This guide balances detailed textual analysis with background information on early Christianity, providing a guide to the writings of the New Testament. Drawing on a wide range of scholarship, from ancient Roman historians and philosophers to the investigations of today's leading authorities, the author offers a fascinating picture of the historical, social, cultural and religious world out of which the New Testament emerged. Examining the backdrop of the Roman and Hellenistic Empires, and the growth of the early Church, this book explores the Synoptic Gospels and the manner of their composition, in addition to covering such key topics as: the origin and development of early Christian beliefs within the New Testament the methods used by scholars to interpret biblical texts the transition from oral to written tradition. With a narrative punctuated by charts and tables, and featuring a full bibliography and detailed notes, this introduction is suitable for students, scholars and interested general readers alike.