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Reading the New Testament, An Introduction
The roots of the Christian heritage lie in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and in the believing community begun by his first followers.
344 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2012
35 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Pheme Perkins
61 books7 followersPheme Perkins (PhD, Harvard University) is professor of theology at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She is the author of numerous books, including Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels, Reading the New Testament, Peter: Apostle for the Whole Church, Gnosticism and the New Testament, and several commentaries.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 7, 2021
读的是朋友所赠的译稿，简体译本出版实在遥遥无望，他的译稿交给信德社快逾年了，还没有能出版的风声的。
本书对于想要深入阅读的读者可能过于浅显了，而且其编排论述的结构和内容上都不够清晰合理，贵在态度持平允当。
也祈愿花费心血的译本能尽早正式出版。
本书对于想要深入阅读的读者可能过于浅显了，而且其编排论述的结构和内容上都不够清晰合理，贵在态度持平允当。
也祈愿花费心血的译本能尽早正式出版。
March 17, 2013
This is a nice introduction to use for an undergraduate class in New Testament. The study questions at the end of each chapter are worthwhile exercises and the book as a whole takes a scholarly tone that is sensitive to tradition. There is one minor annoyance, in many instances quotations lack footnotes. A more thorough editing for citations would have been helpful.
April 8, 2022
Having picked up and looked through Reading the New Testament: An Introduction (Third Edition) a couple of years ago when looking for a replacement for Raymond E. Brown’s expensive and somewhat dated An Introduction to the New Testament, I considered this extremely friendly textbook and would have used it if the pandemic hadn’t shut down the plans for the new seminary where I was to help coordinate biblical studies. With plans on hold, respected and oft-cited Catholic New Testament scholar Pheme Perkins’ book went on the shelf only partially read. Recently, I was looking for books I could recommend that utilized canonical and rhetorical criticism as part of their approach. So, I decided to explore Reading the New Testament: An Introduction thoroughly this time.
The result, now that I have revealed the bias in what I was seeking, was a mixed bag. I find Reading the New Testament: An Introduction to be informed by said studies, but neither presenting them overtly nor assisting students with new methodologies. That being said, let me suggest that it is a very good introductory textbook in terms of background culture, understanding issues within the text, shaping an understanding of the structure of each book, and presenting useful comparative and summary information in chart form. This makes me happy to have purchased, read, and marked up this volume as a part of my personal library’s “permanent” collection.
One extremely helpful introductory hook in this presentation was to be found only three pages deep when she listed five (5) questions to be used in dating biblical books: 1) figures corresponding to extra-biblical data, 2) use by later writers, 3) how historical clues about the book compare with the setting implied in the narrative, 4) possible dates of stories or traditions used in the book (source criticism), and 5) are any traditions used in the book able to be isolated to a possible place and time of origin (p. 3). Another extremely helpful discussion regarded problems in translation where she used 2 Corinthians 10:10 as an example, moving from literal to ironic and showing her evaluation of each possible approach (p. 14). Further appreciation is due for her presentation of the historical cultural connections of the New Testament era: a) meaning and significance of diaspora (p. 29), b) explanation of Sadducees following the rule of Leviticus 11:33 (p. 36), c) and a summary of messianic expectations (p. 38). Later, her delineation of four types of Jewish Gentile Christianity seemed very helpful in helping students understand the relationship of church and synagogue: 1) Gentiles who became Jews (p. 152), 2) Gentiles living within Israel, 3) Gentiles not under the law, and 4) Those where Jesus had replaced Judaism (p. 153).
The book is replete with charts, some more helpful than others. I was impressed by: Chart 8-1’s quick-reference chronology of Paul’s life (p. 127), Chart 8-2’s nice listing of rhetorical clues to be found in the text (and more of what I was hoping for—p. 133), Chart 11-2’s comparison of issues and phrases similar in both Colossians and Ephesians (p. 181), and Chart 21-1’s very neat and useful summary of the letters to the seven churches of Revelation (pp. 288-290). These aren’t the only useful presentations of data, but these were my favorite.
As for what I was really looking for in terms of new criticism, I particularly liked: a) her presentation of chiasm in Philemon (pp. 141-142), b) her list of what I call “envelope stories” or narratives with bookends in Mark (p. 191), c) discussion of interpretative problems in the pastoral epistles (p. 267), and d) consideration of nature images used for human failing in James (p. 274). Although not exactly what I was looking for, I appreciated her take on the three themes for the early church emphasized in Luke-Acts (particularly the latter): 1) need for hospitality and sharing (p. 245), 2) call for personal piety (p. 246), and 3) consolation concerning persecution (p. 247). I also liked the way she presented the unnumbered visions in Revelation in groups of seven (7) as she presented her outline summary of Revelation (pp. 292-293).
One disappointment I had was with the bibliography. It is not that this is not helpful; it is that the author apparently opted to focus only on recent books and didn’t address any older classics. I realize she was very likely trying to restrict herself to books which might be readily available to her students, but I feel it does a disservice to students to focus strictly on more current scholarship. I would have liked to have seen C.F.D. Moule’s classic work on Greek idioms in there, T. W. Manson’s The Teachings of Jesus, and commentaries by R.H. Charles, C.H. Dodd, and C.K. Barrett in the mix. I also think Udo Schnelle’s work on the Gospel of John is a must. Even so, I understand something of her criteria for selecting this bibliography and I found some resources that I need to get—despite my quibbling.
Reading the New Testament: An Introduction (Third Edition) is a useful, accessible, and thoughtfully designed book. It would very likely be on my short list if I were to teach a New Testament Survey class again.
The result, now that I have revealed the bias in what I was seeking, was a mixed bag. I find Reading the New Testament: An Introduction to be informed by said studies, but neither presenting them overtly nor assisting students with new methodologies. That being said, let me suggest that it is a very good introductory textbook in terms of background culture, understanding issues within the text, shaping an understanding of the structure of each book, and presenting useful comparative and summary information in chart form. This makes me happy to have purchased, read, and marked up this volume as a part of my personal library’s “permanent” collection.
One extremely helpful introductory hook in this presentation was to be found only three pages deep when she listed five (5) questions to be used in dating biblical books: 1) figures corresponding to extra-biblical data, 2) use by later writers, 3) how historical clues about the book compare with the setting implied in the narrative, 4) possible dates of stories or traditions used in the book (source criticism), and 5) are any traditions used in the book able to be isolated to a possible place and time of origin (p. 3). Another extremely helpful discussion regarded problems in translation where she used 2 Corinthians 10:10 as an example, moving from literal to ironic and showing her evaluation of each possible approach (p. 14). Further appreciation is due for her presentation of the historical cultural connections of the New Testament era: a) meaning and significance of diaspora (p. 29), b) explanation of Sadducees following the rule of Leviticus 11:33 (p. 36), c) and a summary of messianic expectations (p. 38). Later, her delineation of four types of Jewish Gentile Christianity seemed very helpful in helping students understand the relationship of church and synagogue: 1) Gentiles who became Jews (p. 152), 2) Gentiles living within Israel, 3) Gentiles not under the law, and 4) Those where Jesus had replaced Judaism (p. 153).
The book is replete with charts, some more helpful than others. I was impressed by: Chart 8-1’s quick-reference chronology of Paul’s life (p. 127), Chart 8-2’s nice listing of rhetorical clues to be found in the text (and more of what I was hoping for—p. 133), Chart 11-2’s comparison of issues and phrases similar in both Colossians and Ephesians (p. 181), and Chart 21-1’s very neat and useful summary of the letters to the seven churches of Revelation (pp. 288-290). These aren’t the only useful presentations of data, but these were my favorite.
As for what I was really looking for in terms of new criticism, I particularly liked: a) her presentation of chiasm in Philemon (pp. 141-142), b) her list of what I call “envelope stories” or narratives with bookends in Mark (p. 191), c) discussion of interpretative problems in the pastoral epistles (p. 267), and d) consideration of nature images used for human failing in James (p. 274). Although not exactly what I was looking for, I appreciated her take on the three themes for the early church emphasized in Luke-Acts (particularly the latter): 1) need for hospitality and sharing (p. 245), 2) call for personal piety (p. 246), and 3) consolation concerning persecution (p. 247). I also liked the way she presented the unnumbered visions in Revelation in groups of seven (7) as she presented her outline summary of Revelation (pp. 292-293).
One disappointment I had was with the bibliography. It is not that this is not helpful; it is that the author apparently opted to focus only on recent books and didn’t address any older classics. I realize she was very likely trying to restrict herself to books which might be readily available to her students, but I feel it does a disservice to students to focus strictly on more current scholarship. I would have liked to have seen C.F.D. Moule’s classic work on Greek idioms in there, T. W. Manson’s The Teachings of Jesus, and commentaries by R.H. Charles, C.H. Dodd, and C.K. Barrett in the mix. I also think Udo Schnelle’s work on the Gospel of John is a must. Even so, I understand something of her criteria for selecting this bibliography and I found some resources that I need to get—despite my quibbling.
Reading the New Testament: An Introduction (Third Edition) is a useful, accessible, and thoughtfully designed book. It would very likely be on my short list if I were to teach a New Testament Survey class again.
November 25, 2016
good, even great, intro to the NT
October 18, 2015
I recently borrowed this book from the local library. Unfortunately my experience was ruined by other people's notes. Words were crossed out or edited. Which made it difficult to read. I wanted to know more about the Bible as now I am a co-Bible studies leader now at my little group. This gives me a chance to serve God and knowing what God wants me to do
November 21, 2020
This is a wonderful book and a must read for all Christians and those interested in studying the religion. View my review for the Old testament book for full review
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews