A Companion to the New Testament

Matthew L. Skinner is Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he has taught courses in interpreting the New Testament for over fifteen years. His previous books include Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts (Brazos Press, 2015) and The Trial Narratives: Conflict, Power, and Identity in the New Testament (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010). He has also contributed to a number of resources for church leaders, scholars, and students, including The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology (Oxford University Press, 2015), The New Interpreter's Bible One-Volume Commentary (Abingdon Press, 2010), and Theological Bible Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009). He has written about the Bible and its interpretation for the websites Working Preacher, ON Scripture, and Huffington Post Religion and is a longtime co-host of a popular podcast for preachers, Sermon Brainwave.

Introduction 1. What Is the New Testament? 2. The New Testament World 3. The Gospels 4. Jesus of Nazareth 5. The Gospel according to Matthew 6. The Gospel according to Mark 7. The Gospel according to Luke 8. The Gospel according to John 9. The Acts of the Apostles Recommended Resources for Ongoing Exploration of the New Testament

The volume is clearly written and is refreshingly uncluttered without footnotes.... The coverage of the primary texts is focused, thorough, and stimulating. Overall, one would be hard-pressed to find anything more balanced and reliable as an introductory companion to the Gospels and Acts for this [student] environment." --Alex Muir "The Expository Times" For readers of faith who seek understanding, this book is a valuable guide. It could be used with profit on theological courses, in parish settings and by individuals wishing to explore by themselves how the gospels and Acts have shaped and continue to shape answers to questions about Christian faith and identity. --Andrew Gregory "Modern Believing" Skinner writes for an audience that includes especially students (theological schools, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates), but the work will be useful, and accessible, to others who have interest in exploring the content and contemporary relevance of the New Testament. The three volumes reflect the breadth and depth of knowledge and the skill of a superb exegete and master teacher --John T. Carroll "Interpretation: Journal of Bible and Theology" While respecting the historical roots of the gospels and Acts, Skinner deftly illustrates the theological content and evangelical purpose of these biblical texts. This is a solid introduction suitable for use in college and seminary courses. --John R. Barker "The Bible Today"