New Testament times / by Merrill C. Tenney. [print]

Originally published: London : Angus Hudson, 2003.

1. The Sources of New Testament History

The Nature of History -- Scope of History -- Josephus and His Sources -- The Greek Historians -- The Roman Historians -- The Jewish Sources -- The Dead Sea Scrolls -- The Canoncial Text -- The Apostolic Fathers -- The Apologists -- The Church Historians -- Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha -- Evaluation.

2. The Political Scene

Egypt -- Syria -- Antiochus IV Epiphanes -- The Maccabean Revolt -- The Hasmoneans -- Antipater -- The Shadow of Rome -- The Herods -- Herod the Great.

3. The Cultural Tensions

Judaism -- Hellenism -- Roman Culture.

4. The Jewish Heritage

The Return to Palestine -- The Babylonian Exiles -- Elephantine -- The Samaritans -- The Diaspora -- The Pharisees -- The Sadducees -- The Essenes.

5. The Pressure of Paganism

The Ethnic Religions -- Emperor Worship -- The Mystery Religions -- The Eleusinian Mysteries -- The Worship of Serapis -- Atargatis -- Mithra -- The Atmosphere of Paganism -- Astrology -- The Social Pressure -- The Intellecutal Pressure -- The Economic Pressure.

6. The Augustan Age: The Youth of Christ

The Roman World -- The Birth of Christ: The Family -- The Census -- The Birth and Ministry of John the Baptist -- The Retirement to Egpt -- The Massacre of the Infants -- The Return from Egypt -- The Youth of Jesus: The Silent Years.

7. The Age of Tiberius: The Ministry of Christ

The Historical Introduction -- The Ministry of John the Baptist -- The Life of Jesus -- The Temptation -- The Chronology of the Life of Jesus -- The Ministry of Jesus -- The Last Week.

8. The Church in Jerusalem

The Birth of the Church -- The Formation of the Church -- Persecution -- Organization -- Transition -- Samaria -- Ethiopia -- Nabatea -- The Conversion of Paul -- The Preaching of Peter -- Persecution by Herod Agrippa I.

9. The Church at Antioch During the Reign of Claudius

The City of Antioch -- Jews in Antioch -- The Church in Antioch -- A Missionary Center -- The Period of Claudius -- The First Mission from Antioch -- The Appointment of Elders.

10. The Judaizing Controversy

Galatian Problem -- Destination -- The Chronology of Galatians -- The Significance of the Controversy.

11. The Missionary Expansion

The Galatian Ministry -- The Journey Westward -- The Evangelizaton of Macedonia -- The Evangelization of Achaia -- The Evangelization of Asia.

12. The Consoldiation of the Churches: The Reign of Nero

The Consolidation of the Churches -- The Establishment of Doctrinal Stability -- The Acceptance of Financial Responsibility -- The Growth of a Community Consciousness -- The Recognition of the Church.

13. The Growth of the Institutional Church Under the Flavians

The Year of Anarchy -- The Flavian Dynasty -- Titus -- Domitian -- The Organization of the Church -- The Offices of the Church -- The Discipline of the Church -- The Extension of the Church -- The Theology of the Church -- The Relation of the Church and the Empire.

14. The End of the First Century

Christianity Under the Flavians -- The Reign of Nerva -- The Administration of Trajan -- Trajan and Christianity -- The Reaction of the Church.

15. The Church and the New Era

The Accession of Hadrian -- The Early Career of Hadrian -- Hadrian as Emperor -- The Church.

The correct and full interpretation of Scripture often depends on having an understanding of the culture in which the writers of the Bible lived. These men naturally spoke in the imagery and circumstances of their political and historical situations, and translating their words into our language and modern context can prove difficult. Merrill Tenney's New Testament Times thoroughly explores and explains the political, social, and cultural forces of the first century, allowing you a deeper understanding of the world in which the Christian church was born. You will find full-color photographs, maps, and charts throughout the book to help you visualize that world.

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