Bibliographical details:
Brown, R. E. (1999). An Introduction to the New Testament. The Anchor Bible Reference Library. New York: Doubleday.
Publisher’s information:
From the experience of a lifetime of scholarship, preaching, teaching, and writing, Raymond E. Brown covers the entire scope of the New Testament with ease and clarity. He walks readers book by book through the basic content and issues of the New Testament. While a wealth of information is contained in these pages, the work’s most impressive features are the basic summaries of each book, a historical overview of the ancient Greco-Roman world, discussions of key theological issues, and the rich supplementary materials, such as illustrative tables, maps, bibliographies, and appendixes. Using this basic data, Brown answers questions raised by today’s readers, relates the New Testament to our modern world, and responds to controversial issues, such as those raised by the Jesus Seminar.
If a person could own only one book on the New Testament, An Introduction to the New Testament is the title of choice. At least, that is what leading biblical scholars say:
‘I know of no other book that so effectively does what this volume sets out to do – to introduce students to the books of the New Testament in a way to encourage and enable them to read these writings. The book is the result of a life-time of scholarship. It deserves the wide use it is destined to have.’ – Edgar V. McKnight, Professor of Religion, Furman University
‘At last, a topnotch introductory book for study of the New Testament! It is highly recommended for all Bible study groups, college students, seminarians, and pastors.’ – Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J., Georgetown University
‘Although Raymond Brown avowedly writes for the student and not for his fellow scholars, it is safe to predict that his An Introduction to the New Testament will become a standard work and benchmark for both. Readers who have long admired Brown’s erudition, thoroughness, and careful judgment will not be disappointed.’ – D. Moody Smith, Jr., Professor of New Testament, Duke University, Divinity School
‘Written in an eminently clear style, this Introduction will be a touchstone by which other popular introductions to the New Testament will be judged for years to come. It is a treasure trove of both reliable information and sober judgment.’ – John P. Meier, Professor of Biblical Studies, The Catholic University of America
‘Once again Raymond Brown has written a magnum opus … a monumental piece of scholarship that speaks to experts and novices alike. If a person could own only one book on the New Testament, this is the one to have.’ – Bruce M. Metzger, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary
‘This is the best Introduction to the New Testament available. I know no better synthesis of New Testament scholarship today.’ – Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Professor of New Testament, Weston Jesuit School of Theology; General Editor, New Testament Abstracts
‘As the New Testament is emerging today – for the first time in history – as a legitimate field of academic exploration for Jewish readers, this is the premier text where I’ll be directing my students for a fair weighing of the evidence … scholarship not measuring up to [Brown's] probing questions and reasoned responses may not be good scholarship at all!’ – Rabbi Michael J. Cook, Professor of Judaeo-Christian Studies, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, Ohio
At the pinnacle of his career, Raymond E. Brown, S.S., Ph.D., is internationally regarded as a dean of New Testament scholars. As Auburn Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, he has received some thirty honorary degrees from Catholic and Protestant universities worldwide, he has been elected a (Corresponding) Fellow of the British Academy and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In addition to being past president of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Catholic Biblical Association, and the Society of New Testament Studies, he has been appointed by two Popes as the sole American on the Pontifical Biblical Commission. Brown has written more than thirty-five books on the Bible, including the acclaimed Anchor Bible Reference Library volumes The Birth of the Messiah, and The Death of the Messiah.
Table of contents:
Foreword and Acknowledgments … vii
Introductory Background Material … xxiii-xlv
Abbreviations … xxv
Useful Information about the Bible as a Whole … xxxiii
Chronological Table of People and Events Pertinent to the NT … xxxviii
Maps of Palestine and the Mediterranean Area … xlii
Part I: Preliminaries for Understanding the New Testament … 1-96
Chapter 1. The Nature and Origin of the New Testament … 3-19
Chapter 2. How to Read the New Testament … 20-47
Chapter 3. The Text of the New Testament … 48-54
Chapter 4. The Political and Social World of New Testament Times … 55-73
Chapter 5. The Religious and Philosophical World of New Testament Times … 74-96
Part II: The Gospels and Related Works … 97-405
Chapter 6. Gospels in General; Synoptic Gospels in Particular … 99-125
Chapter 7. The Gospel According to Mark … 126-170
Chapter 8. The Gospel According to Matthew … 171-224
Chapter 9. The Gospel According to Luke … 225-278
Chapter 10. The Acts of the Apostles … 279-332
Chapter 11. The Gospel According to John … 333-382
Chapter 12. First Epistle (Letter) of John … 383-394
Chapter 13. Second Letter of John … 395-400
Chapter 14. Third Letter of John … 401-405
Part III: The Pauline Letters … 407-680
Chapter 15. Classifications and Format of New Testament Letters … 409-421
Chapter 16. General Issues in Paul’s Life and Thought … 422-445
Chapter 17. An Appreciation of Paul … 446-455
Chapter 18. First Letter to the Thessalonians … 456-466
Chapter 19. Letter to the Galatians … 467-482
Chapter 20. Letter to the Philippians … 483-501
Chapter 21. Letter to Philemon … 502-510
Chapter 22. First Letter to the Corinthians … 511-540
Chapter 23. Second Letter to the Corinthians … 541-558
Chapter 24. Letter to the Romans … 559-584
Chapter 25. Pseudonymity and DeuteroPauline Writing … 585-589
Chapter 26. Second Letter to the Thessalonians … 590-598
Chapter 27. Letter to the Colossians … 599-619
Chapter 28. Epistle (Letter) to the Ephesians … 620-637
Chapter 29. Pastoral Letter: To Titus … 638-652
Chapter 30. Pastoral Letter: The First to Timothy … 653-671
Chapter 31. Pastoral Letter: The Second to Timothy … 672-680
Part IV: The Other New Testament Writings … 681-813
Chapter 32. Letter (Epistle) to the Hebrews … 683-704
Chapter 33. First Letter of Peter … 705-724
Chapter 34. Epistle (Letter) of James … 725-747
Chapter 35. Letter (Epistle) of Jude … 748-760
Chapter 36. Second Epistle (Letter) of Peter … 761-772
Chapter 37. The Book of Revelation (The Apocalypse) … 773-813
Appendixes … 815-840
I. The Historical Jesus … 817-830
II. Jewish and Christian Writings Pertinent to the NT … 831-840
Indexes … 841-878
Bibliographical Index of Authors … 843-866
Index of Subjects … 867-878
Click here to read the review by Howard Clark Kee published in the Review of Biblical Literature.
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