A Century of New Testament Study By John Riches An examination of the critical strategies devised by scholars over the last century in their attempt to discover the meaning of the ancient texts which comprise the New Testament. ISBN-13: 9780718827144 Specifications: 216x138mm, 192pp, Paperback Price: £17.50 • US$37.50 Publication: November 1993 Order this Title Now

About this Book

Part of the Century series - each book reviews and summarises the key developments in a particular branch of religious studies during the past century.

Great changes have taken place during the past one hundred years. This is no less true of New Testament study than it is of the wider sphere of social and political life. This book not only presents a detailed survey of all the major, and many of the lesser, New Testament studies of the time, but also attempts to relate the changes in approach to the broad socio-political and international sphere.

The book starts with a review of the achievements of Biblical studies to the end of the nineteenth century, and then turns to the work of the History of Religions school in Germany and reactions to it elsewhere. There follows a survey of developments leading up to the work of R. Bultmann, and then a series of detailed studies of the major post-war works in the field of Jesus, Paul, Mark and John. The book concludes with a review of recent discussions of the nature of New Testament theology.

Central to the book is Bultmann's attempt to reconcile critical, historical and theological New Testament studies, and the ultimate failure of that synthesis. Reviewing recent developments and considering the future of New Testament theology, the author asks whether the time has not come for a similar attempt to integrate modern approaches to the subject.

About the Author

The Reverend John Riches is the Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism and head of the Department of Biblical Studies at the University of Glasgow. He is the author of several books on the New Testament, and is editor of Studies of the New Testament and its World. He has also been a member of the International Commission of Anglican Orthodox Theological Dialogue since 1976.

Related Titles

Other titles in the Century Series include:

A Century of Biblical Archaeology by Roger Moorey
A Century of Moral Philosophy by Donald Hudson
A Century of Old Testament Study by R.E. Clements
A Century of Protestant Theology by Alasdair Heron