The blend of variety and unity apparent in the thought of the New Testament has long been a subject for theological debate. Certain themes, teaching, and characterizations are clearly consistent, but others are perplexing in their diversity. This study explores the different aspects of variety and unity in the entire New Testament, focusing in particular on the sixteen books that fall outside the central Gospels and Pauline epistles and which offer the greatest challenge to the defense of unity, Reumann's discussion demonstrates that, despite contemporary emphasis on the pluralism of the...

The life and death of Jesus of Nazareth and the beginnings of the movement which venerated him are of profound religious significance to Christian believers today. These events are also part of our common history and have had enormous influence on the development of Western civilization. This is a thorough historical introduction to the New Testament, considering many aspects of the formation of Christianity and how it has influenced subsequent secular and religious history. A revised edition of a classic text, The Origins of Christianity addresses the historical problems involved in the...

This book is intended for students of theology; teachers of religious studies; clergy; and all with a keen interest in the Bible.

This is a completely revised and expanded edition of a classic text. Drawing on recent work on legal and didactic material and including more literary interpretation, Blenkinsopp traces the course of two related key traditions--law and wisdom--throughout the history of Israel in the biblical period. He demonstrates their essential lines of continuity with classical Jewish thought and early Christian theology.

This book defines interpretation and examines the special issues that surround biblical interpretation. The authors analyze the development of traditional literary and historical criticism and more recent social, scientific, and literary approaches, focusing on the key figures from Reimarus to Gerd Theissen, and exposing the underlying theological issues. They reveal a pattern in the relationship between religious interests in the texts and the rational methods used to interpret them, providing guidance for a theologically sensitive use of the Bible today. The book includes an annotated index...