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Read it from cover to cover
A notably accessible introduction to the NT, says Paula Gooder
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SCM Studyguide: The books of the New Testament
SCM Press £14.99 (978-0-334-04047-7) Church Times Bookshop £13.50 THE SCM Studyguide series seeks to provide easily accessible entry-level texts, particularly for students beginning their study of theology. This volume is an excellent example of what can be achieved in a series such as this. When I first saw the book, I was not sure that it could introduce the New Testament in any helpful way in just 260 pages, when most New Testament introductions need 600-plus pages for the same task. Inevitably, there are some things that are missing, or are covered only briefly; but on the whole this volume does exactly what it sets out to do: to introduce the major issues in New Testament study, and to interest readers sufficiently to induce them to read further. In 13 chapters, the book explores the texts of the New Testament alongside its history and theology. It even finds space for a chapter on the development of the NT canon, which is an area often overlooked in New Testament introductions. It begins with the history of the period, and an exploration of the important issues in studying the historical Jesus and Paul, before looking at Paul’s letters, the Gospels, Acts, the ongoing Pauline tradition (letters attributed to Paul, but of disputed authorship), Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and Revelation. The remaining two chapters cover the development of the New Testament canon, and the traditions about the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Chapter 7, which deals with these, fits least well into the scheme of the book; it is not obvious why it has been included. It is the only chapter that focuses on aspects of Jesus’s life, and no explanation is given for focusing on these and not, say, on the development of traditions about the Lord’s Supper in the earliest Christian communities. Nevertheless, it is valuable, and explores the issues with the clarity and thoughtfulness that are the hallmark of the rest of the book. What marks this volume out from all comparable New Testament introductions is its accessibility. Most introductions are hard to read all the way from cover to cover, and function more as reference books. The brevity and readability of this volume, however, make it possible to read it from beginning to end. As a result, those who are new to New Testament study, or who wish to refresh their knowledge of New Testament scholarship, could gain a helpful snapshot of the whole discipline. This is an excellent introduction to the New Testament, which provides a useful way into what can be a bewildering and complex area. Dr Gooder is Tutor at the Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham. To order this book, email the details to Church Times Bookshop |
