Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies – A Guide to the Background Literature

One of the daunting challenges facing the New Testament interpreter is achieving familiarity with the immense corpus of related literatures. Scholars and students alike must have a fundamental understanding of the content, provenance, and utility for New Testament interpretation of a wide range of pagan, Jewish, and diversely Christian documents. Ancient Texts for the Study of the New Testament provides descriptions of all ancient literature that is relevant for serious study of the New Testament writings. Readers can quickly survey the literature clustered under various headings (such as the Apocrypha, Dead Sea Scrolls, or early Rabbinic literature), easily access brief definitions and descriptions, and then consider examples of how the literature sheds light on the background and interpretation of specific passages in the New Testament. There are several helpful appendices, including one that lists, beginning with Matthew and ending with Revelation, potentially significant parallels between New Testament passages and the ancient writings treated in the book. This thoroughly revised and significantly expanded edition of Noncanonical Writings and New Testament Interpretation examines a vast range of ancient literature, masterfully distilling details of date, language, text, and translation into an eminently usable handbook. Craig Evans evaluates the materials' relevance for interpreting the New Testament and provides essential biographies. Although the book is written at an introductory level, its comprehensive scope makes it useful even for the seasoned scholar. "

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. The Old Testament Apocrypha 2. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha 3. The Dead Sea Scrolls 4. Versions of the Old Testament 5. Philo and Josephus 6. The Targums 7. Rabbinic Literature 8. The New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 9. Early Church Fathers 10. Gnostic Writings 11. Other Writings 12. Examples of New Testament Exegesis Appendixes 1. Canons of Scripture that Include the Apocrypha 2. Quotations, Allusions, and Parallels to the New Testament 3. Parallels between New Testament Gospels and Pseudepigraphal Gospels 4. Jesus' Parables and the Parables of the Rabbis 5. Jesus and Jewish Miracle Stories 6. Messianic Claimants of the First and Second Centuries Indexes

About the Author :
Craig A. Evans (PhD, Claremont Graduate University) isJohn Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas. He is a frequent contributor to scholarly journals and the author or editor of numerous publications.