Table of Contents
List of Images and Illustrations
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Prologue: The Nature of the New Testament
The Structure and Meaning of the New Testament
Structure
Meaning
The Transmission and Translation of the New Testament 3
Transmission
Translation
Reading the New Testament
1 The World of the New Testament
The Jewish World
A History of Tragedy and Renewal
A Persistent Obedience
An Abiding Hope
The Greco-Roman World
Language and Culture
Life under the Roman Empire
Religion
Suggestions for Further Reading
PART ONE THE GOSPELS AND JESUS
2 Mark: The Gospel of Suffering
The Gospels, Gospel Criticism, and the Origin of Mark
The Nature of the Gospels
Gospel Criticism: The Relations among the Synoptics
Background of the Gospel of Mark
Prologue: The Spirit and Jesus in the World (1:1—15)
The Gospel of Power: Jesus Opposes His Enemies (1:16—8:21)
Encounter with Demons and Sickness (1:21—45)
Debate with the Pharisees (2:1—3:6)
The Power of Suffering: Jesus and His Disciples (8:22—15:47)
Two Stages of Discipleship (8:22—9:9)
Faith to Produce Healing (9:14—32)
Jesus Approaches His Death (10:1—14:72)
The Cross of Jesus (15:33—47)
Epilogue: The Future Victory (16:1—8)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
3 Matthew: The Gospel of Obedience
Background of the Gospel of Matthew
Introduction: The New Obedience (1:1—2:23)
The Higher Righteousness (3:1—7:29)
FulfillingRighteousness (3:13—17)
Teaching Righteousness (5:17—20)
True Discipleship (8:1—11:1) 1
The Kingdom of Heaven (11:2—13:52)
The Forgiving Church (13:53—19:2)
Peter as the Rock (16:13—23)
Discipline in Community (18:15—22)
Judgment: Doing God’s Will (19:3—26:1)
Condemnation of Hypocrisy (23:1-39)
Doing Mercy without Calculation (25:31—46)
Conclusion: Obedience and Resurrection (26:2—28:20)
The Great Commission (28:16—20)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
4 Luke: The Gospel of Witnessing
Background of the Gospel of Luke
Preface: A Time for True Remembering (1:1—4)
Introduction: A Universal Story (1:5—2:52)
Twofold Witness to Jesus (2:22—40)
Initial Victory in the Temple (2:41—52)
Gathering Witnesses in Galilee (3:1—9:50)
The Offense of Jesus’ Preaching (4:16—30)
Sure Witness to the Word (8:1—21)
Witness to the Word on the Journey to Jerusalem (9:51—19:27)
Jesus’ Word about the Present (15:1—32)
Jesus’ Word about the Future (19:11—27)
The True Israel through the Passion and Resurrection (19:28—24:53)
The True Inheritors (20:9—19)
Fulfilling the Scripture (24:13—35)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
5 John: The Gospel of Jesus’ Glory
Background of the Gospel of John
Introduction (1:1—51)
The Prologue: Jesus Christ as the Word (1:1—18)
The Appearance of John the Baptist (1:19—51)
The Revelation of Jesus’ Glory before the World (2:1—12:50)
Nicodemus (3:1—21)
The Response to Jesus’ Signs Turns Hostile (5:1—47)
The Healing of the Man Born Blind (9:1—41)
The Revelation of Jesus’ Glory before the Community (13:1—17:26)
The Last Supper (13:1—38)
The Promise of the Paraclete (14:15—17, 26 and 16:12—14)
Jesus’ Last Will: The Prayer of Consecration (17:1—26)
Jesus’ Last Appearance before the World: His Hidden Glorification
(18:1—19:42)
The Trial before Pilate (18:28—19:16)
The Execution of Jesus by Crucifiction (19:17—42)
Jesus’ Return to His Disciples (20:1—31)
Appendix: The Gospel Continues (21:1—25)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
6 Jesus the Messiah
Introduction: The Tradition about Jesus
Kerygma, Gospels, and Jesus of Nazareth
The Basic Tradition of Jesus
The Healing Messiah
Miracles in the First Century
Miracles in the Synoptic Gospels
Miracles in a Modern Perspective
The Teaching Messiah
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Radical Demand of the Kingdom
The Relationship of Jesus to His Message
The Suffering Messiah
The Passion and Death of Jesus
The Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
PART TWO THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH
7 Acts: Mission and Witness
Background of the Acts of the Apostles
Introduction: A New Beginning (1:1—2:47)
Jesus’ Departure (1:1—11)
The Apostolic Witness (1:12—26)
Spirit, Gospel, and Church (2:1—47)
The Growth of the Church and Its Witness (3:1—12:25)
Stephen’s Martyrdom (6:1—7:60)
Mission to the Gentiles (10:1—11:18)
Christianity’s Triumphal March (13:1—21:14)
Paul’s Speech at Pisidian Antioch (13:17—41)
Paul’s Speech in Athens (17:16—34)
Jerusalem to Rome (21:15—28:31)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
8 Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles
An Apostle’s Life: Notes on Paul’s Career
Thessalonians: Faith and the Future
Background of the Thessalonian Letters
The Return of Jesus (1 Thess. 4:13—5:11)
Eschatological Teaching (2 Thess. 2:1—17)
Galatians: Faith’s Sufficiency
Background of Galatians
Apostle by God’s Revelation (Gal. 1:6—2:10)
Faith within the History Of Salvation (Gal. 2:11—21)
Works of the Law (Gal. 3:1-29)
Second Corinthians: Courage and Authority
Background of 2 Corinthians
Courage in Ministry (2 Cor. 4:1—15)
Paul’s Apostleship under Attack (2 Cor. 10:1—13:10)
Philippians and Philemon: Personal Attitude and Relations
Background of Philippians
Joy in Hardship (Phil. 1:12—26)
The Example of Jesus (Phil. 2:1-11)
Background of Philemon
Slavery and Freedom (Philem. 4—20)
Conclusion: What We Know about Paul
Suggestions for Further Reading
9 I Corinthians: Faith for a Fractured Church
Background of 1 Corinthians
Introduction: Greetings and Thanksgiving (1:1—9)
Division in the Church (1:10—4:21)
The Corinthian Situation (1 Cor. 1:10—17)
Paul’s Own Practice and Example (1:18—3:4)
Paul and Apollos as Servants (3:5—4:7)
Admonition to the Corinthians (4:8—21)
Immorality in the Corinthian Church (5:1—6:20)
Flagrant Sexual Immorality (5:1—13)
Christians Suing One Another (6:1—11)
Theology of the Body (6:12—20)
Responses to the Corinthians’ Letter and Other Issues (7:1—15:58)
Sexual Relations in Marriage (7:1—40)
Love and Knowledge (8:1—13)
Apostleship and Reward (9:1—27)
The Danger of Idolatry and Idol Temples (10:1—11:1)
Conduct in Worship: Hairdress and the Lord’s Supper (11:2—34)
Spiritual Gifts (12:1—14:40)
The Resurrection from the Dead (15:1—58)
The Collection and Other Business (16:1—24)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
10 Romans: The Righteousness of God
Background of Romans
Introduction: Righteousness by Faith (1:1—17)
God’s Wrath: The Problem of Sin (1:18—3:20)
God’s Righteousness and the Response of Faith (3:21—4:25)
Justification by Faith (3:21—31)
Abraham and the Promise to Faith (4:1—25)
God’s Grace and Human Freedom (5:1—8:39)
The New Situation (5:1—21)
Freedom from Sin (6:1—23)
Freedom from the Law (7:1—25)
Life in the Spirit (8:1—39)
God’s Faithfulness (9:1—11:36)
The Obedience of Faith (12:1—15:13)
Closing (15:14—16:27)
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
11 Deutero-Pauline Letters: The Emerging Church
Comments on Pseudonymous Writings
Colossians: Steadfastness against Heresy
Background of Colossians
Warning against Erroneous Teaching (Col. 2:8—15)
Ephesians: Looking to the Foundation
Background of Ephesians
The Unity of the Church (Eph. 2:11—22)
The Pastorals: The Community as Institution
Background of the Pastoral Epistles
Heresy and Right Teaching in the Church (1 Tim. 4:1—16)
Conclusion: Solidifying Christianity’s Identity
The Distinction of Orthodoxy and Heresy
Organs of Authority
Suggestions for Further Reading
12 The Catholic Epistles: Faith and Order
What’s Catholic About the Catholic Epistles?
James: Inner Discipline
Background of the Letter of James
Faith and Action (James 2:14—26)
First Peter: Continuing Struggle for the Faith
Background of 1 Peter
Servants and the Suffering Servant (1 Pet. 2:11—25)
The Letters of John: Love, Doctrine, and Church Politics
Background of the Johannine Letters
The Spirit of Jesus as Love (1 John 4:1—21)
Church Doctrine and Politics (2 and 3 John)
Conclusion: Christianity’s Success as a Religious Movement
Suggestions for Further Reading
13 Other Apostolic Writings: Vision and Discipline
Back to the Future: Comments on Christian Eschatology
Hebrews: The Ministry of the True High Priest
Background of the Letter to the Hebrews
Jesus’ Qualifications as High Priest (Heb. 4:14—5:10)
2 Peter and Jude: Dealing with the Lord’s Delay
Background of 2 Peter and Jude
The Coming of the Day of the Lord (2 Pet. 3:1—10; Jude 3)
The Revelation to John: Faith’s Vision of a New Order
Background of Revelation
The Vision of the Prophet on Patmos (Rev. 1:1—20)
Suggestions for Further Reading
Epilogue: The Anatomy of the New Testament–Meaning, Structure, and Identity
Meaning
Structure
Identity
Glossary
General Bibliography
I. Tools for New Testament Study
II. Commentaries
III. Text and Canon
IV. Christianity as a Religious Movement
V. New Testament Theology and Ethics
VI. History of Criticism and Interpretation
VII. Other Resources
Name and Subject Index
Biblical Index
