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Cover

A Brief Introduction to the New Testament

Fifth Edition

Professor Bart D. Ehrman

Publication Date - 01 October 2020

ISBN: 9780190089528

432 pages
Paperback
7 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches

Affordable, accessible, and engaging: the concise version of the best-selling text in the field

Description

Featuring vibrant full color throughout, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament, Fifth Edition, is a concise version of Bart D. Ehrman's best-selling The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Seventh Edition. Retaining the approach of the longer textbook while condensing and simplifying much of its material, this volume looks at the New Testament from a consistently historical and comparative perspective and emphasizes the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Distinctive to this study is its emphasis on the historical, literary, and religious milieux of the Greco-Roman world, including early Judaism.

The text incorporates a wealth of pedagogical resources including an extensive text box program, study questions, maps, timelines, and more than eighty photos (including three photo essays). A comprehensive glossary contains more than 200 key terms; these terms appear in boldface type the first time they are used in each chapter and are also listed at the end of each chapter in which they appear.

Ideal for undergraduate and seminary classes in the New Testament, Biblical Studies, and Christian Origins, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament, Fifth Edition, is an engaging and accessible introduction that encourages students to consider the historical issues surrounding these writings.

New to this Edition

  • More focused and integrated discussions of women throughout, showing the significance of women in the ministry of Jesus and the churches of Paul and explaining the progressive marginalization and suppression of women in later Christian times
  • A streamlined structure that reduces the number of chapters and consolidates important material
  • Several new boxes covering compelling topics like the historical Jesus' view of himself and the Lake of Fire in the book of Revelation
  • Updated suggestions for further reading and reworked study questions

Features

  • A streamlined narrative explores the New Testament from a historical and comparative perspective while also examining both literary and material aspects of early Christian writing
  • Ehrman's exceptionally accessible and engaging writing syle brings the story of the New Testament to life for students
  • A wealth of pedagogical tools enrich the narrative, aid in student understanding, and promote critical thinking and classroom discussion: "What to Expect" and "At a Glance" boxes offer chapter previews and summaries of key content; "What Do You Think?" boxes present puzzling or controversial issues; "Questions to Ponder and Debate" at the end of each chapter ask students to reflect deeply and broadly on what they have learned in each chapter; "Another Glimpse into the Past" boxes present intriguing and relevant side-issues in more depth; Extensive glossary of key terms

About the Author(s)

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has written or edited more than thirty books, including six New York Times best sellers. His publications include The New Testament, Seventh Edition (2019), The Bible, Second Edition (2017), and After the New Testament, Second Edition (2014), all published by Oxford University Press.

Reviews

"This is the best available textbook on the market for an introductory course. Ehrman's writing style is clear, flowing, and interesting. Throughout the book, it is quite evident that he is sensitive to the variety of opinions regarding the New Testament that today's students bring into the classroom."--Kathy Dawson, East Carolina University

"The central strengths of this text are Ehrman's superb scholarship mixed with his clear writing style. Ehrman's writing style--combined with the barrage of break-out content (boxes, charts, etc.) on almost every page--helps grab and keep students' attention and interest."--Kevin Vaccarella, John Tyler Community College

Table of Contents

    Each chaper ends with Questions to Ponder and Debate, Suggestions for Further Reading, and Key Terms.

    Maps, Time Lines, and Diagrams
    Boxes
    Preface for Instructors
    Acknowledgments
    Notes on Suggestions for Further Reading
    Credits
    Master Time Line

    Introduction

    1. What is the New Testament and Why Should We Care?
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Why Study the New Testament?
    Other Early Christian Writings
    The Development of the Christian Canon
    Implications for Our Study
    Do We Actually Have the Original New Testament
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Intriguing Diversity of the New Testament
    EXCURSUS 1: The Historian and the Believer
    PHOTO ESSAY 1: Ancient Manuscripts of the New Testament

    2. The Greco-Roman World of Early Christianity
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Problem of Beginnings
    One Remarkable Life
    The Environment of the New Testament: Religions in the Greco-Roman World
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The World of Early Christianity

    3. The Jewish World of Early Christianity
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Monotheism: The Belief in the One True God
    The Covenant: Israel's Pact with Its God
    The Law: Israel's Covenantal Obligations
    Temple and Synagogue: Israel's Places of Worship
    Forms of Early Judaism
    Political Crises in the Jewish Homeland and Their Ramifications
    The Formation of Jewish Groups
    The Jewish Context for the Traditions About Jesus
    Jewish Apocalypticism
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The World of Early Judaism

    4. The Traditions of Jesus in Their Greco-Roman Context
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Oral Traditions Behind the Gospels
    The Gospels as Biographies of Jesus
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Traditions of Jesus
    Some Additional Reflections: The Authors of the Gospels

    5. Jesus, the Suffering Son of God: The Gospel According to Mark
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Synoptic Problem
    Mark, Our Earliest Gospel
    The Beginning of the Gospel: Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God Who Fulfills Scripture
    Jesus, the Authoritative Son of God
    Jesus, the Opposed Son of God
    Jesus, the Misunderstood Son of God
    Jesus, the Acknowledged Son of God
    Jesus, the Suffering Son of God
    Jesus, the Crucified Son of God
    Jesus, the Vindicated Son of God
    Conclusion: Mark and his Readers
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Gospel of Mark

    6. Jesus, the Jewish Messiah: The Gospel According to Matthew
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    A Redactional Approach to Matthew
    The Importance of Beginnings: Jesus, the Jewish Messiah in Fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures
    The Portrayal of Jesus in Matthew: The Sermon on the Mount as a Springboard
    Jesus Rejected by the Jewish Leaders
    Matthew and His Readers
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Gospel of Matthew

    7. Jesus, the Rejected Prophet: The Gospel According to Luke
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    A Comparative Overview of the Gospel
    The Preface to Luke's Gospel
    Luke's Birth Narrative in Comparative Perspective
    From Jew to Gentile: Luke's Portrayal of Jesus, the Rejected Prophet
    Luke's Distinctive Emphases throughout His Gospel
    Conclusion: Luke in Comparative Perspective
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Gospel of Luke

    8. Jesus, the Man Sent from Heaven: The Gospel According to John
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Gospel of John from the Perspective of Genre Criticism
    The Gospel of John from a Comparative Perspective
    The Gospel of John from a Redactional Perspective
    The Author of the Fourth Gospel
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Historical Methods for Studying the New Testament

    9. The Life of Jesus and Its Aftermath
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Problems with Sources
    Using Our Sources
    Jesus in His Apocalyptic Context
    The Beginning and End as Keys to the Middle
    The Apocalyptic Teachings of Jesus
    The Apocalyptic Deeds of Jesus
    The Apocalyptic Death of Jesus
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Jesus, the Apocalyptic Prophet
    Jesus's Resurrection from an Apocalyptic Perspective
    Jesus's Death in Light of the Scriptures
    Different Understandings of Jesus
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: From Jesus to the Gospels
    PHOTO ESSAY 2: The Material World of Jesus and the Gospels

    10. Luke's Second Volume: The Book of Acts
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Genre of Acts and Its Significance
    The Thematic Approach to Acts
    From Gospel to Acts: The Opening Transition
    Themes in the Speeches in Acts
    Conclusion: The Author and His Themes in Context
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Book of Acts
    EXCURSUS 2: Methods of Ideological Criticism

    11. Paul the Apostle: The Man and His Mission
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Story of Paul: Methodological Difficulties
    The Life of Paul
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Paul and His Mission

    12. Paul and His Apostolic Mission: 1 Thessalonians as a Test Case
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Founding of the Church in Thessalonica
    The Beginnings of the Thessalonian Church: A Sociohistorical Perspective
    The Church at Thessalonica after Paul's Departure
    Conclusion: Paul the Apostle xxx
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: 1 Thessalonians

    13. Paul and the Crises of His Churches: The Corinthian Correspondence
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    1 Corinthians
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: 1 Corinthians
    2 Corinthians
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: 2 Corinthians

    14. Paul and the Crises of His Churches: Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Galatians
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Galatians
    Philippians
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Philippians
    Philemon
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Philemon

    15. The Gospel According to Paul: The Letter to the Romans
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Occasion and Purpose of the Letter
    The Theme of the Epistle
    Pauline Models for Salvation
    The Flow of Paul's Argument
    Conclusion: Paul and the Romans
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Romans
    PHOTO ESSAY 3: The Cities and Roads of Paul

    16. In the Wake of the Apostles: the Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral Epistles
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Pseudonymity in the Ancient World
    The Deutero-Pauline Epistles
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Deutero-Pauline Epistles
    The Pastoral Epistles
    The Historical Situation and Authorship of the Pastoral Epistles
    Women in Paul's Church and Later
    Paul's View of Women in the Church
    Women in the Aftermath of Paul
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Pastoral Epistles
    EXCURSUS 3: Ideologies of Gender in the Bible

    17. Christian Conflicts with Jews and Pagans: Hebrews and 1 Peter
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Christians and Jews
    Early Christian Self-Definition
    Continuity and Superiority: Epistle to the Hebrews
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: Hebrews
    Christians and Pagans
    Christians in a Hostile World: The Letter of 1 Peter
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: 1 Peter

    18. Christian Interactions with Christians: James, 2 Peter, Jude, and the Johannine Epistles
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    Christian Interactions with Christians
    The Epistle of James
    Jude
    2 Peter
    The Johannine Epistles
    Understanding the Johannine Epistles
    Reflections on the Contextual Method for Understanding the Johannine Epistles
    Conflicts within the Early Christian Communities
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS
    EXCURSUS 4: The Digital Bible

    19. Christians and the Cosmos: The Book of Revelation
    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS CHAPTER
    The Content and Structure of the Book of Revelation
    The Book of Revelation from a Historical Perspective xxx
    Apocalyptic Worldviews and the Apocalypse Genre xxx
    The Revelation of John in Historical Context xxx
    IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS: The Book of Revelation xxx

    Glossary
    Index

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