Review "A happy combination of careful scholarship, lucid prose, appropriate illustrations and attractive layout. " --Christianity Today "The book is a gold mine. " --Catholic Herald "In a world full of introductions to the New Testament, there is one that is the most user-friendly for college and beginning seminary students, as well as pastors and lay people. It is John Drane's wonderful Introducing the New Testament, now in its third edition. Unlike some who have produced such introductions, John knows the field well, is not prone to radical or quirky theories, and communicates on a level that anyone can understand. And unlike some introductions, the substance in the text is so good that the book doesn t have to be carried by its wonderful pictures and illustrations. Highly recommended! " --Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor New Testament for Doctoral Studies Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky "Taking up and refining insights from recent social-scientific exegetical research on secrecy in the Ancient Mediterranean world, Watson convincingly demonstrates that Wrede's Messianic Secret hypothesis is entirely culturally implausible. Concealment passages in Mark primarily reflect the day-to-day concerns about honor and shame among early believers who would have understood the Gospel to be addressing these issues. " --John J. Pilch, Georgetown University "In a world full of introductions to the New Testament, there is one that is the most user-friendly for college and beginning seminary students, as well as pastors and lay people. It is John Drane s wonderful Introducing the New Testament, now in its third edition. Unlike some who have produced such introductions, John knows the field well, is not prone to radical or quirky theories, and communicates on a level that anyone can understand. And unlike some introductions, the substance in the text is so good that the book doesn t have to be carried by its wonderful pictures and illustrations. Highly recommended! " --Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor New Testament for Doctoral Studies Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky "Taking up and refining insights from recent social-scientific exegetical research on secrecy in the Ancient Mediterranean world, Watson convincingly demonstrates that Wrede's Messianic Secret hypothesis is entirely culturally implausible. Concealment passages in Mark primarily reflect the day-to-day concerns about honor and shame among early believers who would have understood the Gospel to be addressing these issues. " --John J. Pilch, Georgetown University "In a world full of introductions to the New Testament, there is one that is the most user-friendly for college and beginning seminary students, as well as pastors and lay people. It is John Drane s wonderful Introducing the New Testament, now in its third edition. Unlike some who have produced such introductions, John knows the field well, is not prone to radical or quirky theories, and communicates on a level that anyone can understand. And unlike some introductions, the substance in the text is so good that the book doesn t have to be carried by its wonderful pictures and illustrations. Highly recommended! " --Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor New Testament for Doctoral Studies Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky Product Description Written for a broad audience, John Drane's survey textbook provides a solid historical foundation for understanding the persons, events, and cultural context of the New Testament. Arranged historically, Drane's text takes readers through the world of the first Christians, the life and teaching of Jesus, the origins and growth of the Early Church, the life, mission and letters of Paul, how the Gospels were composed, Revelation, and how the New Testament was formed and has been interpreted and used by later generations. About the Author John Drane received his Ph. D. from the University of Manchester and teaches practical