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The New Testament: A Short Introduction
by William R. Telford
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Oneworld Publications (2002-02-08)
ISBN: 1851682899
EAN: 9781851682898
Dewy Decimal #: 230
Paperback: 224 pages
Condition: New
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Customer Reviews
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Delivers a short historical New Testament
Rating  (5)
Date: 2004-08-06
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
I was looking for an introduction primarily to the historical NT and got in this book exactly what I wanted, and more. Unlike with many superficially similar but 'fringe' books, one as a reader feels in good hands with this genuine scholar. One can hardly tell whether the author is 'religious' or not, which was as I wanted it.As well as the historical context, the reader is taught several ways in which the derivation and composition of the New Testament can be analysed, concentrating primarily on the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It was handy, but not obiglatory, to read it with a copy of the NT alongside, to investigate some of the references and form one's own opinion, with the tutelage of the author. The prose is not too stiff, the author sometimes talking directly to the reader, at the same time as introducing some of the inevitable technical words. Many sources and further readings are cited, and now I shall move on to something more comprehensive and long.
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Good introduction to New Testament criticism
Rating (5)
Date: 2003-01-15
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
Who wrote the gospels? What sources did they use? What audience were they writing for? How much of the truth about Jesus does the New Testament contain? What sort of world did the early church emerge from? This book provides a concise introduction to the field of New Testament studies and shows how we can begin to answer these questions. Telford starts by giving an overview of the world in which the gospel writers lived, where the influences of Greek and Jewish thought shaped their philosophical understanding of the significance of Jesus. He then focuses on the first three ("synoptic") gospels and explains their interrelationships. He lucidly describes the impact that form and source criticism has had on our understanding of the gospels. Overall this is an excellent brief introduction to New Testament studies.
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