Contents

List of Tables -- xiii

List of Maps -- xv

Preface to Revised Edition -- xvii

Introduction to the Original Edition -- pg. 1

Part One: The Background to the New Testament

Chapter 1—The Political History of Palestine During the
Intertestamental Period -- pg. 7

The Babylonian Period (626-539 B.C.) -- pg. 9

The Persian Period (539-331 B.C.) -- pg. 11

The Grecian Period (331-320 B.C.) -- pg. 13

The Ptolemaic Period (320-198 B.C.) -- pg. 15

The Syrian Period (198-167 B.C.) -- pg. 16

The Maccabean Period (167-142 B.C.) -- pg. 18

The Hasmonean Period (142-63 B.C.) -- pg. 20

The Roman Period (63 B.C. on) -- pg. 21

Later Events in Palestine -- pg. 26

Chapter 2—Life in the World of the New Testament -- pg. 31

Home Construction -- pg. 32

Food -- pg. 34

Clothing -- pg. 35

Social Classes -- pg. 35

Languages -- pg. 36

Jewish Population -- pg. 37

Industry, Labor, and Commerce -- pg. 37

Transportation and Communication -- pg. 38

Education -- pg. 39

Science and Medicine -- pg. 39

Entertainment -- pg. 40

Marriage -- pg. 41

Funerals -- pg. 42

Crime -- pg. 43

The Roman Army -- pg. 43

Chapter 3—The Religious Background to the New Testament -- pg. 47

Paganism -- pg. 47

Judaism -- pg. 54

Conclusion -- pg. 64

Chapter 4—The Canon, Text, and Genre of the New Testament -- pg. 69

The Canon and Text -- pg. 69

The New Testament Text -- pg. 75

Genre -- pg. 78

Part Two: The Life of Jesus and the Gospels

Chapter 5—Learning About Jesus -- pg. 85

Sources -- pg. 86

The Geography of Jesus’ Homeland -- pg. 87

The Historical Study of Jesus’ Life -- pg. 89

The Teaching of Jesus -- pg. 92

Dates in Jesus’ Life -- pg. 94

The Chronology of Jesus’ Life -- pg. 97

Chapter 6—The Synoptic Problem -- pg. 113

The Development of the Synoptic Gospels -- pg. 114

Moving Toward a Synoptic Consensus -- pg. 126

Chapter 7—The Four Gospels -- pg. 131

The Gospel of Matthew -- pg. 132

Outline of Matthew -- pg. 139

The Gospel of Mark -- pg. 140

The Gospel of Luke -- pg. 146

Outline of Luke -- pg. 154

The Gospel of John -- pg. 156

Outline of John -- pg. 164

Chapter 8—The Birth, Childhood, and Early Ministry of Jesus -- pg. 171

Chapter 9—Jesus’ Ministry in and Around Galilee -- pg. 191

Chapter 10—The Later Judean andthe Perean Ministry -- pg. 223

Chapter 11—The Final Week of Jesus’ Life—Crucifixion and Resurrection -- pg. 245

Part Three: The Growth of the Early Church in Acts

Chapter 12—Introduction to the Acts and the Role of Peter in Early Christianity (Acts 1-12) -- pg. 281

Authorship -- pg. 281

Luke the Man -- pg. 283

Date of Writing Acts -- pg. 283

Literary Questions About Acts -- pg. 284

The Quality of Greek -- pg. 284

The Sources of Luke -- pg. 285

Historical Accuracy of Acts -- pg. 285

The Content of Acts -- pg. 291

Chapter 13—The Role of Paul in the Spread of Christianity (Acts 13-28) -- pg. 301

Paul’s First Missionary Journey -- pg. 305

Second Missionary Journey -- pg. 311

The Third Missionary Journey -- pg. 315

Arrest and Imprisonment in Jerusalem (21:17-23:35) -- pg. 319

Paul’s Appearance Before Felix (24:1-27) -- pg. 320

Paul Before Festus (25:1-12) -- pg. 321

Paul Before Festus and Herod Agrippa Il (25:13-26:32) -- pg. 321

The Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:16) -- pg. 322

Paul in Rome (28:17-31) -- pg. 324

Outline of Acts -- pg. 326

Part Four: The Epistles of Paul

Chapter 14—An Overview of Paul’s Life -- pg. 333

The Literary Contributions of Paul -- pg. 334

The Personality of Paul -- pg. 345

The Life of Paul -- pg. 346

A Chronology of Paul’s Life -- pg. 349

The Theology of Paul -- pg. 354

Chapter 15—Paul’s First Writings (A Survey of Galatians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians) -- pg. 363

The Letter to the Galatians -- pg. 364

The Message of Galatians -- pg. 370

Outline of Galatians -- pg. 375

For Further Discussion -- pg. 376

The Letters to the Thessalonians -- pg. 377

The Message of 1 Thessalonians -- pg. 381

Outline of 1 Thessalonians -- pg. 383

The Message of 2 Thessalonians -- pg. 384

Outline of 2 Thessalonians -- pg. 386

Chapter 16—Paul’s Chief Writings (A Survey of Romans and 1 and 2 Corinthians) -- pg. 389

The Epistle to the Romans -- pg. 390

The Message of Romans -- pg. 394

Outline of Romans -- pg. 400

For Further Discussion -- pg. 402

The Corinthian Letters -- pg. 402

1 Corinthians -- pg. 407

The Message of 1 Corinthians -- pg. 408

Outline of 1 Corinthians -- pg. 416

2 Corinthians -- pg. 417

The Message of 2 Corinthians -- pg. 419

Outline of 2 Corinthians -- pg. 425

Chapter 17—Paul’s Captivity Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) -- pg. 431

Time and Place -- pg. 432

Date of the Captivity Epistles -- pg. 435

The Epistle to the Ephesians -- pg. 436

Outline of Ephesians -- pg. 441

The Epistle to the Philippians -- pg. 442

Outline of Philippians -- pg. 448

The Epistle to the Colossians -- pg. 449

Outline of Colossians -- pg. 456

The Epistle to Philemon -- pg. 457

Outline of Philemon -- pg. 459

Chapter 18—The Pastoral Epistles -- pg. 463

Authorship of the Pastorals -- pg. 464

Chronology for the Pastorals -- pg. 471

Occasion and Purpose -- pg. 472

1 Timothy -- pg. 473

2 Timothy -- pg. 475

Titus -- pg. 476

The Content of 1 Timothy -- pg. 477

Outline of 1 Timothy -- pg. 481

The Content of 2 Timothy -- pg. 483

Outline of 2 Timothy -- pg. 486

Content of Titus -- pg. 487

Outline of Titus -- pg. 489

Part Five: Hebrews, the General Epistles, and Revelation

Chapter 19—The Epistle to the Hebrews -- pg. 495

The Content of Hebrews -- pg. 502

The Exegesis of Hebrews 6:4-12 -- pg. 506

An Outline of Hebrews -- pg. 507

Chapter 20—The Epistle of James -- pg. 511

The Content of James -- pg. 517

Outline of James -- pg. 522

Chapter 21—The Epistles of 1 and 2 Peter -- pg. 525

The Epistle of First Peter -- pg. 526

The Content of First Peter -- pg. 534

Outline of First Peter -- pg. 538

The Epistle of Second Peter -- pg. 539

The Content of Second Peter -- pg. 544

An Outline of Second Peter -- pg. 546

Chapter 22—The Johannine Epistles -- pg. 551

The Epistle of 1 John -- pg. 551

The Content of First John -- pg. 555

Outline of First John -- pg. 559

The Epistles of 2 and 3 John -- pg. 560

Content of 2 John -- pg. 561

Outline of 2 John -- pg. 562

Content of 3 John -- pg. 563

Outline of 3 John -- pg. 564

Chapter 23—The Epistle of Jude -- pg. 567

Content of Jude -- pg. 572

Outline of Jude -- pg. 574

Chapter 24—The Revelation -- pg. 577

Content of Revelation -- pg. 589

Outline of Revelation -- pg. 601

Endnotes -- pg. 607

Glossary of Terms -- pg. 637

Index -- pg. 645

About the Authors -- pg. 653

The New Testament: Its Background and Message gives you the key that unlocks the door to understanding these important texts. This influential work presents the background of the New Testament with broad strokes and with a focus on specific books including the Gospels, Acts, and Paul and his letters.
Originally written in an easy-to-understand style and form, The New Testament: Its Background and Message continues to unlock the message of the New Testament for both new students and seasoned scholars.
This second edition includes revised sections on the text of the New Testament and the synoptic problem, updated book outlines reflecting an awareness of recent work on the dis-course structure of some of the New Testament books, and updated bibliographies.