Story Retold – A Biblical–Theological Introduction to the New Testament

Christian Book Award® program Biblical Foundations Book Awards FinalistNew Testament introductions fall into two categories: those that emphasize the history behind the text through discussions of authorship, dating, and audience, and those that explore the content of the text itself. Few introductions weave the Old Testament into their discussions, and fewer still rely on the grand narrative of the Old Testament.But the New Testament was not written within a vacuum. Rather, it stands in continuity with the Old Testament. Israel's story is the church's story.In The Story Retold, G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd explore each New Testament book in light of the broad history of redemption, emphasizing the biblical-theological themes of each New Testament book. Their distinctive approach encourages readers to read the New Testament in light of the Old, not as a new story but as a story retold.

The Story Retold inaugurates an innovation in New Testament introductions where students are introduced to the books of the New Testament in the context of the Old. Beale and Gladd keep each book of the New Testament firmly tethered to the Old Testament narrative, which its authors presume. This new textbook is readable, reliable, and underscores the redemptive-historical threads of the whole Bible, with Christ as the focus.--Daniel M. Gurtner, Ernest and Mildred Hogan Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, The Story Retold is an outstanding resource for introducing students to the New Testament. It brings them straight to the fountainhead of New Testament doctrine--the Old Testament Scriptures. It combines profound biblical insight with lucid, readable prose and presents the best of contemporary biblical scholarship in a readily accessible way. I highly recommend this book.--Sean McDonough, professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, The Story Retold is aptly titled since it is the story of God's grand plan for humanity that began in Eden and culminated in the new Jerusalem told through the eyes of the New Testament writers. Beale and Gladd cover all of the standard features of a New Testament introduction but focus on how each New Testament book highlights the importance of Jesus Christ for the fulfillment of God's story. They patiently demonstrate the Old Testament connections for each key New Testament text. Following in the footsteps of Geerhardus Vos, Beale and Gladd have produced a unique work with its combination of biblical theology and Old Testament background. With superb graphics and wonderful readability, The Story Retold fills a significant void in the field of New Testament introduction, and should be welcomed by those who teach in seminaries as well as by those who teach upper-level college courses.--James Bibza, professor of biblical and religious studies, Grove City College, Beale and Gladd concisely survey each book of the New Testament through a biblical-theological lens. I plan to require this book for my seminary course that focuses on the theological message of each New Testament book.--Andy Naselli, associate professor of New Testament and theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary, Minneapolis, elder of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Beale and Gladd have produced a unique resource that moves far beyond what we have come to expect in a New Testament introduction. Students will enjoy studying the literature and theology of the New Testament on its own terms--as the unfolding of the literature and theology of the Old Testament. The authors' expertise is evident throughout; yet the book is accessible, and it avoids the overly cumbersome details about New Testament scholarship that can sometimes frustrate students. Perhaps the greatest value of this book will be in the patterns of thought and interpretive methods it cultivates in readers. Students will grow in their ability to discern the meaningful meshwork of connections between the Testaments while orienting the contents of the New Testament to the grand narrative of Scripture. We needed a resource like this, and two of the best have delivered!--John Markley, associate professor of New Testament, Liberty University

G. K. Beale (PhD, Cambridge) is the J. Gresham Machen Chair of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. He has published many books, including The Temple and the Church's Mission, We Become What We Worship, Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, and commentaries on 1-2 Thessalonians and Revelation. Benjamin L. Gladd (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary and series editor for Essential Studies in Biblical Theology. His publications include Hidden But Now Revealed, Making All Things New, and From Adam and Israel to the Church.