New Testament Theology
by Eckhard J. Schnabel
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Pub Date Nov 21 2023 | Archive Date Dec 12 2023
Baker Academic & Brazos Press | Baker Academic
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Description
New Testament Theology is a major new contribution to New Testament scholarship by renowned scholar Eckhard Schnabel.
While many New Testament theologies approach the material through a particular thematic construct (e.g., covenant), Schnabel takes a different approach. First, he focuses on Jesus Messiah and his significance for the early church. Second, he seeks to describe the theology of the New Testament as it was written and read in its historical context. This approach honors the fact that the authors and original readers of the New Testament were real people dealing with real issues in their specific ecclesiological, cultural, and missiological settings. Schnabel comprehensively combines a historical description of the New Testament's theology with a systematic reflection on the New Testament's message and the convictions of Jesus and his early followers.
This valuable contribution to the field will be insightful reading for students, scholars, and pastors.
Advance Praise
“Those who read many volumes devoted to New Testament theology soon learn that there are highly varied and competing theories about what goes into New Testament theology. Ladd does not align with Kümmel, who does not align with Marshall, who does not align with Bultmann, who does not align with Vos, and so forth. What Schnabel offers is a tight interweaving of New Testament history with the theology that is interwoven with that history—a stimulating and creative mix that reflects vast knowledge and plausible integration.”—D. A. Carson, emeritus professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“Eckhard Schnabel takes up the challenge of writing a theology of the New Testament and shows his comprehensive understanding of these writings in their historical settings. Particularly distinctive is Schnabel’s lens of the New Testament as ‘mission theology,’ a perspective already well-honed in his previous scholarship. New Testament Theology offers a thoroughgoing engagement with the New Testament documents from a seasoned scholar.”—Jeannine K. Brown, Bethel Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota
“Provoking and fundamental, this book is like a house built on the rock of the author’s earlier monumental work, Early Christian Mission. Schnabel’s solid historical research and sound evangelical conviction offer readers a reliable and fruitful reading of the theology of the New Testament. Here history and theology embrace each other in God’s revelatory acts through Jesus the Messiah and the New Testaments writers’ proclamations in their diverse missional and pastoral contexts. Readers will also find themselves engaging in the task of witnessing to the gospel in their diverse contexts. A perfect textbook.”—Young S. Chae, Baekseok Seminary and Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea
“Despite the array of works on New Testament theology today, Schnabel adds a distinctive voice with distinctive insights. Unrivaled in its deep historical perspective, this book also explores a range of issues arising inductively from the text that are often neglected in other New Testament theologies.”—Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary
“In navigating the sea of diverse New Testament texts, we could all use the compass of a New Testament theology that is faithful to history, to the text, and to Jesus Christ. Now, with this magisterial volume, Eckhard Schnabel delivers just that. Readable yet erudite, comprehensive in detail yet alert to the big picture, this book will stand the test of time.”—Nicholas Perrin, president, Trinity International University
“There is now a welcome upsurge in the publication of books on the theology of the New Testament. I would put Schnabel’s New Testament Theology at the very top of the list. One has come to expect from him exceptional erudition, thoroughness, theological depth, and well-structured analysis. In this book, he masterfully introduces the primary task of doing a theology of the New Testament, takes us through the New Testament itself, and concludes with a systematic distillation of its message. What sets this theology apart is the recognition that the New Testament writings were created for actual audiences that reflected a cross section of society. By crafting fictional profiles of diverse individuals, Schnabel helps the reader imagine how different people in this ancient world might have responded to the theological messages, and how different people in our context might respond as well. Therefore, this book will not only deepen an understanding of the theology of the New Testament; it will also invigorate the preaching and teaching of that theology.”—David E. Garland, professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
“Professor Eckhard J. Schnabel has already distinguished himself, with numerous outstanding commentaries and monographs, as one of the leading New Testament scholars in our day. The present new work is an all-encompassing treatment of the theological content of the New Testament. It focuses on the proclamation of Jesus and of his first followers in their historical context, based on a thorough analysis with an immense knowledge of the literature. It also offers enriching insights for our present-day Christian life, for reaching out to our environment in a mission-minded way, as did the first Christians in their time.”—Peter Balla, chair of New Testament studies, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest
“Despite recent claims to the contrary, Schnabel demonstrates that the discipline of New Testament theology is alive and well. In a manner reminiscent of Adolf Schlatter’s influential New Testament theology, Schnabel shows the central role that Jesus the Messiah plays in the theological convictions of the New Testament. Sensitive to history, theology, exegesis, and ethics—this is a powerful articulation of the unity of the New Testament!”—Joshua W. Jipp, professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781540963116 |
| PRICE | $69.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 1224 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Andrew P, Reviewer
Eckhard J. Schnabel's "New Testament Theology" is a refreshing and insightful exploration of the theological landscape of the New Testament, marked by 3 distinctive features that set it apart from other works in the field.
The first noteworthy aspect of Schnabel's approach is his focused exploration of Jesus as the Messiah and his profound significance for the early Christian community. By placing Jesus at the center of the theological discussion, Schnabel highlights the foundational role of Christology in shaping the New Testament's overarching narrative. This emphasis not only aligns with the core of Christian belief but also provides readers with a coherent understanding of how the figure of Jesus influenced the theological perspectives of the early church.
The second distinctive feature of Schnabel's work lies in his commitment to describing the theology of the New Testament within its historical context. Acknowledging the real-life circumstances, ecclesiological challenges, and cultural dynamics faced by the original authors and readers, Schnabel brings a historical depth to his analysis. This contextual approach adds layers of richness to the theological discussions, allowing readers to appreciate the relevance of New Testament teachings in the specific socio-cultural and missiological settings of the early Christian communities. Sure one may wish for more exegesis as to why he came to a certain conclusion here and there but that goes for any theology of the New Testament.
Schnabel's commitment to historical context is not merely an academic exercise but a homage to the reality that the New Testament was written by real people dealing with real issues. By delving into the ecclesiological, cultural, and missiological dimensions of the New Testament writings, Schnabel provides readers with a more authentic and nuanced understanding of the theological concerns addressed by the biblical authors.
Of course thirdly, one expected and will appreciate Schnabel's consideration of the ecclesiological aspects of the New Testament contributing to a missiological understanding of the role of the church in mission. By examining the formation and practices of the early Christian communities, he provides insights into how the church served as a central agent in the mission, emphasizing the communal and relational aspects of spreading the Christian message.
Rosa S, Educator
From a historical perspective, the New Testament takes on a more storied and approachable view. What were people thinking about the emerging body of Christ and its leaders? How did they view the teachings of Peter, Paul, and the others?
From his seat at Gorden Conwell and experience in missions and in the classroom, Schnabel knows how to pull together a book of theology that is readable and usable in the classroom.
A good addition to current textbooks on NT theology. Recommended for preachers, teachers, and the curious student of the NT.
Plus, I'd recommend it for students of religion who wonder what the fuss is about when Christians start quoting their scriptures or for those who consider themselves scholars but think it's time to leave Jesus and his teachings behind. This book might surprise you!
