The merits of this volume are many.... The author writes in a very readable and intelligible sly, making the book clear and easy to understand.... His evaluations are objective, carefully weighing both strengths and weaknesses, and doing so from the standpoint of liturgical principle rather than dogmatic assertion.... Despite the scholarly approach, there is a practical emphasis not found in many introductions.... New Testament Foundations represents scholarship at its best." The Theological Educator

This book is packed with a wealth of material, ample consideration being given to the many divergent viewpoints represented by scholars of all backgrounds.... Designed for classroom teaching on the university and seminary level.... Highly recommended." Choice

Grasp the message of the New Testament by focusing on the essentials. An Introduction to the New Testament focuses on historical questions dealing with authorship, date, sources, purpose, destination, and so forth, ensuring that the New Testament books will be accurately understood within historical settings. For each New Testament document, the authors also provide a substantial summary of the book's content, discuss the book's theological contribution to the overall canon, and give an account of current studies on the book, including recent literary and social-science approaches to interpretation. This second edition reflects significant revision and expansion from the original, making this highly acclaimed text even more valuable. A new chapter provides a historical survey examining Bible study method through the ages. The chapter on Paul has been expanded to include an analysis of debates on the "new perspective." The discussion of New Testament epistles has been expanded to form a new chapter. This new edition is an ideal textbook for seminary students and will help a new generation better grasp the message of the New Testament.

'The Spirit & the Letter' discusses the Bible’s position on issues of marriage, divorce and remarriage. It also discusses spiritual marriage, whether it is real or a fairy tale and what the Bible says about spirits and their dealings with man. It further discusses the church’s usage of anointing oil, its origin and whether its usage is in line with the Bible. Finally, it deals with issues of witchcraft and why it is an issue for the church to grapple with. The book seeks to correct or suggest actions to be taken to correct erroneous teachings and anomalies that have rather been turned to norms and practices by contemporary church, despite the Bible’s clear teaching on the contrary. Its aim is to refer Christians back to the biblical foundation of Christian practice and to effect change in how people view the issues on discussion; and to stimulate further discussion on the matters.

Leading New Testament scholar Stanley Porter offers a comprehensive commentary on the Pastoral Epistles that features rigorous biblical scholarship and emphasizes Greek language and linguistics. This book breaks new ground in its interpretation of these controversial letters by focusing on the Greek text and utilizing a linguistically informed exegetical method that draws on various elements in contemporary language study. Porter pays attention to the overall argument of the Pastoral Epistles while also analyzing word meanings and grammatical structures to tease out the textual meaning. Porter addresses major exegetical issues that arise in numerous highly disputed passages and--while attentive to the history of scholarship on First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus--often takes untraditional or innovative positions to blaze a new path forward rather than adopt settled answers. This commentary will appeal to professors, students, and scholars of the New Testament.

This work focuses on the appropriation and resignification of scripture in Joel and its NT "Nachleben," where Israel's literature functions as "an authoritative medium of refraction," The purpose is to recover the canon's unrecorded hermeneutics at the intersection of both diachronic and synchronic textual surfaces.

This volume of essays is dedicated to Professor Ralph Martin of the University of Sheffield, formerly Director of the Graduate Studies Program at Fuller Theological Seminary, widely known for his incisive and disciplined scholarship on the New Testament. The editors called on associates from his various teaching posts, former students, and colleagues in the field for these original essays, the range of which reflects Professor Martin's own broad interests in New Testament studies, worship and ministry. Contributors to the volume are: Ernest Best, Colin Brown, James Dunn, E. Earle Ellis, Donald Guthrie, Donald Hagner, Gerald Hawthorne, Colin Kruse, Andrew Lincoln, I. Howard Marshall, Leon Morris, Peter T. O'Brien, Terence Paige, Eduard Schweizer, Graham Stanton, Marianne Meye Thompson and Michael J. Wilkins, with a curriculum vitae and reminiscences supplied by Lynn A. Losie and Leslie Allen.

Mark Yarbrough assesses the question of whether traditional ‘preformed' material contributes to the message and understanding of Paul's first letter to Timothy. The issue is addressed in three sections. Part one evaluates previous works interacting with ‘traditional' material in the New Testament. Through a critique of historically proposed criteria, Yarbrough identifies eight criteria as the primary tools by which to discern units of preformed material. In the second part of the book Yarbrough evaluates nineteen passages in 1 Timothy according to the criteria previously determined. From this base he embraces twelve of the nineteen passages as preformed material. These passages are subsequently examined in depth according to the author's distinct methodology. Part three demonstrates four functions of the preformed traditions in 1 Timothy. Firstly, that they may be seen as strengthening the literary cohesion of the letter. Secondly, that the traditional units afford the author rhetorical leverage which may be best identified as the provision of authority, the establishment of an instant rapport with the primary audience, and the assistance conferred in addressing this implied audience. Thirdly, they present theological directives that confront the character and belief of the false teachers. Finally, Yarbrough asserts that the preformed traditions exist as a combatant against counter-mission doctrine. In conclusion, this study displays that the traditional material which may be discerned within the letter contributes significantly to the overall message and understanding of 1 Timothy.