A Critical Introduction to the New Testament (Expanded Edition)

This book introduces the New Testament in two senses: it not only provides basic literary and historical information on each of the twenty-seven writings but also orients readers to the religious, theological, and ethical issues related to the message and meaning of Jesus Christ. The overall goal is to help interested readers of the New Testament become informed, responsible interpreters of these writings and thereby enrich their personal faith and understanding. By giving special emphasis to how the New Testament has helped shape the church’s identity and theological outlook throughout the centuries, as well as the role it has played within the broader cultures of both East and West, this introduction also seeks to assist readers in exercising creative, informed leadership within their own communities of faith and in bringing a deeper understanding of early Christianity to their conversations with the wider public. Along with separate chapters devoted to each New Testament writing, there are chapters explaining how this collection of texts emerged as uniquely authoritative witnesses to the church’s faith; why they were recognized as canonical whereas other early Christian writings were not; how the four canonical Gospels are related to one another, including a discussion of the Synoptic Problem; how the Jesus tradition––his teachings, stories from his ministry, and the accounts of his suffering, death and resurrection––originated and developed into Gospels written in narrative form; and how the Gospels relate to Jesus Christ as he was and is. Also included is a chapter on the writings of Paul and how they emerged as a collection of authoritative texts for the church. This chapter includes a discussion of ancient letter-writing, special considerations for interpreting the Pauline writings, and Paul’s decisive influence within the history of the church and western culture. A distinctive feature of this introduction is its simultaneous publication in two versions. There is a standard, printed version with comprehensive yet detailed coverage of each writing and supplementary chapters on related introductory questions. There is also an expanded CD-ROM version, which gives fuller treatment (and supporting endnotes) to numerous issues introduced in the printed version; provides extensive, annotated bibliographies on each chapter; and includes additional maps, diagrams, charts, and other resources for classroom use and personal study. Title Page ......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Maps, Diagrams & Images ......Page 22 Preface ......Page 24 Abbreviations ......Page 28 Introduction ......Page 38 Part 1: THEOLOGY AND SCRIPTURE ......Page 42 1 The New Testament as Theological Writings ......Page 44 2 The Shape of the Canon ......Page 63 Part 2: THE GOSPELS: NARRATIVE TRADITIONS ABOUT JESUS ......Page 76 3 Relating the Gospels to Each Other ......Page 78 4 From Jesus to the Gospels ......Page 119 5 From the Gospels to Jesus ......Page 140 6 The Gospel of Mark ......Page 183 7 The Gospel of Matthew ......Page 218 8 The Gospel of Luke ......Page 257 9 The Gospel of John ......Page 306 Part 3: THE STORY OF JESUS CONTINUED: THE CHURCH'S ORIGIN AND EXPANSION ......Page 352 10 The Acts of the Apostles ......Page 354 Part 4: THE PAULINE LETTERS AND HEBREWS......Page 400 11 Reading the Pauline Letters ......Page 402 12 The Thessalonian Letters ......Page 436 13 The Corinthian Letters ......Page 455 14 Galatians ......Page 499 15 Romans ......Page 520 16 Philippians ......Page 557 17 Philemon ......Page 576 18 Colossians ......Page 588 19 Ephesians ......Page 612 20 The Pastoral Letters ......Page 630 21 Hebrews ......Page 671 Part 5: THE CATHOLIC LETTERS ......Page 710 Introduction to the Cathoic Letters ......Page 712 22 James ......Page 714 23 First Peter ......Page 732 Introduction to Jude and Second Peter ......Page 760 24 Jude ......Page 762 25 Second Peter ......Page 772 26 The Letters of John ......Page 788 Part 6: JESUS IN THE APOCALYPTIC IMAGINATION ......Page 810 27 Revelation ......Page 812 Part 7: THE FORMATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON ......Page 864 28 The Christian Scriptures: Witnesses to Christ and the Church's Faith ......Page 866 Appendix 1: Canonical Lists ......Page 908 Appendix 2: Patristic Comments on the Gospels ......Page 920 Index ......Page 928 Theology And Scripture -- The Gospels : Narrative Traditions About Jesus -- The Story Of Jesus Continued : The Church's Origin And Expansion -- The Pauline Letters And Hebrews -- The Catholic Letters -- Jesus In The Apocalyptic Imagination -- The Formation Of The New Testament Canon. Carl R. Holladay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Accompanying CD-ROM contains an expanded edition of the text and ... "supporting endnotes, extensive annotated bibliographies on each New Testament book, additional maps, diagrams, and charts, and other resources for classroom use and personal study."--Page 4 of cover