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Exploring the New Testament, Volume 2

A Guide to the Letters and Revelation, Third Edition

Exploring the New Testament, Volume 2

A Guide to the Letters and Revelation, Third Edition

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Paperback / softback

£20.99

Publisher: SPCK Publishing
ISBN: 9780281084647
Number of Pages: 400
Published: 29/04/2021
Width: 18.9 cm
Height: 24.6 cm
‘An invaluable resource for both students and teachers.’ Dr Lucy Peppiatt Tried, tested and trusted by students and teachers across the world, this widely respected study guide enables the reader to engage with an array of essential topics, including: · the Greco-Roman background to ancient letter writing · the content and major themes of Paul's life, mission and theology · issues of authorship, date and setting · well established and newer methods of study · the intersection of New Testament studies with contemporary issues of faith and culture Now in its third edition, this popular textbook has been fully revised and updated, and includes new sections on: · the theological links between Jesus and Paul · major recent discussions on Pauline theology · developments in scholarship of the New Testament · updated bibliographies, highlighting the most important and influential works published in the past decade Drawing on the authors’ decades of experience in teaching these topics, this comprehensive textbook gives students a strong understanding and a solid foundation for further study.
How to use this bookxi A.SETTING THE SCENE The world of first-century Christians3 How do we know what we know?3 The emergence of Roman power4 A century of civil conflict4 Augustus’ successors6 The Julio-Claudian dynasty6 The Flavian dynasty6 Government of the empire8 The provinces8 Client kingdoms9 Cities and colonies9 The power of propaganda9 The army10 The legions10 Auxiliaries10 The praetorian guard10 Roman society10 Citizenship10 Classes11 Women12 Patrons and clients12 Language and culture13 Entertainment13 Religion and philosophy14 Traditional religion14 Healing cults15 Mystery religions15 Fate, astrology and magic16 The imperial cult16 Cynics, Stoics and Epicureans17 Romans, Jews and Christians18 Essay topics20 Further reading20 B.PAUL AND HIS LETTERS Letters in the New Testament23 Ancient letter-writing23 The format of letters24 The format of Paul’s letters25 Letters of recommendation or introduction28 Other New Testament letters28 Further reading29 Paul, his letters and his life 31 Where can we learn about Paul?31 Material from outside the New Testament32 The Acts of the Apostles32 The letters of Paul34 Difficulties in the Pauline letters34 Were the letters all written by Paul?34 Do we have the letters in their original form?36 Is Paul a reliable informant about himself?36 Early days36 Paul’s call and conversion38 Paul as a missionary39 Paul the captive41 Problems of chronology42 Essay topics44 Further reading44 The letter to the Galatians47 What led to the writing of the letter?47 The structure of the letter49 Paul’s argument in the letter50 ‘New Perspective’ readings of Paul52 Was the letter effective?53 To whom was the letter sent?55 When was the letter written?57 Consequences for the date of the letter60 For today’s Galatians60 Essay topics61 Further reading61 The letters to the Thessalonians63 Paul and Thessalonica63 The contents of 1 Thessalonians65 The contents of 2 Thessalonians69 Problems in 2 Thessalonians72 For today’s Thessalonians74 Essay topics74 Further reading74 The ‘first’ letter to the Corinthians77 Paul’s mission77 The ‘previous’ letter78 Getting behind the second (first) letter79 Continuing immorality80 Party squabbles in the congregation80 The rich and the poor81 ‘Strong’ and ‘weak’ believers82 Spiritual superiority and inferiority83 Questions about the resurrection84 Surveying 1 Corinthians84 Party spirit85 Immorality and litigation86 Sexual and marital issues87 Food offered to idols88 Congregational meetings90 Spiritual gifts91 The resurrection92 In conclusion92 For today’s Corinthians93 Essay topics93 Further reading94 The ‘second’ letter to the Corinthians95 An overview of the problems95 The events leading up to 2 Corinthians 1—796 Identifying the tearful letter97 Survey of 2 Corinthians 1—799 Thanksgiving(Berakah)99 The rift with the congregation100 The nature of apostleship101 Resuming the story102 Corinthians 8 and 9103 More fragmentary letters?104 The problem of 2 Corinthians 10—13104 The occasion of 2 Corinthians 10—13107 For today’s Corinthians108 Essay topics108 Further reading109 The letter to the Romans111 The purpose of the letter111 The nature of the argument in the letter114 An overview of the letter115 The opening (and the closing) (Rom. 1:1–15; 15:14—16:27)115 The text is announced! (Rom. 1:16–17)116 Universal sin and guilt (Rom. 1:18—3:20)116 The main proposition (Rom. 3:21–31)117 Abraham as an example of faith (Rom. 4:1–25)118 The results of justification (Rom. 5:1–11)118 Christ contrasted with Adam (Rom. 5:12–21)119 No longer under sin and under the law (Rom. 6:1–23)120 The law is good – but impotent (Rom. 7:1–25)121 New life by the Spirit (Rom. 8:1–39)122 The problem of Jewish unbelief in the gospel (Rom. 9—11)123 Practical implications of the new life (Rom. 12—13)126 Jews and Gentiles living together in the same congregation (Rom. 14:1—15:13)126 Paul’s mission – to Rome and beyond (Rom. 15:14–33)127 Closing greetings (Rom. 16:1–27)127 Scribes do strange things128 Again – the purpose of the letter130 The composition of Romans130 The problems of Romans 16132 Two versions of one letter132 Two separate letters133 For today’s Romans134 Essay topics134 Further reading135 The letter to the Philippians137 Paul and the congregation at Philippi137 Paul’s situation138 The situation and needs of the church141 Attacks on the church141 Tensions within the church141 A rival version of the gospel141 The structure of the letter142 Philippians as a letter143 Philippians as an example of rhetoric143 The development of the message145 Philippians – one letter or several fragments?147 For today’s Philippians148 Essay topics149 Further reading149 The letter to Philemon151 Paul, Philemon and Onesimus151 The structure of the letter155 The outcome 155 For a twenty-first-century Philemon156 Essay topics156 Further reading157 The letter to the Colossians159 The planting of the congregation159 Why was the letter written?159 The ‘philosophy’160 The structure of the letter162 Paul’s teaching in the letter162 Paul’s circumstances166 Other possible places of origin166 Did Paul write Colossians?167 Arguments against Pauline authorship167 Arguments in favour of Pauline authorship168 For today’s Colossians168 Essay topics169 Further reading169 The letter to the Ephesians171 To whom was the letter sent?172 What is the letter?173 The unity of the church174 ‘Power’ language174 The structure of the letter175 A quick survey of the letter175 Who wrote the letter?177 Arguments against Pauline authorship177 Arguments for Pauline authorship179 Weighing the probabilities179 For today’s Ephesians180 Essay topics181 Further reading181 The letters to Timothy and Titus183 Letters that are somehow different183 The problem of non-Pauline authorship184 To whom were the letters written?185 When were the letters written?186 What are the letters about?187 The structure of the letter to Titus187 An overview of Titus187 The structure of 1 Timothy188 An overview of 1 Timothy189 The structure of 2 Timothy191 An overview of 2 Timothy191 What is the situation reflected in the letters?193 Opposition and heresy193 The development of church order194 Christian living and pastoral care195 Language and style196 The theology and the way it is expressed196 Evaluating the evidence197 Not by Paul?197 Written or dictated by Paul?198 A middle way?198 For today’s congregational leaders199 Essay topics199 Further reading199 Paul – the missionary theologian201Paul as an apostle201Humanity and its need202Creation202Human nature202Sin203Getting right with God204Justification by works204Covenantal nomism204The marks of belonging204Paul’s radical alternative205The language of salvation205Sacrifice205Justification205Redemption206Reconciliation206Salvation206Faith206The new life of believers207God as Father207‘In Christ’208The work of the Spirit210Theological implications for Paul’s understanding of God211The community of believers212Ministry and the functions of the church213What principles shape Christian behaviour?215Five general principles215The new way of life216Some specific areas of concern217Relations between men and women217Slavery217The state217Money and possessions217The future for the world and believers217The missionary obligation219Essay topics219Further reading21915New Testament letters – interpretation and authorship221Understanding what we read in New Testament letters221 viiiTwo related activities223Speeches in the form of letters?227Entering into the situation228Getting the message230Critical methods in the study of the New Testament232Historical criticism232Form criticism232Source criticism232Redaction criticism232Textual criticism232Canonical criticism233Literary criticism233Socio-rhetorical criticism233Reception history and reader-response criticism233Ideology criticism233The question of pseudonymity234The traditional view235Alternative suggestions236Further reactions237Essay topics238Further reading238. C. LETTERS BY OTHER CHURCH LEADERS The letter to the Hebrews243Clues about the recipients243What kind of a document?244The structure and argument of Hebrews245Theological themes of Hebrews250The high priest and his sacrifice250Other perspectives on Jesus251Salvation and the Christian hope251Discipleship252Special issues252The author’s thought-world252Is Hebrews anti-Jewish?254Where were the readers located?254Who wrote the letter?256Some issues for today257Essay topics259Further reading26017The letter of James261The character of the letter of James261James as exhortation or ‘parenesis’262James as wisdom262James as a letter263The structure of the letter263Who wrote the letter?264To whom was the letter addressed? Why, and when?266Jewish Christians in Palestine?266Jewish Christians in the Dispersion?267James and the teaching of Jesus267James and Paul268Themes in James270God270Jesus270Living with integrity270The law271The testing of faith271Poverty and wealth272Some issues for today273Essay topics273Further reading27418The first letter of Peter277Outline of the letter277The situation of the recipients278What was the nature of their suffering?280The letter’s message to the churches281Christian existence in a hostile environment282The grace of God in Christ282The household of God282God’s people282Facing suffering284Christian responsibilities284Who wrote 1 Peter?285Assessing the arguments287Some issues for today288Essay topics289Further reading29019The second letter of Peter and the letter of Jude291What do these letters have in common?291The letter of Jude – its purpose293The false teachers293Jude’s strategy for advising his readers294Who wrote this letter?2952 Peter – genre and outline2962 Peter – the problem of authorship298The false teachers in 2 Peter300The purpose and theology of 2 Peter301The hope of Christ’s coming301Some issues for today302Essay topics303Further reading304 ix20The letters of John3051 John – background and authorship305Is the author of 1 John the same as the author of the Fourth Gospel?306The location of the author and his readers307The circumstances addressed in 1 John308The nature of the false teaching308John’s response to the false teaching310The purpose and shape of 1 John311Some issues for today3132 and 3 John – their relation to 1 John313The context and content of 2 John314Hospitality to missionaries314The context and content of 3 John3153 John – evidence of an emerging pattern of church leadership?316Essay topics318Further reading318 D.APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE The Revelation to John323Language and genre324Historical context and dating326Dating326Authorship328Context328Theological perspectives331God331Jesus331The Spirit332The followers of the Lamb332Mythological context and emperor worship333Use of the Old Testament335Some examples336Structure and composition337Numbers and their meaning338Phrase repetition and word frequencies338Numerology339Words and their numbers340The decoding of 666 (Rev. 13:18)341Interpretative issues342Traditional approaches342Image, symbol and metaphor342Some issues for today344Essay topics344Further reading345Glossary347Index351

Howard Marshall (Author), Dr Ian Paul (Reader)

Howard Marshall (1934-2015) was Professor Emeritus of New Testament Interpretation at the University of Aberdeen. Ian Paul is Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, California. His recent publications include The Book of Revelation Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (IVP, 2018) and How to Interpret the Bible (Grove, 2017). Stephen Travis is a former Vice Principal and Lecturer in New Testament at St John's College, Nottingham. His recent publications include But What About God's Wrath? (IVP, 2019), co-authored with Kevin Kinghorn.

'Readers are given a wealth of resources for study, including historical background, context, scholarly discussions, theological reflections and essay questions. I recommend this book to anyone involved in theological education.' * Dr Lucy Peppiatt, Principal, Westminster Theological Centre * 'Avoids the twin dangers of overwhelming the student with detail and oversimplifying complex issues.' * Michael B. Thompson, former Associate Principal, Ridley Hall, Cambridge * A well-proportioned overview of background material, introductory detail and controversial issues. * James D. G. Dunn, Emeritus Lightfoot Professor of Divinity, Durham University * I know no better book for its purpose. * Richard Bauckham, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies, University of St Andrews *

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