New Testament theology raises many questions, not only within its own boundaries, but also in relation to other fields such as history, literary criticism, sociology, psychology, history, politics, philosophy, and religious studies. But, the overarching question concerns the relevance of two thousand year old writings in today's world. How does one establish what is and is not relevant in the New Testament? How does one communicate the ancient ideas, presented in an alien language, alien time, and alien culture to a contemporary audience? This book is intended to serve as a methodological introduction to the field of New Testament theology, aimed at a range of readers-undergraduate and Seminary students, clergy, and laypersons interested in the relevance of scripture. It is a guide which aims to help readers understand how practitioners of New Testament theology have wrestled with the relationship between historical reconstruction of the New Testament, and its interpretation in the modern world.
Thomas Hatina is Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
IntroductionPart I: New Testament Theology in Theory1. New Testament Theology: Two Definitions2. New Testament Theology and the New Testament: Problems and ProspectsPart II: New Testament Theology in Practice3. New Testament Theology and the History of Biblical Interpretation4. A Foundationalist New Testament Theology5. A Dialectical New Testament TheologyPart III: New Testament Theology in a Pluralistic Age6. Religion and Theology: The New Conversation7. New Testament Theology and Myth-makingAuthor IndexScripture Index