Introducing the New Testament

Rating:
Summary: IF ONLY ALL ACADEMIC BOOKS WERE THIS READABLE
Review: John Drane has impeccable credentials as a conservative theologian and an evangelical Christian, and yet (unlike some other "evo" authors) he can write in an honest and even-handed way about more liberal opinions than his own.

This makes Drane a particularly valuable resource for theologically conservative students who need to know about controversial modern views in Bible scholarship, but do not want to feel that their text book is necessarily endorsing them or taking a condescending approach to the divine inspiration and historical authenticity of Holy Scripture.

This book is not primarily about doctrine - it is first and foremost a book about the Bible, designed to help a Christian reader understand what the Bible is really saying. In doing so it takes for granted the basic principle of Bible exegesis that you cannot work out what the Bible is saying to the Church today without understanding what it was saying (and why) to the Church of the 1st and 2nd centuries.

This would thus be an invaluable book for any first-year theology student or for the general reader wishing to know more about the historical and cultural roots of the New Testament and the early church. Although other writers have produced more stylish and attractive prose, Drane is wonderfully clear, interesting and easy to follow. More intricate explanations are in self-contained sections carefully boxed beside the main narrative, so that they can be skipped by the more casual reader without interrupting the book's flow.

The book's monochrome illustrations and diagrams are not of outstanding originality or beauty, but they are invariably well chosen and helpful. Moreover the physical binding of the paperback edition I am using is robust and has a nice feel to it.

Strongly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: scholarly yet readable
Review: This is great. It's intelligent, makes-sense stuff. While most academics handle this kind of content in a verbose, scholarly, i've-got-a-big-vocabulary-and-fiddly-style way, Drane's language is clear and simple.

I read an earlier edition, and the layout of the book was great too. It's in that magazine-style with big pictures, interesting insets, good headings. You can pick and choose what to read if you're keen for a browse, or eat it all up. I was surprised with the quality of the content, upon first glance at the layout you think it must be quite elementary - but it's not. It's good stuff.

The copy I read was from the library - now it's on my wish-list (mom).