Jesus, the New Testament, and Christian Origins: Perspectives, Methods, Meanings

by Dieter Mitternacht; Anders Runesson

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2021

Overview

In this up-to-date introduction to the New Testament, twenty-two leading biblical scholars guide the reader through the New Testament’s historical background, key ideas, and textual content. Seminarians and anyone else interested in a deep understanding of Christian Scripture will do well to begin with this thorough volume that covers everything from the historical Jesus to the emergence of early Christianity. The contributors stress the importance of Christianity’s emergence within and from Second Temple Judaism.

Unique to this book is a special focus on interpretative methods, with several illustrative examples included in the final chapter of various types of scriptural exegesis on select New Testament passages. Readers are guided through the hermeneutical considerations of a historical text-oriented reading, a historical-analogical reading, a rhetorical-epistolary reading, argumentation analysis, feminist analysis, postcolonial analysis, and narrative criticism, among others. These practical, hands-on applications enable students to move from an abstract understanding of the New Testament to a ready ability to make meaning from Scripture.

Key Features

• Guides the reader through the New Testament’s historical background, key ideas, and textual content
• Focuses on interpretative methods and hermeneutical considerations
• Enables students to move from an abstract understanding of the New Testament to a ready ability to make meaning from Scripture

Contents

• Invitation to Study the New Testament
• Historical Background and Setting
• The Historical Jesus
• The Texts
• The Emergence of Early Christianity
• Readings
• Appendix 1: Nonbiblical Sources
• Appendix 2: Jewish History: A Chronological Overview
• Appendix 3: Maps

Contributors

• Håkan Bengtsson (ThD, Uppsala University), associate professor of religious studies, Department of Theology, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Samuel Byrskog (ThD, Lund University), professor of New Testament, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Sweden
• Ismo Dunderberg (ThD, University of Helsinki), professor of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Bengt Holmberg (ThD, Lund University), professor emeritus of New Testament, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Sweden
• Jonas Holmstrand (ThD, Uppsala University), associate professor of New Testament exegesis, Department of Theology, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Marianne Bjelland Kartzow (ThD, University of Oslo), professor of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, Norway
• Thomas Kazen (ThD, Uppsala University), professor of biblical studies, Stockholm School of Theology, University College Stockholm, Sweden
• Dieter Mitternacht (ThD, Lund University), professor of New Testament and early Christianity (retired), Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong, China; Church of Sweden Liaison Officer for Theological Education in Asia
• Birger Olsson (ThD, Uppsala University), professor emeritus of New Testament, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Sweden
• Samuel Rubenson (ThD, Lund University), professor of church history, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Sweden; senior professor of Eastern Christian studies, Sankt Ignatios College, Stockholm School of Theology
• Anders Runesson (PhD, Lund University), professor of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, Norway; adjunct professor of early Christianity and early Judaism, Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University, Canada
• Anna Runesson (Ph. Lic., Lund University), university chaplain, University of Oslo, Norway
• Hanna Stenström (ThD, Uppsala University), associate professor of New Testament, Stockholm School of Theology, University College Stockholm, Sweden
• Kari Syreeni (ThD, University of Helsinki), professor emeritus of New Testament, Åbo Akademi University, Finland
• Mikael Tellbe (ThD, Lund University), associate professor of New Testament, Örebro School of Theology, Sweden
• Lauri Thurén (ThD, Åbo Akademi University), professor of biblical studies, School of Theology, Philosophical Faculty, University of Eastern Finland
• Håkan Ulfgard (ThD, Lund University), professor emeritus of religious studies, Department of Culture and Society (IKOS), Linköping University, Sweden
• Cecilia Wassén (PhD, McMaster University, Canada), associate professor of New Testament Exegesis, Department of Theology, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Tommy Wasserman (PhD, Lund University), professor of New Testament, Ansgar University College and Theological Seminary, Norway
• Mikael Winninge (ThD, Uppsala University), director of translation, Swedish Bible Society, Uppsala, Sweden; associate professor of New Testament exegesis, Department of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies, Umeå University, Sweden
• Karin Hedner Zetterholm (PhD, Lund University), associate professor of Jewish studies, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Sweden
• Magnus Zetterholm (PhD, Lund University), associate professor of New Testament, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Sweden

Product Details

• Title: Jesus, the New Testament, and Christian Origins: Perspectives, Methods, Meanings
• Authors: Dieter Mitternacht, Anders Runesson
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 706
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Jesus Christ › History of doctrines; Church history › Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
• ISBNs: 9780802868923, 0802868924
• Resource ID: LLS:JSSNWMTHDSMNNGS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:57:59Z

About the Editors

Dieter Mitternacht (ThD, Lund University), was professor of New Testament and early Christianity (retired), Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong, China and currently serves as the Church of Sweden Liaison Officer for Theological Education in Asia.

Anders Runesson (PhD, Lund University), is professor of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, Norway and adjunct professor of early Christianity and early Judaism, Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University, Canada.