New Testament Theology

Craig Blomberg has now crowned his distinguished career to date as a careful reader and interpreter of the New Testament by tackling the largest and most difficult of challengesâthat of writing a New Testament theology. Blomberg's text draws upon his proven ability to read ancient texts in historical context, his deep knowledge of the various textual traditions that comprise the New Testament, and a sympathetic competency to see the New Testament as a lived text. A New Testament Theology is a major achievement by a seasoned scholar and one that will serve teachers and students alike. Blomberg presents the task as twofold: chronological and synthetic. Blomberg thus plots actors, authors, and books of the New Testament in a reconstructed chronological order, highlighting both the dominant and distinctive themes for each. Examinations of Jesus and the early church come first, followed by those of the early Jewish Christian writings of James and Jude, and then the missionary letters of Paul (treated together). Blomberg then unpacks the contributions of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, followed by the Pastorals (treated as an extension of Lukan thought even though originating in Paul), Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and the Johannine corpus of gospel, epistles, and Revelation. As Jesus' ministry begins with the proclamation that "the time has come," the recurring, unifying, and synthetic theme of the entire New Testament is, according to Blomberg, the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises, both directly and typologically, explicitly and implicitly. Blomberg's careful inductive reading demonstrates the Bible's remarkable cohesion and foundational importance for the contemporary church. While the grand finale of God's cosmic redemption is still in the future, the determinative events for human well-being have already taken place in Christ. This is the conviction that drives Christian life from generation to generation: the ages have turned, God's victory is assured, even though there is still much work to be done.

"Craig Blomberg has sifted through the complexity of voices in the New Testament and early church and has sought to show both a stunning uniformity of their conviction that in Jesus God has brought the plan of the ages to fulfillment while he also provides a gentle reminder that there is plenty of room for diversity of thought and theme. Blomberg brings to the table his vast reading, note-taking, and careful sorting out of bibliography." -- Scot McKnight, Julius R Mantey Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary, "Unlike many scholars, Blomberg fully engages the abundant evangelical scholarship that has emerged over the past generation, alongside other scholarship, in remarkably readable language. Nonevangelical and less conservative scholars who want to broaden their familiarity with a greater range of scholarly views and arguments today will find a friendly introduction here." -- Craig S Keener, FM and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

Craig L. Blomberg is distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary and holds a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland. His previous books include Jesus and the Gospels and the New American Commentary volume on the book of Matthew.