The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library

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An Introduction To The New Testament

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by

Raymond E. Brown, S.S.

Doubleday

new york london toronto sydney auckland

The Anchor Bible Reference Library

published by doubleday

a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036

The Anchor Bible Reference Library, Doubleday, and the portrayal of an anchor with the letters ABRL are trademarks of Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Brown, Raymond Edward.

An introduction to the New Testament / by Raymond E. Brown.—

1st ed.

p. cm—(The Anchor Bible reference library)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Bible. N.T.—Introductions. 2. Bible. N.T.—Theoogy.

3. Bible. N.T.—Canon. I. Title. II. Series.

BS2330.2.B76 1997

225.6′1—dc21 96–37742

CIP

Nihil obstat

Myles M. Bourke, S.T.D., S.S.L.

Censor deputatus

Imprimatur

Patrick J. Sheridan, D.D.

Vicar General, Archdiocese of New York

November 19, 1996

The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

ISBN 0-385-24767-2

Copyright © 1997 by The Associated Sulpicians of the U.S.

All Rights Reserved

October 1997

To

a remarkable group of doctoral candidates who studied at Union Theological Seminary (NYC) in the years J. Louis Martyn and I taught New Testament and who now teach me by their writings

Foreword And Acknowledgments

The Goal of this Volume

Though the title An Introduction to the New Testament would seem to explain the purpose of this volume, a number of clarifications are necessary for readers to know what is intended.

First, the readership that is envisioned has implications. This book is introductory, and therefore not written for fellow scholars.1 I envision both readers who have become interested in the NT on their own and readers who take NT beginning courses on different levels (e.g., Bible study groups, religious education, college surveys, and initial seminary classes). As part of a Reference Library series, the book must also supply inquirers with general information on the NT. In other words I have attempted a book that the first time one reads intensively parts of the NT can give guidance and later help to answer more specific questions. The envisioned goal and readership has led to the following decisions:

■ Readers of the NT who know Greek, the language in which it was written, can make their own informed efforts to grasp what the authors were trying to communicate. Without a knowledge of Greek, plays on words are often lost; moreover some basic concepts of NT theology (e.g., koinōnia) defy adequate translation. Nevertheless, the purpose of this Introduction is to encourage, not to discourage. The vast majority of ...