Preface | p. 11 |
To the Professor | p. 13 |
To the Student | p. 15 |
Abbreviations | p. 17 |
Why Study the New Testament? | p. 19 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Bible: A High Stakes Book | |
Old and New Testaments | |
Why Study the New Testament? | |
It Mediates God's Presence-and with It, Truth | |
It Is of Ultimate Personal Significance | |
It Is Foundational to Cultural Literacy | |
Why These Twenty-Seven Books? | |
Old Testament Precedent for a Canon | |
The Divine Authorship of the New Testament: Inspiration | |
Recognition of the Canon in the Church | |
The Integrity of the New Testament Text | |
Wealth of Evidence | |
Brief Time Lapse | |
Versions and Fathers | |
So Many Translations! | |
Why Study the New Testament? | |
To Avoid the Tyranny of Preformed Personal Opinion | |
To Avoid Misguided Reliance on the Holy Spirit | |
To Enable Historical-Theological Interpretation | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Encountering Jesus and the Gospels | |
The Middle East in the Days of Jesus | p. 39 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Land of Palestine | |
The History of Palestine from the Return to the Destruction of Jerusalem | |
The Maccabean/Hasmonean Period (166-63 B.C.) | |
The Domination of Rome (63 B.C.-A.D. 70) | |
The Rule of Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.) | |
The Rule of Herod's Descendants (4 B.C.-A.D. 66) | |
Archelaus (4 B.C.-A.D. 6) | |
Philip (4 B.C.-A.D. 34) | |
Antipas (4 B.C.-A.D. 39) | |
Herod Agrippa I and II (A.D. 37-66) | |
The Jewish War and Destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 66-70) | |
Jewish Religion in Jesus' Day | |
The Unifying Factors in Judaism | |
Religious Groups | |
Pharisees | |
Sadducees | |
Essenes | |
Zealots | |
The Apocalyptic Movement | |
Other Groups in Palestine | |
The Samaritans | |
The Literature of the Jews | |
The Old Testament | |
The Old Testament Apocrypha | |
The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha | |
The Dead Sea Scrolls | |
Rabbinic Writings | |
Other Writings | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Gospel and the Four Gospels | p. 69 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Content of the Message | |
The Growing Body of Material | |
The Distinctive Gospel Form | |
Why the Gospels Were Written | |
The Trustworthiness of the Gospels | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key Person | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Gospel of Matthew: The Messiah Has Come! | p. 77 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Author | |
Date | |
Place of Writing | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Characteristics | |
Jesus the Fulfillment of God's Intention | |
Jesus the Savior of Israel and the World | |
Jesus the Supreme Authority | |
Jesus the Teacher, Preacher, and Healer | |
The Followers of Jesus and the Church | |
Critical Issues | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Term | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Gospel of Mark: Son of God, Servant of All | p. 87 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Author | |
Date | |
Place of Writing | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Characteristics | |
The Supernatural Nature of Jesus | |
The Unfolding Mystery of Jesus' Divine Sonship | |
The People's Confirming Reactions | |
The Death and Resurrection of Jesus | |
The Ministry of Jesus as Servant | |
Be Silent! | |
Critical Issues | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Gospel of Luke: A Savior for All People | p. 97 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Author | |
Date | |
Place of Writing | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Characteristics | |
God's Universal Work | |
Jesus as Savior of the World | |
Events of Jesus' Early Life | |
The Place of Women in Jesus' Ministry | |
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit | |
Critical Issues | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Gospel of John: Eternal Life through His Name | p. 107 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Author | |
Date and Place of Writing | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Characteristics | |
In the Beginning Was the Word | |
Jesus' Divine Qualities and Essence | |
Jesus as Unique Divine Messenger | |
Jesus' Fulfillment of Israel's and All Humanity's Hopes and Needs | |
The Word Became Flesh | |
The Principle of Faith | |
Other Themes in John | |
Critical Issues | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Man from Galilee: The Life of Jesus Christ | p. 117 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Gospels and the Life of Jesus | |
Outline of Jesus' Life | |
Jesus' Birth and Youth (6 B.C.-A.D. 26) | |
The Beginning of Jesus' Public Ministry (A.D. 26-27) | |
The Galilean Ministry (A.D. 27-29) | |
Jesus' Travels outside Galilee (A.D. 29) | |
The Perean and Judean Ministry (A.D. 29-30) | |
Jesus' Last Days on Earth and Crucifixion (April A.D. 30) | |
The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus (April-June A.D. 30) | |
The True Meaning of Jesus of Nazareth | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Lord, Teach Us: The Teaching Ministry of Jesus Christ | p. 137 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
How to Understand Jesus | |
Jesus the Preacher | |
Jesus' Use of Language | |
The Form of Jesus' Message | |
Jesus and His Message | |
The Teaching of Jesus | |
God, the Kingdom of God, and Jesus' Relation to the Kingdom | |
The Uniqueness of Jesus | |
Jesus' Special Relation to God | |
Jesus' Special Relation to Other Human Beings | |
Jesus' Sense of Mission | |
Human Life, Human Sinfulness, and God | |
The End of the Age, the Second Coming, and the Life to Come | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Modern Approaches to the New Testament: Historical Criticism and Hermeneutics | p. 153 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Two Ways of Reading the New Testament | |
The Necessity of Criticism | |
Roots of Historical Criticism | |
Contribution and Limitations of Historical Criticism | |
The Promise of Hermeneutics | |
Conditions | |
Methods | |
Aims | |
Invitation to Further Hermeneutical Study | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key Place | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Modern Study of the Gospels | p. 169 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Rise of Source Criticism | |
The Rise of Form Criticism | |
The Rise of Redaction Criticism | |
The Current Situation | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
The Modern Search for Jesus | p. 181 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Search for the Real Jesus | |
A Brief History of the Search | |
The Current Situation | |
The Search for the Real Words of Jesus | |
A Brief Look at the Search | |
The Criteria Used to Find Jesus' Real Words | |
A Positive Approach to the Problem | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Encountering Acts and the Earliest Church | |
The World and Identity of the Earliest Church | p. 193 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Reality of Empire | |
Hellenistic Civilization | |
Religions and Philosophies | |
The Early Christians: New People in Christ | |
How Early Christians Saw Themselves | |
What Early Christians Believed | |
The Uniqueness of Jesus | |
The Decisive Fact of Jesus' Death and Resurrection | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Acts 1-7: The Earliest Days of the Church | p. 209 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Acts: Volume 2 of Luke | |
Author and Purpose | |
Date | |
Title | |
Characteristics and Importance | |
Literary Features and Structure | |
How to Interpret Acts | |
Outline of Acts 1-7 | |
Initial Witness to Christ in and around Jerusalem (1:1-2:47) | |
Jesus' Legacy (1:1-11) | |
The First Christian Pentecost (1:12-2:47) | |
Days of Preparation | |
Pointed Message, Dramatic Response | |
Common Life | |
Spreading the Message, Gathering Opposition (3:1-7:60) | |
Miracles and Message | |
Christian Community | |
Conflict | |
Summary | |
Key Term | |
Key People | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Acts 8-12: Salvation for Both Jew and Gentile | p. 223 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Outline of Acts 8-12 | |
Perspective of Acts 8-12 | |
Minor Figures: Ten More Who Believed | |
Philip (8:5-13, 26-40) | |
The Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26-40) | |
Ananias (9:10-19) | |
Aeneas (9:33-35) | |
Tabitha (9:36-42) | |
Simon the Tanner (9:43; 10:6, 17,32) | |
Cornelius (10:1-11:18) | |
Barnabas (11:22-30) | |
Agabus (11:28) | |
James, Brother of John (12:2) | |
Two Who Disbelieved | |
Simon the Sorcerer (8:9-25) | |
Herod Agrippa I (12:1-23) | |
Major Figures | |
John (8:14-25) | |
Peter (8:14-25; 9:32-43; 10:1-11:18; 12:3-18) | |
Saul (8:1-3; 9:1-31; 11:25-30; 12:25) | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Acts 13-28: The Light of Christ to the Ends of the Earth | p. 237 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Outline of Acts 13-28 | |
First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28) | |
The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35) | |
Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) | |
Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:15) | |
Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea (21:15-26:32) | |
Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:10) | |
Ministry at Rome (28:11-31) | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Term | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Encountering Paul and His Epistles | |
All Things to All People: Life and Teachings of the Apostle Paul | p. 253 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Brief Overview of the Life of Paul | |
Missionary Journeys and Paul's Letters | |
Which Letters Did Paul Write? | |
Paul and Jesus | |
Paul's Teaching about God | |
Evil and the Human Dilemma | |
Paul and the Law | |
Children of Abraham, Children of God: Paul's View of the People of God | |
Revelation and Scripture | |
Messiah | |
Redemption | |
The Cross | |
Resurrection | |
The Church | |
Ethics | |
Last Things | |
Conclusion | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Romans: Right with God | p. 273 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Gospels-Acts-Epistles | |
Why Wade through Romans? | |
The City of Rome and Christianity | |
The Occasion and Purpose of Romans | |
Outline | |
The Argument of Romans | |
Introduction (1:1-18) | |
Diagnosis (1:19-3:20) | |
Prognosis I: Justified by Faith in Jesus Christ (3:21-8:17) | |
Prognosis II: Redeemed by Grace (8:18-11:36) | |
Prescription (12:1-15:13) | |
Conclusion (15:14-16:27) | |
The Importance of Romans | |
Critical Issues | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Corinthians and Galatians: Apostolic Counsel for Confused Churches | p. 287 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
First and Second Corinthians | |
The City of Corinth | |
Founding of Christianity in Corinth | |
Letters to and from Corinth | |
First Corinthians | |
Author, Date, Place of Writing | |
Why Paul Wrote | |
Outline | |
Message | |
Specific Issues | |
Critical Issues | |
Second Corinthians | |
Setting and Purpose | |
Outline | |
Message | |
Apostolic Authority | |
The Jerusalem Collection | |
Critical Issues | |
Galatians | |
South Galatia or North Galatia? | |
Outline | |
Purpose | |
True and False Gospel | |
Misguided Leadership | |
Grace and Law | |
Positive Ethic | |
Critical Issues | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon: Letters from Prison | p. 307 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Ephesians | |
Introduction | |
The City of Ephesus | |
Outline | |
Purpose | |
Declarations and Exhortations | |
Critical Issues | |
Philippians | |
Introduction | |
The Town of Philippi | |
Outline | |
Purpose | |
Enemies of the Gospel | |
Christology | |
Critical Issues | |
Colossians | |
Introduction | |
The Town of Colossae | |
Outline | |
Setting and Purpose | |
Message | |
Implications of Christ's Supremacy | |
Critical Issues | |
Philemon | |
Introduction | |
Outline | |
Purpose | |
Literary and Historical Questions | |
Practical Lessons | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus: A Legacy of Faithfulness | p. 327 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
First and Second Thessalonians | |
Introduction | |
The City of Thessalonica | |
Origin of 1 and 2 Thessalonians | |
First Thessalonians | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Message | |
God-Focus at Thessalonica | |
Second Thessalonians | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Message | |
Critical Issues | |
First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus | |
Fourth Missionary Journey and Authorship | |
First Timothy | |
Outline | |
Occasion for Writing and Message | |
Second Timothy | |
Outline | |
Occasion for Writing and Message | |
Titus | |
Outline | |
Occasion for Writing and Message | |
The Wisdom of the Pastoral Epistles | |
Critical Issues | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Encountering the General Epistles and the Apocalypse | |
Hebrews and James: Maintaining Full Commitment to Christ | p. 347 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The General Epistles | |
Hebrews: Sermonic Epistle | |
The Mystery of Hebrews' Authorship | |
Date, Recipients, Purpose, and Genre | |
Outline | |
Focal Points | |
Down with the Old Testament? | |
Exhortation | |
Critical Issues | |
James: Epistle of Straw? | |
Author, Date, Recipients, and Purpose | |
Outline | |
James's Prophetic Wisdom | |
James and Jesus | |
Critical Issues | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key Person/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Peter, John, and Jude: A Call to Faith, Hope, and Love | p. 361 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The Letters of Peter | |
First Peter | |
Outline | |
The Comfort and Encouragement of Christ | |
The Glory of Salvation | |
The Believer as Pilgrim | |
Following Christ | |
Second Peter | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Teaching | |
The Epistles of John | |
Author | |
First John | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Teaching | |
Second John | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Teaching | |
Third John | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Teaching | |
Jude | |
Outline | |
Purpose and Teaching | |
General Epistle Summary | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Revelation: God Is in Control! | p. 375 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
Author and Date | |
Outline | |
Theories of Interpretation | |
The Teachings of Revelation | |
God | |
The Son of God | |
The People of God | |
Eschatology | |
Summary | |
Key Terms | |
Key People/Places | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Further Reading | |
Epilogue: Matters to Ponder | p. 387 |
Outline | |
Objectives | |
The New Testament Story: Over But Not Ended | |
The Legacy of the Apostolic Age | |
Old Testament Roots | |
Balanced Vision | |
Empowering Example | |
Basis for Reflection and Action | |
Unfinished Business | |
Contextualization | |
Church and Culture | |
Gospel and Society | |
Keeping Faith Fresh | |
Great Awakening? | |
Summary | |
Review Questions | |
Study Questions | |
Glossary | p. 395 |
Answers to Review Questions | p. 407 |
Notes | p. 409 |
Scripture Index | p. 421 |
Name Index | p. 435 |
Subject Index | p. 439 |
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