The New Testament: A Historical and Theological Introduction
This volume fits comfortably in the already-crowded shelf reserved for introductions to the New Testament. Since 2000, most of the premier Christian publishers have produced at least one substantive introduction to the New Testament. With this work, Baker Academic has not only gotten in the game but has also likely taken the lead. It is not only one of the largest on the market, it is also one of the most academic.   Like many New Testament introductions, this one functions in part as a reference tool, providing background information for each book. Dr. Hagner, a well-respected professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, routinely addresses questions such as, Who wrote each book, to whom, when, and why? He answers those questions with unmatched thoroughness, offering plenty of footnotes and full bibliographies for every chapter of the book. The work also covers important peripheral topics, like the “historical” Jesus, new perspectives on Paul the Apostle, and the formation of the New Testament canon. Hagner’s theological perspective is more conservative than not but is anything but dogmatic. Controversial subjects like authorship issues are explored in an objective, fair manner. In the end, readers will be well versed in evidence from both sides of the theological divide. This is one of several qualities that make this an ideal choice for the most serious students of the Bible.   The book’s only weakness is the paltry amount of maps, tables, and visuals when compared to some competitors (e.g., David DeSilva’s An Introduction to the New Testament, 2004). Highly recommended, especially for academic libraries. --Wade Osburn