This guide to structuring and creating a New Testament theology shows students how to examine ancient texts in the modern world.

New Testament theology raises many questions, not only within its own boundaries, but also in relation to other fields such as history, literary criticism, sociology, psychology, history, politics, philosophy, and religious studies. But, the overarching question concerns the relevance of two thousand year old writings in today's world. How does one establish what is and is not relevant in the New Testament? How does one communicate the ancient ideas, presented in an alien language, alien time, and alien culture to a contemporary audience? This book is intended to serve as a methodological introduction to the field of New Testament theology, aimed at a range of readers-undergraduate and Seminary students, clergy, and laypersons interested in the relevance of scripture. It is a guide which aims to help readers understand how practitioners of New Testament theology have wrestled with the relationship between historical reconstruction of the New Testament, and its interpretation in the modern world.

This introduction to a biblical theology of the New Testament seeks to revitalize our engagement with the Scriptures for the twenty-first century by showing not only how the assemblage of ancient writings consisting of both Old and New Testaments is intrinsically relevant, but also how we can remain faithful to Jesus Christ, the organizing principle of those writings, in the process. The book is an invitation to all people of goodwill—believers and unbelievers, liberals and conservatives—to put aside their differences in order to cooperate in the revolution that Jesus inaugurated, the creation of a new and better world in the here and now as an anticipation of the eschatological finale. In an age in which many people are overwhelmed by life and looking for ways to cope, this book offers fresh perspectives and penetrating insights that are grounded in solid biblical scholarship with the aid of contemporary philosophical concepts.

Shows that there is an interdisciplinary way, drawing on the traditional disciplines of Old and New Testament studies and systematic theology, for the true interpretation of the Bible.

The twentieth century made the Old Testament an African book. As the ancient texts have been translated into numerous languages and cultures throughout the continent, grass-root readers have found them to reflect their own experience of life, and the growing number of African Old Testament scholars have made various studies where the texts are read in the light of the African religio- and socio-cultural tradition. The present essay collection presents and analyses different aspects of the Old Testament readings in Africa. In particular, their socio-intellectual context is emphasized, and it is argued that Western Old Testament scholarship would benefit from acquainting itself with African readings of the Old Testament.