The World of the New Testament

Last updated on: January 6, 2021 at 10:44 am by Frank Viola

The World of the New Testament 2021-01-06T10:44:33-04:00 Frank Viola

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One of the many books I’m using as a source for my revised version of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, due to release in the future, is The World of the New Testament ed. by Joel Green and Lee Martin McDonald.

This is a superb book. Coming in at over 600 pages, it covers the cultural, social, and historical context of the New Testament. Chapters are written by a battery of scholars and historians.

The book covers geography, the literary context, the Jewish people in the Roman Hellenistic context, and more. I found it to be well written, understandable, and insightful.

I’ll be using some of the findings in my upcoming book on the New Testament saga.

From the publisher

This volume addresses the most important issues related to the study of New Testament writings. Two respected senior scholars have brought together a team of distinguished specialists to introduce the Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman backgrounds necessary for understanding the New Testament and the early church. Contributors include renowned scholars such as Lynn H. Cohick, David A. deSilva, James D. G. Dunn, and Ben Witherington III. The book includes seventy-five photographs, fifteen maps, numerous tables and charts, illustrations, and bibliographies. All students of the New Testament will value this reliable, up-to-date, comprehensive textbook and reference volume on the New Testament world.

A Comprehensive Resource on the New Testament World

“Green and McDonald have designed a work comprising numerous topics essential for engaging the historical context of the New Testament and earliest Christianity, and they have assembled a good team of experienced and emergent scholars, who give concise and informed discussions of these topics. The result is a valuable volume, especially for students and general readers but also for scholars who want to catch up on any of the topics included.”
—Larry W. Hurtado, New College, University of Edinburgh

“This excellent book contains a wealth of information concerning the various contexts (e.g., Jewish, Hellenistic, historical, geographical, literary, sociological) in which the New Testament emerged. Since a knowledge of these contexts is supremely important for the interpreter, a comprehensive yet detailed overview is very welcome indeed. Here is a handy reference volume, produced by leading scholars, that every serious interpreter will be glad to have.”
—Donald A. Hagner, Fuller Theological Seminary

“The depth and breadth of The World of the New Testament will make it a standard work for libraries and the bookshelves of both pastors and scholars across a wide range of traditions. Here in one judiciously edited volume, readers will find ready access to information about Hellenistic philosophy, Jewish history, Jewish and Greco-Roman customs, and much more. The abundance of illustrations, maps, and diagrams brings the material to life. This will prove to be an invaluable resource for years to come.”
—Susan Eastman, Duke Divinity School

“The World of the New Testament assembles many of today’s most competent scholars on the ancient world to address in readable language key points for the entire range of ancient sources and history. If I were teaching a New Testament backgrounds course this semester, this is the textbook I would use.”
—Craig Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary

“This fine collection of essays will surely become a standard introduction to the world behind the New Testament. Not only will these studies break fresh ground for more advanced research, but together they construct a richly textured context that will produce a more wakeful study of the church’s Scripture.”
—Robert W. Wall, Seattle Pacific University

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