From its earliest days as a renegade religion in the Roman Empire through its various schisms and splits to present-day disagreements between Eastern Orthodox followers, Roman Catholics, and hundreds of different Protestant denominations, Christianity has been a source of great controversy--most of it centered on the reading of Scripture. There are those Christian conservatives who view the Bible as the literal word of God and the events detailed therein as historical fact. Other, more liberal Christians see the Good Book primarily as literature, a metaphor for how people should live. Mine the pages of the Biblical Archeological Review and you'll find scientists trying to prove or disprove the historical reality of Old and New Testament events and structures--everything from the Ark of the Covenant to King David's palace. In An Introduction to the New Testament, author Raymond E. Brown, a Catholic priest, ignores the swirl of conflict surrounding the Bible as historical artifact, concentrating instead on the message it contains. Father Brown analyzes each of the 27 books in the New Testament, devoting painstaking attention to sources, dates, and authorship, as well as commentary on the spiritual, historical, and thematic aspects. He believes that modern-day Bible readers can only interpret it within its historical context. An Introduction to the New Testament, read with a Bible in hand, can only enrich and deepen your understanding of that germinal religious text.

 

Amazon reader review: Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV): "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Paul wanted to glorify only the cross of Christ. The cross represents our salvation because Jesus bore our sins on the cross (Matthew 26:28; Eph. 1:7; Colossians 1:19-20; 2:11-17; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Revelation 1:5-6). We are to die with Jesus on the cross to sin (Romans 6:11-14) and the world (Galatians 2:20; 6:14). David Wilkerson does a great job of bringing the finished work of Christ into view in this short book. Wilkerson has been long known for his prophetic preaching but in this book you will nothing but the awesome grace of God magnified as you see what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Each chapter will leave you encouraged and challenged to worship your Father in heaven for His blessings and for His mercy. You will gladly shout for victory that is ours in the cross (1 John 3:8).