Exploring The New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts

by David Wenham, Steve Walton

This clearly written introduction to the Gospels and Acts offers a student-friendly approach that is rooted in up-to-date scholarship and actual classroom experience. Particularly aimed at students of theology, Exploring the New A Guide to the Gospels & Acts introduces Jewish and Roman background literary genres and forms conventional as well as new approaches to the study of the Gospels and Acts debated issues such as authorship, date and setting the quest for the historical Jesus content and major themes of each of the Gospels and Acts the intersection of New Testament criticism with contemporary issues of faith and culture Written by seasoned New Testament teachers David Wenham and Steve Walton, Exploring the New A Guide to the Gospels & Acts is especially suited for introductory courses that focus on Jesus and the Gospels or the Gospels and Acts. It is a comprehensive package with numerous features to facilitate learning, like clearly stated goals for each chapter "What Do You Think" boxes posing issues to consider "Digging Deeper" boxes exploring select topics in greater detail boxed summaries highlighting essential facts practical study aids, including how to use a Gospel synopsis and how to exegete a Gospel text charts visually organizing complex material such as chronologies and genealogies maps giving quick geographical and spatial orientation to events topics for essays or research papers suggested for each chapter "Further Reading" giving annotated bibliographies for each chapter, classified by introductory or intermediate levels pointers to relevant articles in IVP's Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, facilitating parallel use of this valuable reference tool quotations from relevant ancient texts such as Josephus double-column formatting for easy reading glossary of terms to aid beginning students subject and Scripture indexes for quick access to topics

Genres: Christian, Biblical Studies, Religion, New Testament, Reference, Theology, Academic

314 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Deborah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed and clear. Very helpful for understanding.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre introductory work on the Gospels & Acts.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job of summarizing theological and academic thought, without getting lost in the weeds. Overall a great summary of the context of the NT - historical, social, economic, political, and geographic.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction. Great for Bible Study and personal use. Not too deep and could be used by anyone. Easy to read, understandable and has a lot of great articles.

[W. Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A readable and informative textbook. Difficult concepts and complex issues are explained succinctly and clearly. Recommended for undergraduate level.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Second Edition of a well-received volume by scholars David Wenham and Steve Walton. It's part of a 2 volume set with another volume by different scholars covering the rest of the New Testament. Actually, there are 4 other corresponding volumes that cover the Old Testament as well. Currently, this volume is available in either an attractive hardback volume or a more economical paperback edition.

It's aimed at first- or second year college students. Though it has features that will appeal more to those planning to become scholars than pastors or Bible students, it is still a fine volume for anyone.

The page layout is appealing and there are multiple things to look at depending on what you're studying at the moment. It is not set up as a chapter per NT book only as are so many such volumes. There's over 40 pages to set the stage of Jesus and the NT. Next there is a a good bit of critical discussion that is not as interesting to many readers. There's three chapters that discuss the direction of scholarly studies of Jesus. The balance of the book is on the four Gospels individually and Acts .

This book is my favorite of those I've used in this series and I recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Allen Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction into a more in depth study of the new testament (actually vol 1 only covers the gospels and acts)... I think its well written, and quite accessible to the general reader. At the same time, it still manages to impress me with lots of info and things which I never considered before... Recommended for anyone serious about bible studies!

[Mayowa Adebiyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used sparingly as part of course taught by one half of authors. Very well written, could be used by anyone and not necessarily exclusively for academic pursuits.

[Timothy Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for what it was and its audience, but not great either. I wish there were 1/2 stars, b/c I think 3.5 is more accurate.

[Jared Donis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive enough, interesting. Chapters 4 & 5 need to be a bit simplified.