Making Sense of the New Testament (Three Crucial Questions)

by Craig Blomberg

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2004

Many Christians assume that the New Testament is historically reliable. This confidence, however, is not universal, and there are many who, especially in light of modern biblical studies, question this claim. Some have also claimed that Paul founded a church quite distinct from the message of Jesus and the Gospels. How can we reconcile their seeming differences? What is the relevance of the New Testament in the world today, in cultures far removed in time and space from the first-century Mediterranean world?

Grounded in sound scholarship but written in an accessible style, this book provides a reasonable, well-informed response to these issues, offering sound introductory guidance to any student of the Bible.

Contents

Top Highlights

“There are fully credentialed New Testament scholars on the theological ‘far left’ who do bona fide research, but present their opinions as if they reflected a consensus of scholarship when in fact they represent the ‘radical fringe.’” (Page 18)

“But this suggests that detailed knowledge of the actual wording of traditions that would a generation later be written up in the Gospels existed already in the 30s, since Paul’s conversion dates to within two to three years of Christ’s crucifixion!” (Page 63)

“Until the emperor Constantine legalized Sunday as a day off work in the early 300s, Christians fairly uniformly agreed that resting one day in seven reflected heretical ‘Judaizing’!” (Page 93)

“separation between church and synagogue was largely complete” (Page 41)

“More than thirty papyri date from the late second through early third centuries. Some of these contain large portions of entire New Testament books. One of these covers most of the Gospels and Acts (𝔭⁴⁵); another, most of the letters of Paul (𝔭⁴⁶). Four very reliable and nearly complete New Testaments date from the fourth (א and B) and fifth centuries (A and C).” (Page 22)

Endorsements

As always, Craig Blomberg is lucid, sensible, and interesting. The book's organization and style are deceptively simple. Even the mature Christian reader will benefit from Blomberg's mastery of so much material nicely summarized and evaluated here. Blomberg offers just enough detail to keep us interested in the hard evidence but not so much as to make us feel swamped by minutiae. This book could be confidently placed into the hands of friends who are generally well read but who are nevertheless biblically illiterate, for Blomberg's mix of sane historical assessment, thoughtful theology, and elementary principles of interpretation open many doors. I hope this book will find many diverse readers and a long life.

—D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Some New Testament scholars major in minutiae and stay away from the big historical and literary questions, but Blomberg is not one of them. In Making Sense of the New Testament, Blomberg tackles the big issues of the historical reliability of the New Testament—the similarities and differences between the teachings of Jesus and Paul and the various issues of literary criticism—with vim, vigor, and vitality. His study is marked by careful, well-documented scholarship and a well-argued case. This book is an excellent starting place for those who want to discuss the New Testament with a skeptical postmodern audience.

—Ben Witherington III, Asbury Theological Seminary

Craig Blomberg is an ideal scholar to introduce the three crucial questions addressed in this book. He has distinguished himself before in important treatments of these topics, and here he provides an excellent, readable introduction that will profit basic and advanced readers alike. His treatment reflects exceptionally clear, original thinking as well as thorough familiarity with wider scholarly discussion.

—Craig Keener, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary

In addressing three crucial questions, Blomberg has given us an imposing, crisply written apologetic that is at once relevant, fair-minded, and comprehensive. This is a worthy companion to Longman's parallel text for the Old Testament.

—Paul Barnett, former bishop of North Sydney, Australia, and teaching fellow, Regent College

A succinct, easy to read but not simplistic introduction to three crucial issues in NT studies from an evangelical perspective. While aimed at and suitable for a wider readership or undergraduate students, the volume also has its challenges for advanced students.

—Christoph Stenschke, Themelios

Product Details

• Title: Making Sense of the New Testament: Three Crucial Questions
• Author: Craig Blomberg
• Series: 3 Crucial Questions
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2004
• Logos Release Date: 2009
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. › Evidences, authority, etc
• ISBNs: 9781441254665, 9780801027475, 1441254668, 0801027470
• Resource ID: LLS:MKSENSENT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:32:34Z

About Craig Blomberg

Craig Blomberg is distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary, where he has been teaching since 1986. Blomberg earned degrees from Augustana College, Trinity Divinity School, and Aberdeen University in Scotland. He previously taught at Palm Beach Atlantic College and spent one year in Cambridge as a research fellow with Tyndale House. He has been on translation committees for the New Living Translation, English Standard Version, and the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Blomberg is the author, coauthor, or co-editor of numerous books and more than 80 articles in journals or multi-author works. A recurring topic of interest in his writings is the historical reliability of the Scriptures, and he has also covered such diverse issues as wealth and poverty, hermeneutics, and women in ministry. His books include Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, 2nd ed., Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: James, A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis, Making Sense of the New Testament, Preaching the Parables, and The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Corinthians.