Introducing the New Testament—Mark Allan Powell

Powell, Mark Allan. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey, 2nd ed (Baker, 2018) 592 Pages; HB Retail $52.99; PB $44.99

Book Description: This lively, engaging, and up-to-date introduction to the New Testament has been carefully designed for the classroom. Mark Allan Powell presents disputed and controversial issues fairly, neither dictating conclusions nor privileging skepticism over faith-based perspectives. A recognized expert in New Testament studies, he nevertheless writes in a lucid style that communicates well to undergraduates. Chapters appear in canonical order but are designed for assignment in any order. Besides helpful teaching aids like sidebars, maps, tables, charts, glossary terms, diagrams, and suggestions for further reading, this full-color textbook includes beautiful artwork illustrating the reception of the New Testament through various times and cultures.

This new edition has been thoroughly revised in response to feedback solicited from dozens of professors and offers expanded coverage of the New Testament world in a new chapter on Jewish backgrounds. It also features an updated interior design and dozens of new works of fine art from around the world. Extensive new online material is also available for students and professors.

This book is accompanied by free online resources. Click the red eSources banner above for more information.

Distinctive Feature:

-Spanish Version now available (2020)

-Full color images and art

Nijay’s Notes:

Powell has written an up-to-date, relatively concise, beautifully-illustrated, NT Introduction suitable for college level or very basic one-semester seminary courses. I could also see this being used in a church-based Christian education program or Sunday School. What this textbook might lack in academic detail it makes up for in global perspectives and ecumenical appeal. This is a great place to start for studying the New Testament.

About the Author:

Mark Allan Powell (PhD, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond) is professor emeritus at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, where he taught New Testament for thirty-two years. He is the author of the successful textbook Introducing the New Testament and the general editor of the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Powell has served as the chair of the SBL Historical Jesus Section and is the former New Testament editor of the SBL Academia Biblica dissertation series. Every summer he travels to a different Latin American country to study the native language and culture (so far he has visited Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela, with more to come).