The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World, 2nd ed.

by Bruce W. Longenecker

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2016

Overview

A Fascinating Glimpse into the World of the New Testament.

Transported two thousand years into the past, readers are introduced to Antipas, a Roman civic leader who has encountered the writings of the biblical author Luke. Luke’s history sparks Antipas’s interest, and they begin corresponding. As Antipas tells Luke of his reactions to the writing and of his meetings with local Christians, it becomes evident that he is changing his mind about them and Jesus. Finally, a gladiatorial contest in Pergamum forces difficult decisions on the local Christians and on Antipas.

While the account is fictional, the author is a highly respected New Testament scholar who weaves reliable historical information into a fascinating story. Bruce Longenecker is able to mix fact and fiction to offer a fresh, engaging, and creative way to learn about the New Testament world. The first edition has been widely used in the classroom (over 30,000 copies sold). This updated edition, now with improved readability and narrative flow, will bring the social and political world of Jesus and his first followers to life for many more students of the Bible.

Key Features

• Explores what might have occurred during the final year in the life of a man named Antipas
• Follow a story that arises from one supposition, one fact, and one tradition
• Fills in the blanks to provide a historically reliable fashion of the story Antipas, a martyr who died for Christ in Pergamum

Contents

• Letter Collection 1: As One Nobleman to Another
• Letter Collection 2: A Personal Request
• Letter Collection 3: To Honor the Emperor
• Letter Collection 4: They Proclaim a Different Lord
• Letter Collection 5: The Reputations of Three Men
• Letter Collection 6: Jesus Seems a Curious Figure
• Letter Collection 7: Jesus’s Naive and Irresponsible Views
• Letter Collection 8: Communities of Support and Fellowship
• Letter Collection 9: The Contexts Determined the Contents
• Letter Collection 10: A Complete Reversal of Lifestyle
• Letter Collection 11: A Conduit of Blessing for Many
• Letter Collection 12: The Gods Had Other Plans
• Letter Collection 13: May His Will Be Done
• Letter Collection 14: The Possessions of Our Common Creator

Praise for The Lost Letters of Pergamum, 2nd Edition

Using the time-honored form of a collection of letters--one thinks of the collected letters of Pliny the Younger, many from the same area and roughly the same time as these fictive missives--Longenecker provides, by means of an informative and delightful fiction, a remarkably clear and accurate picture of Christian existence in the eastern Mediterranean world of the first century. One comes away from this book—a ‘historical novel’ in the best sense—both charmed and informed. It is a thoroughly delightful read, from which both beginners and experts will profit.

Paul J. Achtemeier, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia

Longenecker’s Letters present in a fascinating and compelling way the contexts of Second Temple Judaism and Greco-Roman urban life. And the narrative he weaves is not only believable but also engaging, both academically and personally. This untraditional presentation deserves a wide readership among all concerned more traditionally with the ethos of New Testament backgrounds."

Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary

Through the device of an extended correspondence between the evangelist Luke and Antipas, a resident of Pergamum, Bruce Longenecker brings early Christianity to life. The characters are vivid and believable, and they introduce the reader to a rich historical and cultural context. Those familiar with early Christianity will admire the imaginative way Longenecker builds on the best of modern scholarship, and those new to the field will learn a good deal as they eavesdrop on this conversation. This book is both a delight to read and a reliable guide to the beginnings of Christianity.

Frederick J. Murphy, College of the Holy Cross

Product Details

• Title: The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World, 2nd ed.
• Author: Bruce W. Longenecker
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Pages: 208
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Resource ID: LLS:LSTLTTRSP2NDDTN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2021-05-03T18:16:38Z

About Bruce W. Longenecker

Bruce W. Longenecker is a graduate professor of Religion and the W. W. Melton Chair in the Department of Religion at Baylor University. He is the author or editor of numerous books includingThe Lost Letters of Pergamum, Paul, Luke, and the Graeco-Roman World, Narrative Dynamics in Paul, The Triumph of Abraham’s God, 2 Esdras, and Eschatology and the Covenant.