Reading the New Testament Today - Softcover

Dr. Robert E. Van Voorst is Professor of New Testament Studies at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and former professor of religion at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1995. He has served as a visiting professor in Oxford University and Zhejiang University in China. Van Voorst has written frequently on religious studies in noted journals and reference works. In addition, he has authored numerous books, including six with Cengage Learning: RELG: WORLD, 3rd Edition; READINGS IN CHRISTIANITY, 3rd Edition; ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES, 9th Edition; ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES: EASTERN RELIGIONS; ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES: WESTERN RELIGIONS; and READING THE NEW TESTAMENT TODAY, now also in a Chinese version. Other books by Van Voorst include BUILDING YOUR NEW TESTAMENT GREEK VOCABULARY, 3rd Edition; THE ASCENTS OF JAMES, a recovery and commentary on a second-century Jewish-Christian document; and JESUS OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT, an examination of traditions about Jesus in ancient classical and Jewish documents, now also in Italian.

Part I: INTRODUCING THE NEW TESTAMENT TODAY. 1. Introducing the New Testament. 2. Ways of Reading the New Testament Today. 3. The Jewish Matrix of the New Testament. 4. The Greco-Roman Matrix of the New Testament. Part II: GOSPEL PORTRAITS OF JESUS. 5. Introduction to the Gospels. 6. The Gospel of Mark: Following Jesus, the Suffering Messiah. 7. The Gospel of Matthew: Following Jesus, the Lord of a Diverse Church. 8. The Gospel of Luke: Following Jesus, the Savior of the World. 9. The Gospel of John: Following Jesus, the Eternal Son of God. Part III: AN EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORY. 10. The Acts of the Apostles: The Church from Jerusalem to Rome. Part IV: PAUL AND THE PAULINE TRADITION. 11. Introduction to Paul and the Pauline Tradition. 12. 1 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians: Letters to Greek Churches. 13. Galatians and Romans: Life in Faith. 14. Philippians and Philemon: Letters from Prison. 15. 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians: The Pauline Tradition. 16. 1-2 Timothy and Titus: Pastoral Letters to Guide the Pauline Churches. Part V: CATHOLIC/GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION. 17. Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, Jude, 2 Peter: The Catholic/General Letters. 18. 1-3 John: the Johannine Community in Conflict. 19. Revelation: the Flowering of Christian Apocalyptic. Part VI: AFTER THE NEW TESTAMENT. 20. Christian Origins after the New Testament.