N.T. Wright has a new book out with co-author Michael Bird. It’s called The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians.
Here’s the publisher’s description:
The New Testament in Its World is your passageway from the twenty-first century to the era of Jesus and the first Christians. A highly-readable, one-volume introduction placing the entire New Testament and early Christianity in its original context, it is the only such work by distinguished scholar and author N. T. (Tom) Wright.
An ideal guide for students, The New Testament in Its World addresses the many difficult questions faced by those studying early Christianity. Both large and small, these questions include:
- What is the purpose of the New Testament?
- What was the first-century understanding of the kingdom?
- What is the real meaning of the resurrection in its original context?
- What really were the Gospels?
- Who was Paul and why are his letters so controversial?
- As twenty-first-century people, how do we recover the excitement of what it was like to live as Christians in the first or second centuries?
In short, The New Testament in Its World brings together decades of ground-breaking research, writing, and teaching into one volume that will open readers’ eyes to the larger world of the New Testament. It presents the New Testament books as historical, literary, and social phenomena located in the world of Second Temple Judaism, amidst Greco-Roman politics and culture, and within early Christianity.
Written for both classroom and personal use, the benefits of The New Testament in Its World include:
- A distillation of the life work of N. T. Wright on the New Testament with input from Michael Bird
- Historical context that situates Jesus and the early church within the history, culture, and religion of Second Temple Judaism and the Greco-Roman world
- Major sections on the historical Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and Paul’s chronology and theology
- Surveys of each New Testament book that discuss their significance, critical topics like authorship and date, and that provide commentary on contents along with implications for the Christian life
- Up-to-date discussions of textual criticism and the canonization of the New Testament
- A concluding chapter dedicated to living the story of the New Testament
- Available Video and Workbook companion resources to enhance learning and experience the world of the New Testament
- Illustrated with visually rich pictures, maps, charts, diagrams, and artwork; plentiful sidebars provide additional explanations and insights
I will be using this volume as a source among many others for my revised edition of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church.
This editorial review tops anything I can write about it.
Two of today’s most prolific evangelical New Testament scholars have now combined their expertise to produce an amazing volume: part introduction and survey, part ‘cliff notes’ on Wright’s four volumes to date in his Christian Origins and the Question of God series, part a sneak preview of what he might say in his remaining two volumes, and part showcase for Bird’s always sensible judgments, often nicely alliterated prose, and now and then particularly funny humor. Special features include the book’s lavish illustrations, sidebars quoting choice ancient primary sources and hilarious ’emails from the edge’ from a confused student to his patient professor who always replies wisely. Overall, the genre, like the quality, is one of a kind. (CRAIG L. BLOMBERG, distinguished professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary)
For all who have been anticipating a comprehensive and coherent reading of the entire New Testament from N. T. Wright, the wait is over. Wright and Bird offer their vision for the New Testament, with a lovely interplay of interpretative insights from the world behind the text, the world of the text, and the world in front of the text. Both look and content are energizing and engaging. This magisterial work provides an ideal textbook for courses on the New Testament. (JEANNINE K. BROWN, professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota, USA)
Masterful job by Wright and Bird, written with characteristic jauntiness and scholarly rigor. The numerous sidebars add spice to the substantial meal presented in the text. The book’s power lies in its thorough historical study combined with its missional voice to the church today. (LYNN H. COHICK, provost/dean, Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado, USA)
This is a distillation of Wright’s quarter-century, multi-volume project exploring Christian Origins and the Question of God. Choice nuggets of Wright’s most important discussions have been selected and blended with new material by both authors, enhanced with visuals, teaching aids, and online resources. If you want to introduce time-starved seminary students to the New Testament through the eyes of N. T. Wright but can’t assign thousands of pages of reading, this is the book you need. (DR J. P. DAVIES, tutor of New Testament and MA course leader, Trinity College, Bristol, England)
Those beginning to study the New Testament for the first time can easily become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of what they need to know before they begin. This splendidly clear but wide-ranging introduction is a brilliant way in to serious study of the New Testament and will, deservedly, become the go-to textbook for a large number of readers. (PAULA R. GOODER, Canon Chancellor, St Paul’s Cathedral, London)
Professors Wright and Bird have essentially given students and scholars alike two books in one: a detailed introduction to the major historical and theological topics of New Testament study, and a primer on each of the New Testament’s writings. Their world-class scholarship (wonderfully peppered with images, excerpts from ancient and modern writings, and more) rightly recognizes that the New Testament’s aim was–and is–to promote worship, discipleship, and mission. (MICHAEL J. GORMAN, Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical Studies and Theology, St Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA)
Wright has proven himself a discipline-shaping scholar, Bird a master textbook writer. When you put their minds and skills together, you get an excellent introduction to the New Testament: witty, accurate, accessible, eye-catching. This is a must-have resource for students. (NIJAY K. GUPTA, associate professor of New Testament, Portland Seminary, Portland, Oregon, USA)
This is the New Testament introduction of all New Testament introductions! Not only is this a superb New Testament introduction from the keyboards of two of today’s most prolific and balanced New Testament scholars, but more advanced students will find here an accessible and mature synthesis of and primer for N. T. Wright’s voluminous work. (CRAIG S. KEENER, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, USA)
Wright and Bird have done a great service to the church and the academy with this volume. They introduce readers to the major historical, literary, and theological themes of the New Testament in a way that is highly readable, yet they do not shy away from the difficult questions. They manage to avoid the twin dangers of excessive skepticism and uncritical pietism. It is the epitome of faith seeking understanding, and it will find a welcome home in many colleges and seminary classrooms as well pastors’ libraries. (ESAU MCCAULLEY, assistant professor of New Testament, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, USA)
N.T. (Tom) Wright can’t write anything that is not interesting and suggestive and even at times provocative. His shelf or two of books is now condensed, reworked, and put in digestible form for even more readers. This is a lifetime of scholarship and a landmark publication by one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars. I’m grateful too for the creative contribution Mike Bird makes in pulling all of this into one final heap of fun. (SCOT MCKNIGHT, Julius R. Mantey Chair of New Testament, Northern Seminary, Lisle, Illinois, USA)
See my interview with N.T. Wright
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