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The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (1997) is a book by Bart D. Ehrman.

Abstract

"This lucid introduction approaches the New Testament from a consistently historical and comparative perspective, emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Rather than shying away from the critical problems presented by these books. Ehrman addresses the historical and literary challenges they pose and shows why scholars continue to argue over such significant issues as how the books of the New Testament came into being, who produced them, what they mean, how they relate to contemporary Christian and non-Christian literature, and how they came to be collected into a canon of Scripture. Distinctive to this study is its emphasis on the historical, literary, and religious milieu of the Greco-Roman world, including early Judaism. As part of its historical orientation, this text also discusses works by other Christian writers who were roughly contemporary with the New Testament, such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the letters of Ignatius. Instead of simply setting forth scholarly views without explanations, Ehrman includes the evidence that scholars have found persuasive for their views, engaging students and demonstrating why scholars have taken the positions they have. Ideal for undergraduate and seminary classes in the New Testament, biblical studies, and Christian origins, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings is an accessible, clearly written introduction that encourages students to consider the historical issues surrounding these writings." -- Publisher's description.

Editions

Published in New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1997.

• The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 2nd ed. (2000 Ehrman), book

• The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 3rd ed. (2004 Ehrman), book

• The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 4th ed. (2008 Ehrman), book

• The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 5th ed. (2012 Ehrman), book

• The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 6th ed. (2016 Ehrman), book

• The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 7th ed. (2020 Ehrman), book

Contents

Ch. 1. What Is the New Testament: The Early Christians and Their Literature -- Ch. 2. The World of Early Christian Traditions -- Ch. 3. The Traditions of Jesus in Their Greco-Roman Context -- Ch. 4. The Christian Gospels: A Literary and Historical Introduction -- Ch. 5. Jesus, the Suffering Son of God: The Gospel according to Mark -- Ch. 6. The Synoptic Problem and Its Significance for Interpretation -- Ch. 7. Jesus, the Jewish Messiah: The Gospel according to Matthew -- Ch. 8. Jesus, the Savior of the World: The Gospel according to Luke -- Ch. 9. Luke's Second Volume: The Acts of the Apostles -- Ch. 10. Jesus, the Man Sent from Heaven: The Gospel according to John -- Ch. 11. From John's Jesus to the Gnostic Christ -- Ch. 12. Jesus from Different Perspectives: Other Gospels in Early Christianity -- Ch. 13. The Historical Jesus: Sources, Problems, and Methods -- Ch. 14. The Historian and the Problem of Miracle -- Ch. 15. Jesus, the Apocalyptic Prophet

External links