| List of Tables | xiii |
| List of Maps | xv |
| Preface to Revised Edition | xvii |
| Introduction to the Original Edition | 1 |
Part 1 | The Background to the New Testament | |
Chapter 1 | The Political History of Palestine During the Intertestamental Period | 7 |
| The Babylonian Period (626-539 B.C.) | 9 |
| The Persian Period (539-331 B.C.) | 11 |
| The Grecian Period (331-320 B.C.) | 13 |
| The Ptolemaic Period (320-198 B.C.) | 15 |
| The Syrian Period (198-167 B.C.) | 16 |
| The Maccabean Period (167-142 B.C.) | 18 |
| The Hasmonean Period (142-63 B.C.) | 20 |
| The Roman Period (63 B.C. on) | 21 |
| Later Events in Palestine | 26 |
Chapter 2 | Life in the World of the New Testament | 31 |
| Home Construction | 32 |
| Food | 34 |
| Clothing | 35 |
| Social Classes | 35 |
| Languages | 36 |
| Jewish Population | 37 |
| Industry, Labor, and Commerce | 37 |
| Transportation and Communication | 38 |
| Education | 39 |
| Science and Medicine | 39 |
| Entertainment | 40 |
| Marriage | 41 |
| Funerals | 42 |
| Crime | 43 |
| The Roman Army | 43 |
Chapter 3 | The Religious Background to the New Testament | 47 |
| Paganism | 47 |
| Judaism | 54 |
| Conclusion | 64 |
Chapter 4 | The Canon, Text, and Genre of the New Testament | 69 |
| The Canon and Text | 69 |
| The New Testament Text | 75 |
| Genre | 78 |
Part 2 | The Life of Jesus and the Gospels | |
Chapter 5 | Learning About Jesus | 85 |
| Sources | 86 |
| The Geography of Jesus' Homeland | 87 |
| The Historical Study of Jesus' Life | 89 |
| The Teaching of Jesus | 92 |
| Dates in Jesus' Life | 94 |
| The Chronology of Jesus' Life | 97 |
Chapter 6 | The Synoptic Problem | 113 |
| The Development of the Synoptic Gospels | 114 |
| Moving Toward a Synoptic Consensus | 126 |
Chapter 7 | The Four Gospels | 131 |
| The Gospel of Matthew | 132 |
| Outline of Matthew | 139 |
| The Gospel of Mark | 140 |
| Outline of Mark | 146 |
| The Gospel of Luke | 146 |
| Outline of Luke | 154 |
| The Gospel of John | 156 |
| Outline of John | 164 |
Chapter 8 | The Birth, Childhood, and Early Ministry of Jesus | 171 |
Chapter 9 | Jesus' Ministry in and Around Galilee | 191 |
Chapter 10 | The Later Judean andthe Perean Ministry | 223 |
Chapter 11 | The Final Week of Jesus' Life--Crucifixion and Resurrection | 245 |
Part 3 | The Growth of thse Early Church in Acts | |
Chapter 12 | Introduction to the Acts and the Role of Peter in Early Christianity (Acts 1-12) | 281 |
| Authorship | 281 |
| Luke the Man | 283 |
| Date of Writing Acts | 283 |
| Literary Questions About Acts | 284 |
| The Quality of Greek | 284 |
| The Sources of Luke | 285 |
| Historical Accuracy of Acts | 285 |
| The Content of Acts | 291 |
Chapter 13 | The Role of Paul in the Spread of Christianity (Acts 13-28) | 301 |
| Paul's First Missionary Journey | 305 |
| Second Missionary Journey | 311 |
| The Third Missionary Journey | 315 |
| Arrest and Imprisonment in Jerusalem(21:17-23:35) | 319 |
| Paul's Appearance Before Felix (24:1-27) | 320 |
| Paul Before Festus (25:1-12) | 321 |
| Paul Before Festus and Herod Agrippa II (25:13-26:32) | 321 |
| The Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:16) | 322 |
| Paul in Rome (28:17-31) | 324 |
| Outline of Acts | 326 |
Part 4 | The Epistles of Paul | |
Chapter 14 | An Overview of Paul's Life | 333 |
| The Literary Contributions of Paul | 334 |
| The Personality of Paul | 345 |
| The Life of Paul | 346 |
| A Chronology of Paul's Life | 349 |
| The Theology of Paul | 354 |
Chapter 15 | Paul's First Writings (A Survey of Galatians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians) | 363 |
| The Letter to the Galatians | 364 |
| The Message of Galatians | 370 |
| Outline of Galatians | 375 |
| For Further Discussion | 376 |
| The Letters to the Thessalonians | 377 |
| The Message of 1 Thessalonians | 381 |
| Outline of 1 Thessalonians | 383 |
| The Message of 2 Thessalonians | 384 |
| Outline of 2 Thessalonians | 386 |
Chapter 16 | Paul's Chief Writings (A Survey of Romans and 1 and 2 Corinthians) | 389 |
| The Epistle to the Romans | 390 |
| The Message of Romans | 394 |
| Outline of Romans | 400 |
| For Further Discussion | 402 |
| The Corinthian Letters | 402 |
| 1 Corinthians | 407 |
| The Message of 1 Corinthians | 408 |
| Outline of 1 Corinthians | 416 |
| 2 Corinthians | 417 |
| The Message of 2 Corinthians | 419 |
| Outline of 2 Corinthians | 425 |
Chapter 17 | Paul's Captivity Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) | 431 |
| Time and Place | 432 |
| Date of the Captivity Epistles | 435 |
| The Epistle to the Ephesians | 436 |
| Outline of Ephesians | 441 |
| The Epistle to the Philippians | 442 |
| Outline of Philippians | 448 |
| The Epistle to the Colossians | 449 |
| Outline of Colossians | 456 |
| The Epistle to Philemon | 457 |
| Outline of Philemon | 459 |
Chapter 18 | The Pastoral Epistles | 463 |
| Authorship of the Pastorals | 464 |
| Chronology for the Pastorals | 471 |
| Occasion and Purpose | 472 |
| 1 Timothy | 473 |
| 2 Timothy | 475 |
| Titus | 476 |
| The Content of 1 Timothy | 477 |
| Outline of 1 Timothy | 481 |
| The Content of 2 Timothy | 483 |
| Outline of 2 Timothy | 486 |
| Content of Titus | 487 |
| Outline of Titus | 489 |
Part 5 | Hebrews, the General Epistles, and Revelation | |
Chapter 19 | The Epistle to the Hebrews | 495 |
| The Content of Hebrews | 502 |
| The Exegesis of Hebrews 6:4-12 | 506 |
| An Outline of Hebrews | 507 |
Chapter 20 | The Epistle of James | 511 |
| The Content of James | 517 |
| Outline of James | 522 |
Chapter 21 | The Epistles of 1 and 2 Peter | 525 |
| The Epistle of First Peter | 526 |
| The Content of First Peter | 534 |
| Outline of First Peter | 538 |
| The Epistle of Second Peter | 539 |
| The Content of Second Peter | 544 |
| An Outline of Second Peter | 546 |
Chapter 22 | The Johannine Epistles | 551 |
| The Epistle of 1 John | 551 |
| The Content of First John | 555 |
| Outline of First John | 559 |
| The Epistles of 2 and 3 John | 560 |
| Content of 2 John | 561 |
| Outline of 2 John | 562 |
| Content of 3 John | 563 |
| Outline of 3 John | 564 |
Chapter 23 | The Epistle of Jude | 567 |
| Content of Jude | 572 |
| Outline of Jude | 574 |
Chapter 24 | The Revelation | 577 |
| Content of Revelation | 589 |
| Outline of Revelation | 601 |
| Endnotes | 607 |
| Glossary of Terms | 637 |
| Index | 645 |
| About the Authors | 653 |