The New Testament: A Students' Introduction - Softcover

Harris, Stephen L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 087484746X ISBN 13: 9780874847468

Publisher: Brown (William C.) Co ,U.S., 1988

Synopsis

Designed for students beginning their first systematic study of the Christian Scriptures, The New Testament: A Student’s Introduction is reader-friendly and effectively organized to facilitate student learning. The text surveys the historical and cultural background of the early Christian era and offers cogent discussions of each of the New Testament’s twenty-seven books, from the Gospel biographies of Jesus to the mystic symbols of Revelation. In addition to presenting the Jewish and Greco-Roman context in which the canonical authors wrote, the text incorporates important scholarship that helps illuminate each document’s principal themes and religious significance. This well-balanced introduction, featuring numerous maps, charts and essays, enhances students’ understanding of the first-century Christian experience and distinctive worldview.

About this title

From the Publisher

Chapter 1 now emphasizes the importance of studying the New Testament critically, utilizing the tools of modern scholarship; Chapter 6 is rewritten to underscore the value of modern approaches to studying the formation of the Gospels.
An new chapter (Chapter 11), "The Other Gospels: Additional Portraits of Jesus" is added.
Other changes include a revision of the "Acts of the Apostles" chapter, and expanded coverage of Paul's thought, particularly his letter to the Romans. The book's final chapter contains a survey of post-New Testament Christian history, with a look at some compelling issues related to the New Testament's continuing relevance in the third millennium.
The scholarship, Recommended Readings, Glossary, and boxes are updated throughout. All of the visual aids, particularly the maps in the early chapters, are improved.
Harris's logical and convenient five part organization helps students successfully navigate the diverse material of the New Testament.
Pedagogy for each chapter includes a list of key themes, a summary, review questions, a list of key terms, a bibliography, and many maps and other visual aids. A complete glossary appears at the end of the book.
Chapter 12, "The Continuing Quest for the Historical Jesus," presents a balanced view of the scholarly debate about whether Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet or a wisdom teacher.

About the Author

Stephen L. Harris is Professor Emeritus of Humanities and Religious Studies at California State University, Sacramento, where he served ten years as department chair. A Woodrow Wilson Fellow, he received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. A member of the Society of Biblical Literature, his publications include Understanding the Bible (8th edition, 2011); The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (with Robert Platzner); Classical Mythology: Images and Insights (with Gloria Platzner); Exploring the Bible; and Fire Mountains of the West: The Cascade and Mono Lake Volcanoes, a survey of volcanic hazards on the U.S. Pacific Coast; and for National Geographic Books, Restless Earth, a study of global earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. He contributed the chapter on “Archaeology and Volcanism” to the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes (Academic Press, 2000).

Edition details

• Publisher: Brown (William C.) Co ,U.S.
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 087484746X
• ISBN 13: 9780874847468
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368