Introducing the New Testament

by John William Drane

Publisher:

Lion

, 2000

Overview

John Drane's Introducing the New Testament has long been recognized as probably the most authoritative and accessible survey of the subject, both for students and for general readers. This revision of this classic work takes full account of recent scholarly developments in areas such as the historical Jesus, the theologies of the four Gospels, and the role of St Paul in the transformation of Christianity from a first-century Jewish sect into a separate movement that was to spread throughout the world. This revision also includes a substantial new chapter on the interpretation of the New Testament. Introducing the New Testament is a book for all who want to be better informed about the foundation documents of the world's largest and most powerful religion.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Jesus seems, therefore, to have understood this idea of God’s kingdom in at least two ways: on the one hand, as God’s guidance in the lives of those who would be disciples, and on the other hand, as something that God would somehow display to the world at large. Both these concepts were already found in the expectations of the Old Testament writers.” (Page 114)

“Within twenty years of Jesus’ crucifixion, every major centre of Roman civilization could boast at least one group of his followers.” (Pages 10–11)

“Paul, believed that the Old Testament Law was not directly relevant to the Christian life.” (Page 419)

“Such ambiguities eventually led to what can appropriately be described as a failure of nerve in the Hellenistic world. While the philosophers had discredited traditional ways of making sense out of life, they had failed to establish a plausible alternative, and as a result huge numbers of people found themselves in a moral and spiritual vacuum. There was no shortage of religious ideas that could fill the gap, and people whose confidence in their inherited spiritualities had been eroded were ready to try anything that might give them new hope in an uncertain world.” (Page 19)

“However, what really distinguished Jesus from other rabbis of his day, was the fact that it was not among simple peasants on the shores of the inland Sea of Galilee that his teaching made its greatest impact. In a very short time after his death, his personality and his beliefs were having a profound effect in places far removed from the shores of Palestine.” (Pages 10–11)

Product Details

• Title: Introducing the New Testament
• Author: John William Drane
• Edition: Completely rev. and updated.
• Publisher: Lion
• Print Publication Date: 2000
• Logos Release Date: 2003
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. › Introductions
• Resource ID: LLS:38.0.24
• Resource Type: text.monograph.biblical-theology
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-11-21T00:36:20Z

About John William Drane

Dr. John William Drane (Ph.D.) is a Scottish theologian who is probably best known for his two best-selling books on the Bible, Introducing the Old Testament and Introducing the New Testament (both published by Lion in the UK and Fortress Press in the US). He is also the author of The McDonaldization of the Church (London: DLT 2000), Do Christians Know How to Be Spiritual? (London: DLT 2004), and numerous journal and encyclopaedia articles.

He studied in the University of Aberdeen where he was a student of I. Howard Marshall, and he holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, where his mentor was F. F. Bruce. John has taught in the Scottish universities of Stirling and Aberdeen and is currently teaching in the professional doctorate programmes of Fuller Seminary as well as working with CMS in the Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Programme.

John is married to another theologian, Revd Dr. Olive Fleming Drane, with whom he regularly works in church contexts as well as the academy. Time out might involve gardening, bread making, travel, cycling, camping, posting on social media, or simply doing ‘nothing’.