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An Introduction to the New Testamentx$21.94
  (24 reviews)
Best Price: $39.99 $21.94
An updated and expanded edition of a standard textbook on the New Testament for first- and second-year seminary students.
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Customer Reviews
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Great Intro by Three Competent Scholars
By ASOCI3PCEEBY7 on 2000-05-16
This work is a standard textbook used in Seminaries and Christian colleges. Carson, Moo, and Morris each have a solid reputation for New Testament studies and this work shows just that. The authors are careful to cover all the necessary details, communicating how one can confidently approach New Testament studies. For instance, each chapter pertaining to a book of the New Testament covers the background, history, authorship, literary structure, criticisms of the book by various scholars, and the dating of the Biblical text. All this is discussed as well as the content of the Biblical book at hand. Moreover, the authors are not afraid to reveal the criticisms that have been cast at certain New Testament texts and include the pro's and con's of these criticisms. Therefore, the authors are very honest in their assessment of the texts/criticisms. In addition, this book covers the canonization of the Biblical texts and how each book went through the process of decision (in its historical context) that was made by the early Church Fathers. Further explanation is given for those books that were in question thus presenting a very interesting background for why we read the particular Biblical text that we do today. If you are wanting a book that is thorough in its analysis of the New Testament and very detailed regarding the content of the New Testament books, then this is the book for you.
New edition released!
By A14GN0Z31DKFPR on 2005-07-09
Carson and Moo have thoroughly reworked this book, removing or revising Morris' contributions and adding much new material for the second edition. Some sections are rearranged, and there are a few entirely new sections. I read the original book straight through a few years ago, and I haven't found anything else that does quite as good a job of staying on top of the current scholarship while defending generally conservative evangelical views on the authorship, date, setting, purpose, and other backgrounds sorts of issues on each NT book. I expect the updated edition to be equally thorough and more up-to-date on recent trends in NT scholarship.
Particularly of note is the section on the New Perspective on Paul, which Morris and Carson have both been on the forefront of interacting with (from a more traditional perspective in both cases, though both have been willing to acknowledge that we have learned something from the NPP). They call this section brief in the introduction, but it's 11 pages, a fair amount of space compared to how much room they give to most topics. They have also provided a lengthy addition covering the history of interpretation of the NT, from the early Christians to contemporary biblical scholarship. They've also expanded of added more on the content of each book, something reviewers complained about in the first edition, and there's also a little bit on the social science approaches to NT studies, something that wasn't very far along in the original book. All in all, the new edition sounds as if it should be excellent.
They've removed the dust jacket and replaced it with a visually appealing cover on the book itself, and they've increased the margin size significantly, both of which suit its primary use as a seminary textbook. They list the intended audience as seminary students in the first and second years, but a studious enough person can read it for profit without the additional seminary background. I read the entire first edition without any seminary training at all. It's certainly not the level of detail a scholar would want for an exhaustive treatment of every issue, but the bibliographies and footnotes can provide further reading to get exactly that, and it would be ill-suited for students if it tried to do too much.
This has been the standard evangelical NT introduction for quite a while, and as of the revision its place will be secured for quite a while.
Not bad, but not a keeper
By A2YDW8OVVARL43 on 2004-11-13
This is probably the most widely-used New Testament Introduction in America, so it will pay to be familiar with it. That said, like another reviewer, I found this work to be poorly edited. For what it's worth, it appears that some sections were lifted almost verbatim from the authors' other works. Nothing ethically wrong with that, but it doesn't lend itself well to a smooth integration of three different authors. Also, while I don't expect a New Testament Intriduction to read like a novel, it was exceptionally dry. Finally, certain issues were handled rather dogmatically, such as the "Q" theory of literary dependence among the synoptic gospels.
For a general NTI, I would recommend Thiessen's excellent work, although it is older. For two different views of the synoptic question that should at least be considered, I suggest reading _The Jesus Crisis_ by Thomas and Farnell or _Why Four Gospels_ by Black.
Fantastic Introduction
By A2AW9MSAMTQ79O on 2000-05-25
I have found this an indispensable work. Its conservative / evangelical framework gives great glory to the unity and message of the New Testament. Discussions of authorship, canonisation, audience etc etc are generally clear and readable by the lay Christian (though admittedly dry - it is not a novel by no means). Highly recommended as an antidote to much of the liberal concepts so common today.
Thorough and Provocative
By A3LVFCA0TK8JVK on 2006-02-27
In this new edition of Intro to the NT Carson and Moo have significantly improved the work they initially published with Leon Morris (who has since passed away). The chapters are reorganized, the margins are wider, and the material has expanded to include the contribution of works published since the first edition. Having used both editions for coursework and personal study, I find the second edition far superior. While the layout of the first edition was doable, the second is much roomier and suitable for study. More than all these considerations, the authors superbly point the reader to Christ, to become like him. I have been challenged not only academically as I've read this work, I have been also been convicted spiritually.
- A Fine Introduction
By A2YI3SU5THQUQZ on 2006-05-26
As others have noted, this NT Introduction is a standard introductory text from an evangelical perspective. In this updated version, Carson and Moo add some good stuff on canonicity that was not part of the original Carson/Moo/Morris edition. Most of the remaining material is similar.
As can be expected, the analysis and conclusions in this Introduction are decidedly conservative on questions of authorship, canonicity, original situation of the writings, and historical reliability of the documents. The authors helpfully analyze many contemporary challenges to evangelical understandings of the NT so that the beginner and intermediate levels of readers will gain a good introductory grasp of the many bones of contention that exist over many issues in virtually every book of the NT. Moo's strong work in Romans and James, coupled with Carson's strong work on the Fourth Gospel, can be particularly seen in this book's treatment of these canonical documents.
One could have hoped for a more lengthy treatment of contemporary issues, and one could also have hoped for more robust bibliographies upon which the reader could proceed with more in-depth study. But because this is an introductory work, it is probably inappropriate to expect such things in this kind of treatment. The beginner who wants to develop a good working knowledge of NT scholarship from an evangelical perspective will likely be quite satisfied with what they find in here.
- Solid evangelical treatment
By A3NQ9ALLWXXQJT on 2002-01-15
A solid evangelical treatment, but content is a bit too tough to chew for the undergraduate classroom. In my teaching experience, it's tough to sell undergraduates on the importance of studying issues of "special introduction," which receives heavy emphasis in this book. Undergraduates expect to focus on Bible content instead. (Also, this is the most poorly edited book--in terms of format--that I've EVER seen!)
- great introduction - but not for beginnners
By A2GYY60CREJFUM on 2005-03-30
This is a great introduction on NT survey. It gets into the issues of textual criticism and authorship and the dates of the NT books. The book is written at a seminary level, not for those who are not well read or trainned in this area of study. I recommended this book to a friend, in which I had to explain to him the issues in the text while he read this book. Great for readers who know a lot about the issues that the average Christian could care less about.
- Outstanding book!
By A24TJZ82GX31PU on 2002-02-25
If you like to know the views of Biblical scholars on Authorship, Style, Date, Location, Occasion, etc. for each New Testament book, this book goes into great detail on these subjects! This book was written by three well respected "conservative/evangelical" scholars, and they not only give their views, but they give the more liberal views as well. They also give some great references to which books are the best on the market today for study of each NT book. This is defintly "Seminary" material, but written in understandable English. I highly recommend this book for any student of the Bible! Eric
- Good Survey Book!
By on 1998-07-21
This book treats the textual criticism of the New Testament fairly, revealing major strengths and weaknesses of the various systems of interpreting books and passages in the NT. The book is well-written and helps the reader become aquainted with scholarly questions concerning the New Testament. This is an excellent survey book!
- "Execellent Introduction"
By A2RIUYXKSJTJWK on 2004-02-16
A balanced textbook for an introduction to the New Testament is critcal and crucial to learning. This book fits this criteria. It was carefully written by three conservative scholars whom had presented the New Testament with an unbiased perspective; except conservativism, comparing conservative perspectives with critical scholarships, though upholding conservative scholarship. The content is a tedious reading but prove to be a good resource/text for academic learning in theological education. These are the strengths of this book. If one is looking for a general introduction of each book, this is the one. If one is looking for a content-based text on each of the book, this is not the ideal. I would recommend to anyone of the former category.
- Indispensible New Testament scholarship.
By A1QT4XYUEADGOB on 1999-12-05
This Introduction contains the latest conclusions arrived at by the majority of New Testament scholars. Issues of authorship, date, provenance, and content are cogently represented in a format fit for the general lay person or the critical scholar. If you inquire about the essential background of each book of the New Testament you will not want to pass up this important stepping stone in your research. Drs. Carson, Moo, and Morris bring their expertise and detailed research to the table of contemporary biblical criticism.
- Excellent New Testament Introduction!
By on 1998-10-10
One of the best Evangelical New Testament introductions on the market today. Provides a fairly conservative approach to biblical interpretation and criticism. By far the best conservative NT introduction since Guthrie's work.
- Pure Academics
By A27R9JQ4KDZEH8 on 2008-04-23
This is one of my text books for school. I have to hand it to the authors they really did some research to put this book together. So why did I give it such a low rating? It was a mind-numbing read. Though I was able to glean some interesting stuff from it, it was mainly all academic knowledge. If that's your cup of tea then you will love it. For me, I prefer books that will help me grow closer to God in righteousness, love, and truth. This just didn't do it for me.
- A fine piece of textual criticism
By on 1998-07-13
Carson, Moo, and Morris team up to present a mind opening exegesis of the New Testament documents, particularly showing the falicies of many contemporary theories which attempt to perhaps diminish the integrity of the Apostolic testimony.
- Excellent, indispensable guide
By AAQKKZURM6BC on 2003-11-23
These solid, thought-provoking authors have created a terrific guide to many aspects of the New Testament. They discuss problems that arise as we study the N T writers and also give a good guide to the contents of each book and its relation to the rest of the NT.Each author has published dozens of other useful works on the N T which are also worth investigating.
- SUPERB, BALANCED REVIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT DATA
By A285FR3FFV0LK5 on 2006-09-07
This book is wonderful! After studying dozens of texts about the origins and modern historical analyses of the New Testament canon--ranging from Helmut Koester's Ancient Christian Gospels to Walter Bauer, Elaine Pagels, and Bart Ehrman's positivistic polemics--I finally found this book. I am a scientist (physician) and have not had the benefit of a seminary education, so I should, perhaps, have started here. The book presents thorough, well-reasoned critiques of the data and conflicting theories about the origin and significance of the entire New Testament canon, book by book. It contains ample references to the the key research and publications on various subjects, somewhat like a good scientific or medical review article. This was a very welcome contrast to the popular publications of Bart Ehrman, which typically reference only his own biased writings on any particular subject. My only criticism of this excellent text is that it gives short shrift to the history and profound exegesis of the Eastern Orthodox Church Fathers; viz. St. John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and others. In the Orthodox tradition, we tend to view theology as a "fabric woven from on high," including revelations in the post-Apostolic era to those saints who have achieved "theosis," direct contemplation of the Divine mind.
- A good foundation in NT studies
By A2LXC5ZHHP0WXP on 2006-11-09
This is a very good book for those who would like a basic overview of the NT books. It has a conservative slant, but also gives liberal viewpoints on Biblical topics. I recommend it.
- Very informative
By ALWQXMWIM9GE0 on 2007-06-13
The book gives great details on each book of the new testament. I actually transferred some of the information over into my bible. I really enjoyed the read. I had to read it for a class, but really enjoyed it once I got started.
- Required Resource for Pastors
By AC45M1LYMVSRT on 2008-01-31
This book is extensively footnoted and articulated by the best NT scholarship available. Douglas Moo and Donald Carson have given the church a profound a valuable gift. Especially helpful are critiques of liberal, neo-conservative, and post-conservative speculations and assertions which would seek to decompose the canonical NT documents. This book is full of thoughtful common sense and articulate scholarship for the average pastor, Bible student, or advanced layperson. I found the Introduction to be a tremendous help.
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