The Beginnings of Christianity
An Introduction to the New Testament
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:1st Jan '06
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
An introduction to both the theological content and the social context of the New Testament and early Christianity.
To understand the historical beginnings of Christianity, one requires to examine the documents that the movement produced and other evidence that can illumine the socio-cultural context in which Christianity began and how it responded to the influences. Performing such readings of the texts and communities, this is a study of Christian origins.To understand the historical beginnings of Christianity, one requires not only to examine the documents that the movement produced, but also to scrutinize other evidence - historical, literary, and archaeological - that can illumine the socio-cultural context in which Christianity began and how it responded to the influences that derived from that setting. This involves not only analysis of the readily accessible content of the relevant literary evidence, but also attention to the world-views and assumptions about reality that are inherent in these documents and other phenomena that have survived from this period. Attention to the roles of leadership and the modes of formation of social identity in Judaism and the continuing influence of these developments as Christianity began to take shape is important for historical analysis. Distinguished New Testament scholar Kee performs such readings of the texts and communities in this dazzling study of early Christian origins. In methodological terms, the historical study of Christian Origins in all its diversity must involve three different modes of analysis: epistemological, sociological, and eschatological. The first concerns the way in which knowledge and communication of it were perceived. The second seeks to discern the way in which the community or tradition preserving and conveying this information defined its group identity and its shared values and aims. The third focuses on the way in which the group understood and affirmed its ultimate destiny and that of its members in the purpose of God. These factors are interrelated, and features of one mode of perception strongly influence details of the others, but it is useful to consider each of them in its own category in order to discern with greater precision the specific historical features of the spectrum of facets which appear in the evidence that has survived concerning the origins of Christianity.
'A highly accessible guide to the start of the Christian Church.' Publishing News
"Kee...now brings his vast reservoir of knowledge and experience to the task of writing an introduction to the New Testament. The result is an informative, carefully crafted work of scholarship. Kee examines the early New Testament period using three different analytical methods: epistemological, sociological and eschatological. This approach adds richness and depth to his study... Best suited for graduate and seminary students, though upper-level undergraduates majoring in religious studies could benefit as well, this is recommended for academics libraries."- John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist University Library
"the clear structure of the book and its lucid writing allows the book to be accessible to a general audience." -- Mark Lee Genter, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, USA
"The clear structure of the book and its lucid writing allows the book to be accessible to a general audience." -- Theological Book Review
"read as a potpourri of exegetical, historical, and cultural insights from a long and distinguished career in NT studies, this book will be interesting and helpful to both graduate students and scholars." Fred W. Burnett, Anderson University, Religious Studies Review
[Kee] shows considerable historical carefulness in his reconstructions while avoiding excessive philosophical intrusions. He also avoids needless technicalities in his historical expositions. This book is more historical than theological, but that is what one should expect in a standard introduction to the New Testament... Summing Up: Recommended. Libraries supporting upper-level undergraduates and above in New Testament studies. -- P.K. Moser, Loyola University Chicago * Choice *
"His overall list of literature relating to the development of early Christianity is comprehensive and occasionally surprising." A. Leslie Milton, The Expository Times, April 2007 -- A. Leslie Milton * Expository Times *
"Kee (professor emeritus, Boston Univ.; The Cambridge Companion to the Bible)has written several significant books on the New Testament. He now bringshis vast reservoir of knowledge and experience to the task of writing anintroduction to the New Testament. The result is an informative, carefullycrafted work of scholarship. Kee examines the early New Testament periodusing three different analytical methods: epistemological, sociological, andeschatological. This approach adds richness and depth to his study...recommended" - Library Journal, January 2006 -- John Jaeger * Library Journal *
"Teachers will find it a gold mine for themselves and for their students, even though it is not a "textbook" in the conventional sense... I recommend the book to classes and study groups and individual readers who are willing to take the historical enterprise seriously. It is well written, well organized, and well acquainted with scholarly discussion." - Sewanee Theological Review * Sewanee Theological Review *
'On the whole this volume is useful as an introduction to Christian origins with significant consideration paid to sociological issues, the Jewish and Graeco-Roma context of earliest Christianity, and Christian writings outside of the New Testament.' -- Michael Bird, Highland Theological College * Theology *
ISBN: 9780567027412
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 742g
510 pages