Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction and background. Approaching the New Testament as the church's scripture -- The Old Testament as promise and preparation -- The world of the New Testament -- The Gospels : the proclamation of the kingdom. The Gospels as historical and theological documents -- The message of Jesus -- The "historical" Jesus -- The origin and reliability of the gospel tradition -- Form and redaction criticism -- The Synoptic problem -- Q as an entity -- The Gospel according to Mark -- The Gospel according to Matthew -- The Gospel according to Luke(-Acts) -- The Gospel according to John -- Acts : the earliest preaching of the kingdom. From the preaching of Jesus to the kerygma of the early church -- Acts as a book of key transitions -- Paul and his Epistles : the interpretation of the kingdom. Paul, the man -- Jesus and Paul -- Paul, Judaism, and the law -- Paul's gospel and the parting of the ways -- Paul's Christology and eschatology -- Letters in the Hellenistic world -- The missionary Paul -- The authorship question -- Galatians -- First and Second Thessalonians -- First Corinthians -- Second Corinthians -- Romans -- Philippians -- Colossians and Philemon -- The Deutero-Pauline Letters : extending the teaching of the Apostle. Ephesians -- The tendencies of "early catholicism" -- The Pastoral Epistles -- Hebrews and the Catholic Epistles : non-Pauline Christianity. The book of Hebrews -- James -- First Peter -- Jude and Second Peter -- The Johannine Epistles -- The Apocalypse : the consummation of the kingdom. The message of the Apocalypse -- The Apocalypse -- The text and canon of the New Testament. The transmission of the text -- The formation of the canon.

"This substantial introduction explores the origin and character of the New Testament writings. Donald Hagner deals with the New Testament both historically and theologically, employing the framework of salvation history. He treats the New Testament as a coherent body of texts and stresses the unity of the New Testament without neglecting its variety. Although the volume covers typical questions of introduction--such as author, date, background, and sources--it focuses primarily on understanding the theological content and meaning of the texts.Throughout this capstone work, Hagner delivers balanced conclusions in conversation with classic and current scholarship, making this an essential resource for seminarians, graduate students, and upper-divisional undergraduates for study and lifelong reference. The book includes summary tables, diagrams, maps, and extensive bibliographies" -- Publisher description.