New Testament History and Literature

by Dale B. Martin

Overview

In this engaging introduction to the New Testament, Professor Dale B. Martin presents a historical study of the origins of Christianity by analyzing the literature of the earliest Christian movements. Focusing mainly on the New Testament, he also considers nonbiblical Christian writings of the era.

Martin begins by making a powerful case for the study of the New Testament. He next sets the Greco-Roman world in historical context and explains the place of Judaism within it. In the discussion of each New Testament book that follows, the author addresses theological themes, then emphasizes the significance of the writings as ancient literature and as sources for historical study. Throughout the volume, Martin introduces various early Christian groups and highlights the surprising variations among their versions of Christianity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300180855
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	04/24/2012
Series:	The Open Yale Courses Series
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	643,985
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Dale B. Martin is Woolsey Professor of Religious Studies, Yale University. His previous books include The Corinthian Body and Slavery as Salvation: The Metaphor of Slavery in Pauline Christianity, both published by Yale University Press. He lives in New Haven, CT.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments ix

Map xi

1 Introduction: Why Study the New Testament 1

Ancient and Academic Contexts for the Study of the New Testament

2 The Development of the Canon 15

3 The Greco-Roman World 34

4 Ancient Judaism 55

5 The New Testament as a Historical Source: A Comparison of Acts and Paul's Letters 67

Gospels

6 The Gospel of Mark 79

7 The Gospel of Matthew 93

8 The Gospel of Thomas 108

The Spread of Christianity

9 The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, Part 1: Structure and Themes 125

10 The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, Part 2: Editing the Beginnings of Christianity 137

11 The Gospel of John 152

12 The Letters of John and the Spread of Christianity 168

13 The Historical Jesus 179

Paul and Paulinism

14 Paul as Missionary: 1 Thessalonians 199

15 Paul as Pastor: Philemon and 1 and 2 Corinthians 213

16 Paul as Jewish Theologian: Galatians and Romans 231

17 Colossians and Ephesians 247

18 Differing Christians: Christology, Faith, and Works 261

Women and Household

19 The Pro-household Paul: The Pastoral Epistles 277

20 The Anti-household Paul: The Acts of Paul and Thecla 292

Biblical Interpretation

21 Hebrews and Biblical Interpretation 309

22 Premodern Biblical Interpretation 322

Apocalypticism and Politics

23 Apocalypticism as Resistance 341

24 Apocalypticism as Accommodation 360

Development

25 The Development of Ecclesiastical Institutions: Ignatius and the Didache 379

Epilogue: Christianity after the New Testament Period 389

Notes 397

Bibliography 415

Subject and Author Index 425

Index of Scripture Citations 443