Exploring The New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts

This clearly written introduction to the Gospels and Acts offers a student-friendly approach that is rooted in up-to-date scholarship and actual classroom experience. Particularly aimed at students of theology, Exploring the New Testament: A Guide to the Gospels & Acts introduces

• Jewish and Roman background
• literary genres and forms
• conventional as well as new approaches to the study of the Gospels and Acts
• debated issues such as authorship, date and setting
• the quest for the historical Jesus
• content and major themes of each of the Gospels and Acts
• the intersection of New Testament criticism with contemporary issues of faith and culture

• clearly stated goals for each chapter
• "What Do You Think" boxes posing issues to consider
• "Digging Deeper" boxes exploring select topics in greater detail
• boxed summaries highlighting essential facts
• practical study aids, including how to use a Gospel synopsis and how to exegete a Gospel text
• charts visually organizing complex material such as chronologies and genealogies
• maps giving quick geographical and spatial orientation to events
• topics for essays or research papers suggested for each chapter
• "Further Reading" giving annotated bibliographies for each chapter, classified by introductory or intermediate levels
• pointers to relevant articles in IVP's Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, facilitating parallel use of this valuable reference tool
• quotations from relevant ancient texts such as Josephus
• double-column formatting for easy reading
• glossary of terms to aid beginning students
• subject and Scripture indexes for quick access to topics