Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey

Encountering Biblical Studies

by Walter A. Elwell, Robert W. Yarbrough

Studying the New Testament can be an exciting--and intimidating--experience. This readable survey is designed to make the adventure less daunting and more rewarding. Two experienced classroom teachers offer a new edition of their bestselling and award-winning textbook (over 250,000 copies sold).

This fourth edition takes into account the dramatic shift in the global Christian population. Other distinguishing features include abundant images, maps, and charts--all in full color; sidebars that address ethical and theological concerns and provide primary source material; focus boxes isolating key issues; chapter outlines, learning objectives, and summaries; and study questions.

An accompanying website through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources offers an array of resources for students and professors. Resources for students include flash cards and self quizzes. Resources for professors include discussion questions and a test bank.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, New Testament, Nonfiction, Reference, Textbooks

464 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Walter A. Elwell (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) is emeritus professor of biblical and theological studies at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, where he taught for nearly thirty years. He has edited numerous biblical reference works, including the Baker Theological Dictionary of the Bible and the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology.

Reviews

[Mike Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thorough and accessible introduction to the New Testament. Full disclosure, this is a textbook for a class I am finishing. Although it is a textbook, the writing style is clear and understandable. Its function is to summarize each book of the New Testament, which it does well, with lots of aids to emphasize the main points of each book. There is a brief explanation of modern scholarship on each NT book, but the author clearly favors a reformed, historical view.

[Nathan Boleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Survey of the New Testament. It has great information, maps and statements. It will NOT make you grow you scholarly. It has miniscule information in regards to theology. If you want to have a deeper understanding of scriptural verses, stick to the commentaries and the overviews they provide at the beginning.

[Vesselin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Доста добро въведение в Новия Завет и съвсем съвременно (в третото издание на книгата). Езикът е много достъпен и нетехнически. Всички използвани термини са добре обяснени. Така е постигнат балансът между общодостъпен стил и създаване на сравнително задълбочени познания у читателя по темата. Съдържа добре подбрана информация за историческата, културната, религиозната и политическата обстановка около времето на написването на Новия Завет.

Особено внимание е отделено и на по-съвременни начини на тълкуване на новозаветния текст, като видовете библейски критицизъм - от възникването им в епохата на Просвещението, до най-съвременните. С теми като тази, книгата има на моменти апологетичен характер. Дава добра възможност на читателя да се запознае със съвременни критики срещу новозаветния текст, като показва, макар и накратко, несъстоятелността на много от тях.

В края на всяка глава има кратко резюме на всичко, разгледано в нея, което значително улеснява запомнянето на информацията. Също, след всяка глава е дадена допълнителна литература, като накратко е посочена причината за това към всяка от препоръчаните книги. Накрая е извлечен и много добре подбран терминилогичен речник, който е не по-голям от останалите глави в книгата, и това позволява на читателя набързо да си припомни доста от прочетеното, без да се рови из текста.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a New Testament Survey. A mediocre one at that. In the goal of maintaining brevity, it often ends up in oversimplification instead. When there are multiple viewpoints on an issue, be it date authorship or interpretation, the author will present his own view as the "obvious" correct understanding and will dismiss or strawman away any conflicting opinions. Even when I agree with him, the lack of genuine engagement is frustrating. I have been reading this simultaneously with The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown. Both are surveys presented from a Calvanist Evangelical standpoint but that other work is far superior to this one.

[Greg D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed the study and reading of this book. I also took the time to answer the questions posed at the end of each chapter. The study of New Testament survey gave me a detailed glimpse into the background of each individual book contained within the New Testament. This book shared with me insight into the authorship, the date, and the place of which they were written. It also gave me insight into what life was like during the time these God-inspired books were written. Perhaps more importantly, it also shared with me as to why these books were written by men who had such zeal for Christ that they were willing to count the cost, even if it meant certain death at the hands of their persecutors.

As a believer preparing for full time ministry as a missionary overseas, I was most struck by this book’s description of Paul’s life and his numerous missionary journeys. Paul took at least three missionary journeys for certain, but possibly several more. His overwhelming love for Christ and his desire to see others saved from the eternal torments of hell is what drove Paul all across the Roman world. Like all New Testament believers, Paul was willing to suffer persecution, torture, and suffering, all for the sake of the cross. What a great model of inspiration Paul is to not only me, but for all believers who are charged with the task of sharing the Gospel to the end of the earth.

Finally, it is my hope from the knowledge that I have gained from the completion of this book, that God will use it not for selfish ambition or gain, but solely for the purpose to glorify God, especially amongst the people that God will place in my path. I have indeed learned much, and I look forward to sharing this knowledge in my Bible studies amongst the Roma people of Albania, where my family and I will soon begin serving.

[Matt Pelto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent survey and introduction to the New Testament from a conservative perspective. Each book receives specific attention in the form of synopsis, theology, background, critical issues, etc. Additionally, non-text-specific issues are well addressed such as various critical studies and "historical Jesus" studies. It is limited in some areas, but that is just due to the choice of scope. Overall, it is a very helpful volume.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the New Testament that gives surface level basic info about each of the books.

[Sharon Gilpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading for me in a Biblical Studies college course. I found it very well organized and covered many aspects within the limited space of a textbook. Each book covers author, date, place of writing, outline, purpose and characteristics, and then specific topics in each book. At the end of each chapter there is a further reading list which is very helpful for the student to continue their research. There is also a glossary at the end of the book which I found very helpful in learning the vocabulary. I highly recommend this book and I will continue to use this book throughout my studies.

[M Saint juste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book for new Bible learners. It will take you through the necessary preliminary background information of the New Testament.

I had a wonderful time as a teacher using this text and a few others for our NewTestament course.

The students will enjoy a good beginning resource material for their initial journey into the studies of The Bible.

[Levi Moss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Updating old reads:

Similiar comments to my review of the Old Testament version of this. Includes a lot of details on controversies surrounding authorship of the Epistles. For some I'm sure this is fascinating, but honestly, it feels endlessly speculative. I believe Scripture is authoritative and true, and if 1 Thessalonians says Paul wrote it, I believe Paul wrote it.

[Erin Clements · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my textbook for New Testament Survey, and we were (unfortunately) required to read it cover to cover. It frequently went from very interesting to very boring and back again, so it earns an overall three stars.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource! We used this as the textbook for a course on General New Testament Letters with Vineyard Institute. The authors presented a very readable and accessible text, with lots of helpful "extras."

[CuriousBob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a good introduction to the New Testament. It is fairly basic, like a handbook, in a textbook fashion. I appreciate the it discusses dissenting views on various topics. I recommend it. Read widely.

[Melissa Scruggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clear, very organized, very much a textbook. I appreciated the consistent structure for each New Testament book, but it was dry and pretty predictable. It did the job, but I was hoping for something a little more interesting or surprising.

[Ruth Noemi Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this textbook in a theology class.

[Alaric Aumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the New Testament, a very well laid out survey of both the Historicity and the Theology of the faith.

[JSem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good NT sure text

[Nathan Deck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good survey of the NT. It’s written in an engaging fashion which is nice for a textbook, but this is more at the undergrad level not graduate.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent overview of the New Testament, but not the best, however.

[Melody Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent textbook. Favorite one lol.

[anna kuester]

new testament survey required reading 💃💃💃

[Mason Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good entry level book for a survey of the NT

[Harley Cottingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book filled with New Testament context for both the time period, religious groups and each individual book and author of the Bible

[Natalie Lapointe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the OT one better, but it did what it needed to

[Marcus Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this book was an okay resource for an overview of the New Testament historically (New Testament background) and various views and interpretations of various books within the New Testament. The chapters on the New Testament background were helpful as they painted a picture and setting of the New Testament books and helped bring out socio-cultural practices. I have not read the 'Introduction to the New Testament by Carson and Moo' cover yet, but that is the best resource for studying all New Testament books.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hehehe! It's the Bible 11 textbook! It really isn't as bad as it seems. There's a lot of interesting information about, well, the New Testament. One of the things that sticks out is the discussion about the authorship and dating of each book. It puts things into a historical context.

It is a little boring. And it is a textbook. But at least it has pictures. And interesting little side notes every once in a while.

And I admit that currently-reading is a little generous. It's more like sporadically-reading.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book put me to sleep on a couple of occasions. It had a nice set-up and a variety of pictures and tables to read, but I just didn't find it interesting. There were so many names and dates that I had a hard time keeping track of everything. I wasn't the biggest fan of this book, to say the least.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for my NT Survey class. It offered a great overview of the New Testament, but that's about it. Despite the occasional personal opinions, lack of understanding of different Christian denominations, and tendencies to randomly use overly bombastic language, this book challenged me to dig deeper into the history and significance of the New Testament. For that, I'm giving it four stars.

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually my textbook this year for Bible. We don't read it that often but it is fairly interesting. The section where they date each book is sometimes hard to follow because it gives five different dates and then says it is probably this one. Other wise it is interesting and gives cool details and photos of different sites.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written more basic Evangelical Introduction to the New Testament.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801...