A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies

I appreciate the accessibility and of this text. As a sometimes church curriculum writer, I value writers who can talk about complex theological ideas in sensible ways. Highly recommended.

My review of A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Studies: Understanding Key Debates by Dr. Nijay Gupta.

What does this book offer the Church?
As I mentioned in my review of The State of New Testament Studies, a student looking to enter the field of New Testament studies will find themselves awash in a myriad of debates, lost in a sea of jargon, and drowning in an ocean of material. Where would you start? And, even if you got started, where would you go from there?


This is where Dr. Nijay Gupta comes in to help the prospective student. In this book, Dr. Gupta introduces prospective students to the vast world of the New Testament field. Rather than giving students in-depth information on each subject, the book introduces the concept, gives a few views on the concept, and then provides a final reflection on how to properly think about the subject and how to navigate the field if you wish to pursue the subject more deeply.

The book can be grouped into a few sections, a lot that would be familiar to students in a graduate program. Students interested in the gospels can read about the Synoptic Problem, an overview of John and how it relates to history, the historical Jesus discussion, and how Jesus and Paul interact. Those interested in reading about Paul learn about his theology and his relation with Torah. A few other interesting topics include the New Testament use of the Old Testament, how to apply Scripture, and understanding the New Testament in its context. There are a few more subjects addressed, but I think these might be of the most interest to those at the onset of their studies in these fields.

How successfully does it meet its goals?
I mentioned before that this book is similar to another book by Dr. Gupta, The State of New Testament Studies. What’s the difference between these two?

First, they are written for different people. The current volume is addressed for people who don’t have much of a familiarity with most of New Testament studies at all, or who only have a knowledge of a handful of subjects. The previous volume was written more as a supplemental guide for those who might be somewhat familiar with these topics, but would like to go a bit deeper. In that case, this book is an excellent primer for those who are getting started on their journeys, or for those who may be deciding what to study in the future.

Second, they are written at different “knowledge” levels. The current volume is written in such a way that it avoids jargon or avoids the reader having some sort of pre-foundational thoughts on the topic. The reader will have their hand held the entire way through. The previous volume is written for those with an understanding of the subject, but want to go deeper with someone conversant in the subject. I have a hard time judging the success of this endeavor, as I am familiar with the subjects and found this book very, very easy to follow. I would be curious how a layperson without a seminary degree would handle this, but I think it would be easy enough to learn, even if it required a bit of extra work.

All in all, I think this book is an excellent primer to someone who is thinking about pursuing a higher theological education, or for someone who has previously earned a degree but would like to follow the debates a bit more closely. For pastors or ministers working with students, or for those who would like to study a bit more deeply even if not pursuing a degree, will find a lot in this book. I would be curious how they could apply it to their congregations, but it might trigger more advanced studies for a pastor/minister and open doors for them to help their congregation go deeper into theology.

You can read more information about the book on the Baker Publishing Group’s website. You can pre-order the book ahead of its March release at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book, or speak with your local bookstore about getting it when it comes in!

As a Biblical studies amateur, I found this book so useful in examining a wide range of topics in a balanced and thorough way. It helped illuminate issues that are debatable, but often not clearly explained in discussions of biblical topics. The book is easy to read, and carefully thought out. While the author has opinions on the topics, he presents both sides in a fair and even way. The author also provides a helpful reading list at the end of each chapter, graded from beginner to advanced. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the Bible, whether they are exploring contemporary scholarship or would merely like some background information to consider.

Anyone thinking of picking up this book needs to know that it is about biblical scholarship rather than a layperson's guide to basic New Testament books. It is not popular debate over the New Testament nor about a survey of the 27 books of the New Testament. It is essentially about scholastic debates within the realm of NT biblical scholarship. Meant primarily for beginner students of New Testament scholarship, it summarizes many of the important controversies surrounding the subject. Controversies such as the which gospel is the earliest; whether some of the gospel writers had copied from an anonymous source named Q; how the synoptic gospels differ from John; authorship of some New Testament books; the view of Paul and Jesus; etc. These and many more form a primer for theological studies in the New Testament.

Author and professor Nijay Gupta summarizes the general issue before giving us various perspectives surrounding it. He is careful not to be dogmatic about the issue, choosing instead to lay out the basic ideas and points of view before giving a personal take on it at the end. For the new NT student, this book is a godsend. It is like a special edition of "New Testament Studies for Dummies." With this clear guide, New Testament students can grasp quickly the history and context of the matter concerned. The key debates include:

1) Understanding the Synoptic Problem
2) Perspectives surrounding the Search for the Historical Jesus
3) The Fourth Gospel
4) Relationship Between Jesus and Paul
5) Paul's Theological Perspective
6) Paul and the Jewish Law
7) Interpreting Revelation
8) Pseudonymity, Authorship and Authority in the New Testament
9) The New Testament and the Roman Empire
10) Women in Leadership in the New Testament
11) Justification by Faith vs Judgment by Works
12) The Old Testament in the New Testament
13) Application and Use of Scripture


Three Thoughts
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First, I must say I wish I had this book when I was in seminary. I enjoy the way Gupta introduces the issue, and gradually bringing in the different ideas surrounding it. By incorporating elements of his own teaching experience with regard to these studies, one would feel like being in a classroom with the author as professor! This book brings back a lot of memories from my seminary years. I remember having to grapple with the various debates and multiple perspectives on topics that seemed quite foreign. Why study the synoptic problem? What's the big deal with regard to the research controversy surrounding the historical Jesus? Surely, there is just one perspective of Paul, that is, Paul's!

Second, this book is not for everyone. For those who are not familiar with theological terms or seminary level education, they might find the studies more philosophical and technical. Some might even say that such debates are a waste of time. If that is your position, then such topics are not for you, at least for the moment. This is an academic treatment, not a Bible-Study type of book. While there are instances of Bible study, the way the Scripture is used tend to be meant for argumentative or illustrative purposes. Chapter 13 however speaks to most of us in terms of how we can apply and use Scripture. Of all the chapters, the general reader might appreciate this last chapter the most as it is not just a summary but an overview of the different ways we apply and use the Bible.

Third, readers will appreciate the author's gentle leading through the different facets of arguments and debates. Gupta does a great job in helping us sift through the maze of perspectives. Without feeling forced to choose a side, we are given an opportunity to understand the controversies. Good scholarship needs to be open and this is what Gupta has done. Like a good professor, he includes some resources for advanced studies as well.

Nijay K. Gupta is Associate Professor of New Testament studies at Portland Seminary in Portland, Oregon. His research interests include Biblical theology, biblical hermeneutics and exegesis, Pauline literature, the Gospel of John, and New Testament ethics.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

This book is essentially a textbook and roadmap for further reading on the subject. Gupta has an even-handed treatment of major issues in the subject.

In each chapter he presents the topic, often in great detail, then he goes on to cover two (or more) opposing views of the subject. The chapter then has a lengthy reflection synthesizing the viewpoints and looking at the subject in greater depth. The chapters end with a conclusion and a list of books for suggested reading.

The first few chapters cover the books themselves, although he does not deal with Acts or the letters written by other authors than St. Paul. The remaining chapters, about 2/3 of the book, cover specific issues including authorship, politics, and the Old Testament.

His viewpoint is pretty neutral and Protestant, although Catholic scholars will find much of value.