
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 29, 2015Ashley
A Beautiful and informative book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 31, 2016
