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Discovering the New Testament: An Introduction to Its Background, Theology, and Themes (Volume I: The Gospels and Acts) Hardcover – October 31, 2018

by Mark J. Keown (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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Discovering the New Testament is a new and comprehensive introduction to the New Testament in three volumes, reflecting current research and scholarship in New Testament studies. Each volume provides a thorough discussion of background issues as well as treating theological themes and practical application.

The first volume on the Gospels and Acts covers Jewish and Greco-Roman backgrounds, critical methodologies, the synoptic problem, and surveys each of the four gospels and Acts. It concludes with three chapters that explore the key theme of the kingdom of God, including
its Old Testament background, the place of miracles, and an examination of Jesus' parables.

Ideal for college or seminary students, the volumes provide numerous maps and charts, as well as discussion questions for each chapter and a focus on real-life relevance and application. Forthcoming volumes will focus on Paul (Vol. 2) and the general epistles and Revelation (Vol. 3).
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  1. Book 2 of 3
    Discovering the New Testament
  2. Print length
    632 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Lexham Press
  5. Publication date
    October 31, 2018
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 2.1 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1683592328
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1683592327
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

.Mark Keown’s lucid discussions provide expert guidance through the complex issues of authorship, historical setting, genre, and structure of these important but often overlooked books of the New Testament. I also particularly appreciate the detailed treatment of theological themes and emphases of these parts of Scripture. This is a book which fully achieves its goal of providing a clear and comprehensive guide to help us to discover the New Testament anew. Highly recommended!

―Paul Trebilco, professor of New Testament Studies, Theology Programme, University of Otago


With his typical care and detail, Mark Keown takes a look at Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and Revelation in Discovering the New Testament,Volume 3. What we get is a solid treatment of authorship, context, book outlines, and core theme of these books, including a fair discussion of most of the things scholars discuss when considering them. If you are familiar with Volumes 1 and 2, this wonderfully completes the series. If not, they are all worth having.

―Darrell Bock, executive director for cultural engagement, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement

About the Author

Mark J. Keown (Th.D., Laidlaw College) is a senior lecturer in New Testament at Laidlaw College in Auckland, NZ and is the author of Congregational Evangelism in Philippians as well as numerous essays and journal articles. He is also an ordained minister and served at Greenlane Presbyterian Church from 1997 to 2003.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lexham Press (October 31, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 632 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1683592328
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1683592327
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 2.1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
17 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jimmy R. Reagan
5.0 out of 5 stars My New Favorite!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
I love this book! I’ve had the privilege to use and review many books on New Testament Introduction, but this volume has one of the best combinations of design, layout, information, and approach that I’ve encountered. Though it only covers the Gospels and Acts until volume 2 is published, it may easily become the first grab off the shelves when questions of New Testament Introduction arise for me.

This volume is my second foray into the writings of Mark Keown. His two-volume work on Philippians in the EEC series was, in my opinion, a very successful exegetical commentary. This work is of a completely different sort. He exhibits the gifts of a teacher though out, so it’s no surprise to me to learn that he has taught this material for many years. This book is ideal for students, but I also notated page numbers at the beginning of places I want to review later for further study. There’s much to be said for writing that can communicate clearly as found in this book.

There’s nothing missing that I would want in New Testament Introduction (through Acts) in Keown’s approach. Both the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts were exquisitely presented. For those who care, there’s a clear overview of critical methodologies. Though it seems a fool’s errand to me, there’s a chapter on the speculative Synoptic theories. Keown excels in the five chapters that cover each of the four Gospels and Acts in turn. You will leave each chapter with a better understanding of the purpose of each book. Next, he mines the paramount theme of the Kingdom in a chapter that captures the heart of these writings. The final two chapters look at miracles and parables in a way that answers criticisms and sees through them to their purpose.

You may quibble over some point (he speaks of “Q” as fact), but overall this book can stand up to any conservative Introduction. On the teaching level, this work could easily serve this generation as Merrill Tenney did for past ones. In fact, it’s far better than that oft-used textbook for my money. You will do yourself a favor to look this one up.
4 people found this helpful
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SpoiledMilks
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2019
Read my full review on my blog Spoiled Milks (1/16/19).

For Keown, the "center of the Biblical narrative, God's story of salvation, is Christ" (1). He writes, "The letters of the New Testament [as well as the Old] then must be read in light of Christ, always pointing us to Christ and what he means for us, for the church, for life, and for everything!" (1). After briefly looking at the formation of the NT, Keown spends two chapters on the Jewish and Greco-Roman context of the NT, looking at the life and writings of those cultures. Understanding these backgrounds is very beneficial to understanding the NT. 

Keown gives 190 pages to the four Gospels and Acts and looks at the questions of authorship, date, provenance, setting, audience, structure, context, purpose, etc. He then looks at the different emphases in each Gospel and in Acts. Each chapter is packed with information, and should lead you to begin marking up your Bible so that as you read through these books in the future you can remember and make new connections. 

The final three chapters center on the kingdom of God. The first covers what the kingdom of God is, then the power of the kingdom (seen in Jesus' miracles), and then the teaching of the kingdom (seen in Jesus' parables). The kingdom of God "is found where the people of God are and [where?] the work of God by his Spirit [is?] across all of creation" (457). The church is not the kingdom, but represents it.

Yes. Keown has written a fantastic NT introduction, and it's only the first volume. I expect as much quality in the next two volumes as found here. Great for those in college, Bible college, and seminary. 
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