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A Survey of the New Testament
This revised edition of Gundry's Survey of the New Testament goes beyond providing background information and technical introductory material and leads students to read the New Testament itself.
578 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1973
130 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Robert H. Gundry
41 books9 followersRobert Horton Gundry is Westmont College's Scholar-in-Residence after retiring from a teaching career of nearly forty years. His various areas of expertise include New Testament Greek, Eschatology (end times studies), the Gospels, and New Testament Theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Manchester University in 1961. He has been honored with the Teacher of the Year Award three times, the Faculty Researcher of the Year Award, and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award. His many publications include Jesus the Word according to John the Sectarian: A Paleofundamentalist Manifesto for Contemporary Evangelicalism, Especially Its Elites, in North America, First the Antichrist, Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross, A Survey of the New Testament, Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and Theological Art, Soma in Biblical Theology with Emphasis on Pauline Anthropology, The Church and the Tribulation, The Use of the Old Testament in St. Matthew's Gospel with Special Reference to the Messianic Hope, as well as numerous articles and book reviews in New Testament studies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 22, 2025
A helpful overview that’s easy to understand. Learned a lot about minute details.
April 13, 2018
For a New Testament survey, it's fairly light, but it's helpful for beginners.
July 26, 2014
This is a standard text in more conservative Protestant seminaries. It is a systematic presentation of the New Testament. The textbook does begin with a historical presentation of period but fails to put the text in its historical context and fails to account of the historical critical method and it massive impact of biblical studies in the twentieth century. Instead, he prefers a traditional approach to the texts and a Calvinist theological perspective. The general engagement with the lessons of modern scholarship is dismissive in tone. This is the text's greatest weakness.
January 28, 2024
It’s important to remember the goal of this textbook, namely, that it’s a survey. While there is not a lot of detail or insight given to the current-day controversial passages of Scripture (like gifts of the Spirit, gender roles, church polity, eschatology etc…) Gundry did a fantastic job of simply ‘surveying’ the major sweep of the New Testament. I highly recommend this for new students who feel like they have a lot of grey area in their grasp of the New Testament. For deeper study of critical passages and concepts, you should look elsewhere.
March 31, 2019
A basic Baptist reference work for the NT nothing special, nothing substantial. Also, the author apparently has been going off the deep end so I doubt it will be in use for much longer.
April 8, 2025
A must have reference for any student of the New Testament. Could be a bit biased with interpretation; however, Gundry did a good job explaining diffrent perspectives.
December 2, 2025
A Survey of the New Testament by Robert H. Gundry is an exploration of the New Testament, including biographical information on the New Testament authors, their major themes, and enough historical information to give a foundational context to many of the passages.
It achieves its purpose in providing a comprehensive overview of the New Testament, in large part because it invites the reader to read each book of the New Testament in its entirety, as it gives a passage-by-passage analysis, along with exegesis and contextual information. This invitation to pace one’s reading of the New Testament alongside the textbook is a very effective way to explore its themes in context.
Gundry first spends a few chapters on historical information about the intertestamental period, the culture of the time, the canonicity of the text, and techniques in textual criticism. This last item is particularly interesting in light of the fact that in 1984, Gundry’s “enthusiastic use… of the scholarly technique… known as ‘redaction criticism’” embroiled him in a controversy which led to his forced resignation from the Evangelical Theological Society. His view of the Gospel of Matthew as an example of midrash (a genre of writing not to be taken literally) was seen as particularly egregious. He believed that the magi were not literal people, but employed as a fictional narrative device.
In this textbook, however, there is no hint of the issues that led to this controversy. His brief discussion of redaction criticism warns that it has “a tendency to neglect the importance of earlier traditions as such, an importance seen in the fact that the evangelists saw those traditions as worth incorporating, tailoring, and applying.” He makes no mention of midrash in this text; indeed, rather than question the veracity of Matthew’s story of the magi, he states that the magi probably came from Persia.
Whether Gundry has changed his mind in the intervening decades, or whether he has simply chosen to avoid these controversies as unnecessary to a textbook that aims to “bring together the most salient items” from the New Testament for beginning readers, he has achieved his goal in writing a textbook that systematically brings the reader through the actual Biblical text alongside his commentary, which is one of the highlights of the work.
His style is accessible, and his use of headings organise the text into intuitive sections. Beautiful full-colour illustrations interspersed throughout the book lend visual appeal to the layout and historical context to the text, effectively bringing the reader into the world and time of the New Testament period.
This book is a wonderful survey of the New Testament and has greatly enhanced my understanding of the culture and times in which Jesus and his apostles lived. I am considering buying the laminated sheets that are sold as a companion to the text to have as an easy reference for points that I want to remember. The text covers so much material that I am sure I will revisit sections of it again and again, as I deepen my study of New Testament themes.
It achieves its purpose in providing a comprehensive overview of the New Testament, in large part because it invites the reader to read each book of the New Testament in its entirety, as it gives a passage-by-passage analysis, along with exegesis and contextual information. This invitation to pace one’s reading of the New Testament alongside the textbook is a very effective way to explore its themes in context.
Gundry first spends a few chapters on historical information about the intertestamental period, the culture of the time, the canonicity of the text, and techniques in textual criticism. This last item is particularly interesting in light of the fact that in 1984, Gundry’s “enthusiastic use… of the scholarly technique… known as ‘redaction criticism’” embroiled him in a controversy which led to his forced resignation from the Evangelical Theological Society. His view of the Gospel of Matthew as an example of midrash (a genre of writing not to be taken literally) was seen as particularly egregious. He believed that the magi were not literal people, but employed as a fictional narrative device.
In this textbook, however, there is no hint of the issues that led to this controversy. His brief discussion of redaction criticism warns that it has “a tendency to neglect the importance of earlier traditions as such, an importance seen in the fact that the evangelists saw those traditions as worth incorporating, tailoring, and applying.” He makes no mention of midrash in this text; indeed, rather than question the veracity of Matthew’s story of the magi, he states that the magi probably came from Persia.
Whether Gundry has changed his mind in the intervening decades, or whether he has simply chosen to avoid these controversies as unnecessary to a textbook that aims to “bring together the most salient items” from the New Testament for beginning readers, he has achieved his goal in writing a textbook that systematically brings the reader through the actual Biblical text alongside his commentary, which is one of the highlights of the work.
His style is accessible, and his use of headings organise the text into intuitive sections. Beautiful full-colour illustrations interspersed throughout the book lend visual appeal to the layout and historical context to the text, effectively bringing the reader into the world and time of the New Testament period.
This book is a wonderful survey of the New Testament and has greatly enhanced my understanding of the culture and times in which Jesus and his apostles lived. I am considering buying the laminated sheets that are sold as a companion to the text to have as an easy reference for points that I want to remember. The text covers so much material that I am sure I will revisit sections of it again and again, as I deepen my study of New Testament themes.
January 25, 2018
I read this book for a New Testament Survey class, and I have to say it's wonderful. After starting off studying the interpretive methods that are often applied to the New Testament, Robert Gundry dives into a book by book, letter by letter analysis that is both deep and comprehensible. This is a wonderful exploration of what is arguably the most important collection of tests ever compiled. If you've ever wanted a better understanding of the New Testament, I highly recommend this book. It's a must for anyone desiring to teach God's Word.
March 11, 2023
I thought this book was a great overview of the New Testament for someone who hasn’t studied the Bible’s historical context. One of my biggest qualms with this book was that it often claimed some theories as fact without addressing that there could be another viewpoint. I understand that this would be a difficult thing to dig into in a general overview, but there were quite a few times that I questioned the validity of statements, because I noticed that I disagreed with ideas brought up elsewhere in the book.
August 8, 2018
The beginning sections on historical and cultural context paint a winding narrative to introduce you to the survey. These first sections are the best and I found I was skim reading the survey proper, which was lighter in content. Each book of the NT had a very informative section that added colour and context to the content of each book.
June 12, 2018
This is a very engaging look at the New Testament. It's accurate, concise, and informative. Very worth your while.
July 28, 2020
It was ok. Too much attention was given to higher criticism.
July 29, 2020
Brilliant way to build knowledge of the books by reading this book alongside and referring to all the scriptures offered
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August 25, 2020,htghm
April 19, 2021
A solid NT survey.
March 7, 2022
It’s ok. The book starts with a historical background, such as what life was like politically and culturally then moves to giving an overview of each of the New Testament books.
January 16, 2023
Listened to the audio lectures
May 27, 2024
One of my fave text books in a Bible class
September 26, 2024
This was so superficial; it didn't tell me anything the chapter section headers and noted in my Bible don't.
October 27, 2012
"The 4th edition of this widely used guide to reading and interpreting the New Testament
This revised edition of Gundry's Survey of the New Testament goes beyond providing background information and technical introductory material and leads students to read the New Testament itself. Whenever possible general questions of introduction and background are tied to assigned readings covering the entire New Testament. In addition, comments on these readings help students with interpretation and follow the flow of thought from one passage to another.
Features include:
* New design with four-color format and more photos and improved maps
* Chapters begin with list, of study goals and end with summary, overview and of people, places, terms to remember, and review questions
* Outlines, section headings, subheadings, and bolded items make it easy to follow structure of discussion
* Phonetic pronunciations for unfamiliar names and terms
* Breakouts with illustrative quotes from ancient, non biblical literature
* Discussion questions on the contemporary relevance of the New Testament
* Updated bibliographies
* Conservative evangelical theological perspective also notes other positions and literature" (From the Zondervan Website)
About the Author: Robert H. Gundry (PhD, Manchester) is a scholar-in-residence and professor emeritus of New Testament and Greek at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Among his books are Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross; Matthew: A Commentary on His Handbook for a Mixed Church Under Persecution, Soma in Biblical Theology, and Jesus the Word According to John the Sectarian.
My Thoughts About the Book: The fourth edition of Robert Gundry's book, A Survey of the New testament, is as they say, the best that it gets. If you are someone who is seeking a full-color, readable, and understandable New Testament Survey book written by someone who is a noted author and Biblical scholar, this book is for you. Dr. Gundry's Survey of the New Testament book is required reading for many Biblical courses taught at Bible Colleges, Universities and Seminaries all across our country, as it well should be.
The information presented in Dr. Gundry's book opens up the world of the New Testament to its readers providing accurate information concerning "People to Remember," "Places to Remember," and "Terms to Remember." And this information is essential to a good understanding of the New Testament. He also includes a section at the end of each chapter that asks the question, "How Much Did You Learn?" This section helps the reader review what they have read to see how much of it they learned. Another section in each chapter of his book is entitled "For Further Discussion" which is a section of the chapter intended to promote a healthy discussion of what you have read and learned in each chapter. And he concludes each chapter of his book with a section entitled "For Further Investigation." He recommends resources from a variety of authors and perspectives that are appropriate for the subject matter of each chapter read. All who use this book will find the information to be invaluable for further research and study of the material that's been covered in each chapter after finishing reading it.
In his book Dr Gundry has included stunning full-color photos of important places mentioned in the New Testament such as the "Judean Wilderness Where Jesus Was Tempted," or "The Hill of the Beatitudes." Along with the photos there are a few maps of significant Biblical places as well as pictures of objects that are relevant to the time and culture he has written about in each of the chapters of his book. And he also has provided some insightful reference charts such as the one comparing the Four Gospels or the one that compares the "Interpretation of the Pretribulational Rapture" to the Posttribulational Interpretation of the Rapture" that are helpful to the reader/student. And one other helpful tool he offers the reader of his book are notes scattered throughout the entire book that share information about people, things people said, places, and objects of interest that relates to the material covered in the chapter.
So whether a student in a Bible college or Seminary, a pastor or ministry leader, or a student of the Scriptures who wants to learn more about the New Testament this is the book for you. In it you will find a wealth of information that will most assuredly help you better understand the New Testament in a way like you have never been able to do so before so you can more effectively apply it in your every day lives as followers of Christ.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Zondervan Publishing Company for review purposes. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
This revised edition of Gundry's Survey of the New Testament goes beyond providing background information and technical introductory material and leads students to read the New Testament itself. Whenever possible general questions of introduction and background are tied to assigned readings covering the entire New Testament. In addition, comments on these readings help students with interpretation and follow the flow of thought from one passage to another.
Features include:
* New design with four-color format and more photos and improved maps
* Chapters begin with list, of study goals and end with summary, overview and of people, places, terms to remember, and review questions
* Outlines, section headings, subheadings, and bolded items make it easy to follow structure of discussion
* Phonetic pronunciations for unfamiliar names and terms
* Breakouts with illustrative quotes from ancient, non biblical literature
* Discussion questions on the contemporary relevance of the New Testament
* Updated bibliographies
* Conservative evangelical theological perspective also notes other positions and literature" (From the Zondervan Website)
About the Author: Robert H. Gundry (PhD, Manchester) is a scholar-in-residence and professor emeritus of New Testament and Greek at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Among his books are Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross; Matthew: A Commentary on His Handbook for a Mixed Church Under Persecution, Soma in Biblical Theology, and Jesus the Word According to John the Sectarian.
My Thoughts About the Book: The fourth edition of Robert Gundry's book, A Survey of the New testament, is as they say, the best that it gets. If you are someone who is seeking a full-color, readable, and understandable New Testament Survey book written by someone who is a noted author and Biblical scholar, this book is for you. Dr. Gundry's Survey of the New Testament book is required reading for many Biblical courses taught at Bible Colleges, Universities and Seminaries all across our country, as it well should be.
The information presented in Dr. Gundry's book opens up the world of the New Testament to its readers providing accurate information concerning "People to Remember," "Places to Remember," and "Terms to Remember." And this information is essential to a good understanding of the New Testament. He also includes a section at the end of each chapter that asks the question, "How Much Did You Learn?" This section helps the reader review what they have read to see how much of it they learned. Another section in each chapter of his book is entitled "For Further Discussion" which is a section of the chapter intended to promote a healthy discussion of what you have read and learned in each chapter. And he concludes each chapter of his book with a section entitled "For Further Investigation." He recommends resources from a variety of authors and perspectives that are appropriate for the subject matter of each chapter read. All who use this book will find the information to be invaluable for further research and study of the material that's been covered in each chapter after finishing reading it.
In his book Dr Gundry has included stunning full-color photos of important places mentioned in the New Testament such as the "Judean Wilderness Where Jesus Was Tempted," or "The Hill of the Beatitudes." Along with the photos there are a few maps of significant Biblical places as well as pictures of objects that are relevant to the time and culture he has written about in each of the chapters of his book. And he also has provided some insightful reference charts such as the one comparing the Four Gospels or the one that compares the "Interpretation of the Pretribulational Rapture" to the Posttribulational Interpretation of the Rapture" that are helpful to the reader/student. And one other helpful tool he offers the reader of his book are notes scattered throughout the entire book that share information about people, things people said, places, and objects of interest that relates to the material covered in the chapter.
So whether a student in a Bible college or Seminary, a pastor or ministry leader, or a student of the Scriptures who wants to learn more about the New Testament this is the book for you. In it you will find a wealth of information that will most assuredly help you better understand the New Testament in a way like you have never been able to do so before so you can more effectively apply it in your every day lives as followers of Christ.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Zondervan Publishing Company for review purposes. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
October 7, 2008
I had to read this book for my NT Survey class. It serves as an excellent guide to studying the NT. It also sheds light on the intertestamental period linking the Old and New Testament times. History, culture, and language are all touched in each of the NT books as well as the chronology of the NT. I am really glad I had to read this book and learned a lot from it. Even though it is a textbook it is not dry reading at all and I hope to go back through it again in the future when I can slow down and enjoy it more! I highly recommend it!
November 26, 2008
There is a lot of great historical background in this book. The thing that this book has going for it is the same thing that I did not like about it. that is, it feels a lot like a junior high text book in it's layout, but at the same time because of the layout it is easy to find particular information concerning a biblical book. I think that anytime I begin to study a new biblical book from now on, I will begin by reading the correlating chapter from Gundry.
March 26, 2008
This is a great book to expand the study of the New Testament. It explaines what was going on in history at the time the books were written. It gives insight into the lives of the authors of each book and what else was going on in the world at that time. A great way to expand the understanding of the books.
July 26, 2010
Pretty solid but not earth-shattering. If you've ever read any set of commentaries or intro to the NT book then this one won't be very helpful but if this were used with a new Christian it would be highly effective.
May 13, 2013
Started reading, with yellow highlighter, as part of self study. Found a few college
Syllabi online that use this book as primary text. Am only 20 years behind
My goal of learning historical bible to match my keen interest in theological issues...go hand in hand.
Syllabi online that use this book as primary text. Am only 20 years behind
My goal of learning historical bible to match my keen interest in theological issues...go hand in hand.
July 9, 2014
One of the most wonderful textbooks I have ever had. I read it during a three-week class from cover to cover, and I kept it because it was such a helpful, well-written tool to help me understand the NT.
August 16, 2015
Gundry's NT survey is probably the first proper theology textbook I owned and read. A competent and workmanlike (if dated) overview of the New Testament, which partly explains its popularity and translation into many languages.
May 17, 2007
Talbot Course: Survey of Matthew-Revelation
It's a solid basic book covering the NT.
It's a solid basic book covering the NT.
April 11, 2009
A well-illustrated book for the serious student
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April 17, 2009A survey of the New Testament by Robert Horton Gundry (?)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews