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Behind the Scenes of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts
- GenresAncient History
544 pages, Hardcover
Published November 5, 2024
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Bruce W. Longenecker
38 books23 followersDr. Longenecker specializes in the origins of Christianity, including the following emphases: Early Christianity in its Greco-Roman context; Jesus-devotion in the Vesuvian towns (Pompeii and Herculaneum); the life and theology of Paul; care for the needy among Christian communities of the Greco-Roman world.
Dr. Longenecker joined the Baylor faculty in August 2009, having taught previously at St Andrews University (Scotland, 1999-2009), Cambridge University (England, 1995-1999) and Durham University (England, 1991-1995).
- Ph.D. in Theology; University of Durham, England (1986-90).
- M.Rel. in New Testament Studies;Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (1983-86)
- B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies; Wheaton College, Illinois, U.S.A. (1979-83)
Dr. Longenecker joined the Baylor faculty in August 2009, having taught previously at St Andrews University (Scotland, 1999-2009), Cambridge University (England, 1995-1999) and Durham University (England, 1991-1995).
- Ph.D. in Theology; University of Durham, England (1986-90).
- M.Rel. in New Testament Studies;Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (1983-86)
- B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies; Wheaton College, Illinois, U.S.A. (1979-83)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 9, 2024
At more than 500 pages, and more than 60 chapters, this is a veritable feast of contextual information about the first century New Testament world.
Among the interesting bits of information we learn, for example, that Mark’s Jesus never enters cities, whereas Luke’s Jesus does (Chp.7). That isn’t necessarily a disagreement between the gospel writers, but it is a stark indication of how the gospel writers had very different interests and foci.
In some places the chapters were arguably a little too informative. In Chapter 4 for example, the philosophical background to the New Testament is explained with references to Neoplatonists like Plotinus, and to Marcus Aurelius. However, both of those philosophers lived centuries after the New Testament. Are they really relevant? This chapter read a little like a generic encyclopedia entry on ‘Ancient Philosophy’, rather than one crafted for a book about the background to the New Testament.
However, other chapters were much better focused. Chapter 44 on Sacrifice was particularly well written, with a sharp focus on the specifically New Testament issues. It was good to see that it took care to avoid potentially irrelevant references to the wider sacrificial cults which were contemporaneous.
While I enjoyed the information which the book provided, I was a little disappointed by some of the issues which it didn’t cover. For example, several of the chapters (such as chapter 13) noted that there were multiple versions of Hebrew scriptural texts available in the New Testament era. Ancient Christians (and for that matter, the Qumran community) seem to have been happy to read and cite differing versions of scripture alongside each other. That seems to be a markedly different attitude than we find in modern scholars who worry about establishing the precise textual authenticity of each piece of Scripture. Was there a different mindset in relation to Scripture in the New Testament era? Questions like that are important, and may have significant implications for modern Christians.
Another issue is pseudepigraphia (ie documents which are not written by the people they claim to be written by). This was mentioned in passing in a few chapters. But I was surprised that there wasn’t a more substantial discussion of the issue. Some modern scholars are prepared to dismiss half the Pauline epistles as not authentic (ie as written by other people ‘pretending’ to be Paul). Many scholars treat the Petrine epistles similarly, yet they claim to be eye witness testimony and they have been cited down the centuries as evidence for scriptural claims. Are they ‘fake’ documents making ‘dishonest’ claims? These kinds of questions raise serious issues for some modern Christians, so I would have welcomed a chapter exploring them.
Overall, this is definitely an informative book, and I enjoyed reading some of the articles. I particularly appreciated the stylistic approach of short articles which can be dipped into and read in any order. That makes this a potentially useful reference resource for preachers, teachers and anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of the wider New Testament world.
(These are honest comments on a (pre-publication) version of the text, which was kindly provided free by the publisher, for the purpose of writing a review).
Among the interesting bits of information we learn, for example, that Mark’s Jesus never enters cities, whereas Luke’s Jesus does (Chp.7). That isn’t necessarily a disagreement between the gospel writers, but it is a stark indication of how the gospel writers had very different interests and foci.
In some places the chapters were arguably a little too informative. In Chapter 4 for example, the philosophical background to the New Testament is explained with references to Neoplatonists like Plotinus, and to Marcus Aurelius. However, both of those philosophers lived centuries after the New Testament. Are they really relevant? This chapter read a little like a generic encyclopedia entry on ‘Ancient Philosophy’, rather than one crafted for a book about the background to the New Testament.
However, other chapters were much better focused. Chapter 44 on Sacrifice was particularly well written, with a sharp focus on the specifically New Testament issues. It was good to see that it took care to avoid potentially irrelevant references to the wider sacrificial cults which were contemporaneous.
While I enjoyed the information which the book provided, I was a little disappointed by some of the issues which it didn’t cover. For example, several of the chapters (such as chapter 13) noted that there were multiple versions of Hebrew scriptural texts available in the New Testament era. Ancient Christians (and for that matter, the Qumran community) seem to have been happy to read and cite differing versions of scripture alongside each other. That seems to be a markedly different attitude than we find in modern scholars who worry about establishing the precise textual authenticity of each piece of Scripture. Was there a different mindset in relation to Scripture in the New Testament era? Questions like that are important, and may have significant implications for modern Christians.
Another issue is pseudepigraphia (ie documents which are not written by the people they claim to be written by). This was mentioned in passing in a few chapters. But I was surprised that there wasn’t a more substantial discussion of the issue. Some modern scholars are prepared to dismiss half the Pauline epistles as not authentic (ie as written by other people ‘pretending’ to be Paul). Many scholars treat the Petrine epistles similarly, yet they claim to be eye witness testimony and they have been cited down the centuries as evidence for scriptural claims. Are they ‘fake’ documents making ‘dishonest’ claims? These kinds of questions raise serious issues for some modern Christians, so I would have welcomed a chapter exploring them.
Overall, this is definitely an informative book, and I enjoyed reading some of the articles. I particularly appreciated the stylistic approach of short articles which can be dipped into and read in any order. That makes this a potentially useful reference resource for preachers, teachers and anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of the wider New Testament world.
(These are honest comments on a (pre-publication) version of the text, which was kindly provided free by the publisher, for the purpose of writing a review).
December 23, 2024
This book is a collection of 62 academic essays on the ancient world leading up to, including, and after the New Testament period. One of the assumptions of this collection is that the NT was largely (or perhaps totally) written after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., so these essays covered a much broader period than I expected. Some essay authors stated that we don't know who really wrote the NT books and that prophecies were written by people who knew what happened but were pretending Jesus predicted them ahead of time. The Bible was treated as just another ancient document, not divinely inspired.
The essay authors usually tried to fit the NT writings into the surrounding ancient culture. As in, after talking about how a Roman or Greek would have written a letter, the author pointed out that NT letters had certain elements of a proper letter but were lacking others (like Paul was trying and failed to meet this formula). Another essay talked about Roman ideals of masculinity and how the NT writers tried to portray Jesus as a hypermasculine Roman ideal even though Jesus didn't seem to fit that ideal. I felt like the scholars were trying too hard to fit the NT into Roman culture rather than acknowledging how Jewish culture was unique, and maybe the Jews didn't want to fit in completely with Roman ideals and culture.
Since the NT wasn't divinely-inspired truth about God, one essay tried to figure out why people from other cultures might add Jesus to the gods they worshipped or even give up their other gods. What social benefit might they have received? Most of the essays hardly referenced the actual NT but were on topics relating to that general time period. For example, one essay simply gave an overview of Greek and Roman schools of thought. The essays weren't intended to help a student of the Bible better understand the NT in its Jewish context but usually gave an overview of various topics, mostly focused on Roman culture. The essays were very academic in writing style, with references to their sources cited in the text and a list of sources at the end of each essay. While I learned more about Roman culture than I'd previously known, I didn't feel like I'd gained any true insights into the NT.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The essay authors usually tried to fit the NT writings into the surrounding ancient culture. As in, after talking about how a Roman or Greek would have written a letter, the author pointed out that NT letters had certain elements of a proper letter but were lacking others (like Paul was trying and failed to meet this formula). Another essay talked about Roman ideals of masculinity and how the NT writers tried to portray Jesus as a hypermasculine Roman ideal even though Jesus didn't seem to fit that ideal. I felt like the scholars were trying too hard to fit the NT into Roman culture rather than acknowledging how Jewish culture was unique, and maybe the Jews didn't want to fit in completely with Roman ideals and culture.
Since the NT wasn't divinely-inspired truth about God, one essay tried to figure out why people from other cultures might add Jesus to the gods they worshipped or even give up their other gods. What social benefit might they have received? Most of the essays hardly referenced the actual NT but were on topics relating to that general time period. For example, one essay simply gave an overview of Greek and Roman schools of thought. The essays weren't intended to help a student of the Bible better understand the NT in its Jewish context but usually gave an overview of various topics, mostly focused on Roman culture. The essays were very academic in writing style, with references to their sources cited in the text and a list of sources at the end of each essay. While I learned more about Roman culture than I'd previously known, I didn't feel like I'd gained any true insights into the NT.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 21, 2025
You can read a longer version of this review at SpoiledMilks (06/27/25).
Behind the Scenes of the New Testament is a rich collection of 62 essays by various scholars that pairs cultural, historical, and social insights to help modern readers better understand the New Testament. Divided into three parts—Setting the Stage, Inhabiting the Stage, and Themes on the Stage—the book surveys key contexts such as Judaism, Hellenism, social groups, ritual purity, gift-giving, and household life.
The volume excels at showing how the New Testament’s meaning is deeply rooted in first-century symbolic worlds and social structures. For example, Matthew Novenson’s focus on Judaism’s central rituals and stories helps clarify much of the Gospels and Paul’s letters. Helen Bond’s essay on ancient biography sheds light on the Gospels as moral models, while John Barclay’s treatment of gift-giving reveals how the gospel both fits and upends Greco-Roman cultural norms.
While the book is more sociological than theological, and not always from a conservative evangelical stance, it is nevertheless an insightful resource. Some essays contain debatable conclusions, but the overall work is valuable for pastors, students, and scholars seeking to ground their New Testament reading in historical and cultural realities.
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Academic. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
Behind the Scenes of the New Testament is a rich collection of 62 essays by various scholars that pairs cultural, historical, and social insights to help modern readers better understand the New Testament. Divided into three parts—Setting the Stage, Inhabiting the Stage, and Themes on the Stage—the book surveys key contexts such as Judaism, Hellenism, social groups, ritual purity, gift-giving, and household life.
The volume excels at showing how the New Testament’s meaning is deeply rooted in first-century symbolic worlds and social structures. For example, Matthew Novenson’s focus on Judaism’s central rituals and stories helps clarify much of the Gospels and Paul’s letters. Helen Bond’s essay on ancient biography sheds light on the Gospels as moral models, while John Barclay’s treatment of gift-giving reveals how the gospel both fits and upends Greco-Roman cultural norms.
While the book is more sociological than theological, and not always from a conservative evangelical stance, it is nevertheless an insightful resource. Some essays contain debatable conclusions, but the overall work is valuable for pastors, students, and scholars seeking to ground their New Testament reading in historical and cultural realities.
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Academic. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
March 8, 2025
On the whole, this large collection of articles about the context of the New Testament is brilliant. As you would expect with 60 essays, they are variable in quality and approach. Some articles are only loosely connected to New Testament context, while others are truly insightful. Not all the authors are evangelical in approach. But overall, this book is well written and useful for illuminating different aspects of New Testament culture. It is also informative for showing new thinking and research in this area.
This book would be suitable either a non-academic or a student of the New Testament.
This book would be suitable either a non-academic or a student of the New Testament.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews