The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians

Haven't read it yet but I leafed through it and it all looks good. Nice book. I will probably update this review in a few months when I've had a proper amount of time to get into it better.

Wow, what a book. If I could only take one book as a resource to the Bible it would be this book. Comprehensive, detailed, scholarly scaled down to average comprehension, and relevant.Did I agree with everything Dr. Wright stated? No, but this is a rock solid book that should anchor your library.It is a an enormous book— it literally weighs 4and a half pounds. At 987 pages (889 actual text pages), it is not for the faint or weak at heart. The book literally covers everything you need to know about the New Testament in the Roman world, from history and religious backgrounds to book by book studies and concluding with textual criticism, the development of the canon and the responsibilities of the Church in living the life expounded on in the scriptures.Very highly recommended.

I love that N.T. Wright writes in such plain and conversational language. A layperson can easily read and understand what he is saying. It has been complied in concise chapters that can be read and pondered without being overwhelmed.

The book is great. It is a very thorough overview of New Testament writings and is a very useful companion to following up with New Testament readings from your Sunday services or bible study groups. However, the dust jacket is AWFUL! There is a square hole in the middle of the dust jacket that ensures that any heavy book that slides up against it will RIP the dust jacket more and more! If you have other books in your personal library that you keep on a shelf you will either have to be VERY careful every time you shelve or reference this book or simply throw away the dust jacket.

Would recommend this book as a comprehensive guide anything he writes is so informative

This was supposed to be a Christmas gift. You would think with a book of this weight that it would have been wrapped in a thin bubble wrap to keep the dust jacket from ripping, right? Because that is what any serious book seller would have done if it had been shipped by them. But, as you can see, from the other reviews, Amazon did not do that. Keep that in mind while enjoying the low price, and consider that you might have to return it and hope for a better wrap job the second time if it’s going to be a gift.As far as content, though, it looks fascinating!!!!! The pictures, especially of the art of the period, are gorgeous. Maps and tables are super helpful. It may not be as in depth as others would prefer on each subject. However, it is a great one-stop starting point for someone who is just getting their toes wet. I have been a Bible reader/student for over twenty years, and I found something informative on each page. So unless you have a PhD in Biblical studies, I think you would find this a useful purchase and a foundational book for your library.

I'm currently in school and need textbooks that I can own for the rest of my life as a Christian woman. This book has not only helped me get amazing grades on papers but has taught me a lot about the ancient world of the New Testament. If you are studying or just want to go to the next level with your theological knowledge, you should buy this book and own it forever.

Highly recommended. Anyone who wants to get deeper into God’s Word can learn from this book. While it is not light reading, it is very readable. Cultural context is very important (the Bible was written FOR us but was written TO ancient peoples living in a different culture) and especially so in the Old Testament. This book is rich in explaining cultural context. I learned so much from reading it.