Michael Potts's Blog: Bits and Pieces: Book Reviews and Articles on Writing, Horror Fiction, and Some Philosophy - Posts Tagged "new-testament"

Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey by Mark Allan Powell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It is actually the second (2018) edition I am reviewing--this is the finest book surveying the New Testament I have read. It would make an excellent textbook for an undergraduate class in Survey of the New Testament. The author does not take sides in scholarly disputes but lays out all positions and allows the student to decide between them. The clarity of the writing is refreshing--all academics should write so clearly, especially in textbooks for college and university courses. The author's style is also engaging, drawing in the reader. It is clear that the author is excited about the New Testament, believes it to be a fascinating read, and communicates that excitement to the reader. I found no factual errors regarding academic content, though perhaps he should reconsider his story of Psalm 46 in the KJV and Shakespeare since that has been discredited! That is such a minor point, but I figured it worth mentioning (if you're interested, Google "Psalm 46" and "Shakespeare" together and you will find the information you need). Although the author is an Evangelical Protestant, the book is written in such a way that it could be used by teachers of many ideologically different views. I recall the excitement of my seminary courses in New Testament, and this book helped me recapture that excitement. I believe that this is the ideal textbook for students in New Testament even if they have not been exposed to the New Testament before. It has my highest recommendation.



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