Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey

This is a fabulous book. As a writer myself I try to communicate complex ideas in a clear, simple English in a way that is entertaining and enjoyable. Mark doesn't try to do this he achieves it in spades. This book is marketed as a text book for students. I think this does it a disservice. I'm reading it as a general reader with an interest in the New Testament and I'm enjoying it immensely. I'm also learning something new and interesting on every page. Buy it. Read it. You'll love it. (See Jim McGrath's Amazon's Authors page).

I used this a lot for my theological study - I found it my go to book for everything and I can't part with it

Probably the best introductory book for NT scholars - deals with each book comprehensively and authoritatively. Wonderful illustrations. Perfect for me just beginning New Testament studies

Good value

Well laid out with a comprehensive display of inspirational artwork throughout. Gives a good overview of each book, offering a good basis for being to understand and grapple with the New Testament.

Excellent introductory book to the New Testament. If you are looking one book on this subject this is it.

Beautifully illustrated and very helpful for my theology study.

This book is easy to read without all the jargon! Recommended!

Bought it for a class and really enjoyed it. It well written and has a lot of useful information.

Powell, writes succintly and at times playfully, which is a relief. Well written and researched textbook for any New Testament survey studies.

Purchased the book for an EFM course (Education for Ministry) and although I haven't got too far into this study of the New Testament from what I have already used to book it has and will be a good resource for study, for Bible Study, etc. I like the hyper links. You can go to the website and read the commentaries on the Biblical chapters, you can print them off and use them for teaching tools or again, sharing in Bible Study groups. I believe going forward in my study of the New Testament this will be an excellent resource.

Good

I am a now-retired pastor with an academic background who teaches in a lay-training program for our Lutheran synod. I ordered this as a possible text to use for a New Testament class. It took only a short time to decide that I needed to look no farther: this is the text I will use. Among its features:-- A reasonable price for a quality hardback, especially in comparison to other NT Intros (a significant matter with lay volunteer students)-- Many maps and pictures--always a plus in my mind-- Especially laudable is access that is given to a website with a plethora of materials from background information to time-lines to lists and explanations of names (or terms or coins) to descriptions of topics (e.g., Jewish religious 'parties' or popular Greco-Roman philosophical 'schools') to extensive and wide-ranging bibliographies for each chapter, any or all of which the user can download for his/her notebook for personal use, or print for a Sunday-School or adult class he or she may be teaching in his/her own congregation.-- As the author points out, the chapters of the book can be used in the order they come, or they can be shuffled around to use in a different order (as I intend to do). Each chapter can stand on its own, and does not assume that the reader has already dealt with the previous chapter(s). This means, of course, that there is some repetition here and there, but it's not burdensome, and sometimes repetition brings a topic back to mind.-- The author states in his introduction that there is often a wide variety of views on just about any New Testament topic (take authorship of virtually any book, for example); he says he intends to offer the arguments of the major 'sides,' but unlike what other NT Intros often do, he does not then push his own opinion on the reader, but may note where the majority seems to stand and let the teacher and/or student make their own decisions. He is very even-handed on these topics.-- The author writes in a relaxed, conversational style; reading is not a matter of plowing through a lot of dense text.-- For each NT book the author offers an introduction, a kind of precis for the book, then a discussion of major topics or concerns in the book, followed by a conclusion.-- The author reflects general 'mainstream' scholarship regarding the New Testament, and does not try to beat his own idiosyncratic drum, so this text can be used across a spectrum of denominations with adults of various ages, and probably even with (serious) senior-high students........ All in all, an excellent resource and highly recommended.