[Review of the book <em>Introduction to the New Testament, Vol. 2: History and Literature of Early Christianity</em>, by H. Koester]

Trinity University Trinity University

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Religion Faculty Research Religion Department

2002

[Review of the book [Review of the book

Introduction to the New Testament, Vol. 2:

History and Literature of Early Christianity

, by H. Koester] , by H. Koester]

Rubén R. Dupertuis

Trinity University

, rdupertu@trinity.edu

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Repository Citation Repository Citation

Dupertuis, R. R. (2002). [Review of the book

Introduction to the New Testament: Vol. 2. History and

literature of early Christianity

, by H. Koester].

Review of Biblical Literature

. Retrieved from

http://www.bookreviews.org

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This review was published by RBL  2002 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on obtaining a

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RBL 10/2002

Koester, Helmut

Introduction to the New Testament, Vol. 2: History and

Literature of Early Christianity

Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2000. Pp. 375, Paperback,

$27.95, ISBN 3110149702.

Rubén René Dupertuis

Claremont Graduate University

831 N. Dartmouth, Claremont CA, 91711

The publication of this book completes the second edition of Helmut Koester’s

important two-volume introduction to early Christian literature and history, published

originally in 1982. Like the second edition of the first volume, which appeared in 1995,

this edition seeks to make current the now classic and well-known introductory volume,

while maintaining its structure and organization. After covering the formation of the

canon, text critical issues and an all too brief introduction to methods—only source, form,

tradition, narrative and rhetorical criticism are discussed, the latter two being new to this

edition—texts are discussed in chronological and geographical sequence, beginning with

traditions about John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul, then covering Palestine and Syria

(where he locates both the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and John), and Asia, Macedonia,

Greece and Rome. The book is less an introduction to New Testament writings than it is

an attempt to paint a comprehensive picture of the development of early Christianity,

creating a map of the relationships between the various texts, both canonical and non-

canonical. Although one can disagree with the shape of the map and where some of the

texts are placed in relation to others, it is extraordinarily useful as a place to start or a

point of reference.

The text of this second edition has been edited to flow and reader more smoothly.

It has also been expanded by incorporating many of the scholarly resources that have

become available since the publication of first edition, such as (the now fully published)

materials from the Nag Hammadi library and important recent discussion on the genre of

the Acts of the Apostles. The bibliographies that accompany each section, usually divided

into Text, Studies, Commentaries and History of Scholarship, have been updated to

This review was published by RBL  2002 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on obtaining a

subscription to RBL, please visit http://www.bookreviews.org/subscribe.asp.

include recent works, some of which replace items that were listed in the first edition. In

addition to several new tables—for example, a comparison of the contents of the Gospels

of Mark and John and a comparison of vocabulary unique to John in comparison with the

synoptics—there is now a list of frequently cited texts as well as an index of authors

discussed. The latter, however, does not include authors listed in the bibliography and

contains very few contributions in the last few decades. No new illustrations or pictures

appear in this edition.

As with the first edition, the breadth and scope of the work are both an advantage

and disadvantage, presenting a wealth of information that may be spread too thin in some

places. The book is important and useful as a summary of historical-critical approaches to

the New Testament filtered through Koester’s insight and erudition. However, the

historical focus sometimes shortchanges other questions; texts are approached for what

they can contribute historically, focusing on author, date and the degree of usefulness in

the historical project and it is sometimes unclear what criteria are used to determine the

latter. The Acts of the Apostles, for example, is divided into material that has been

composed and shaped by the author and material that is historically useful, listing a

number of passages, including information about Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37 and Steven

(Acts 6:8-9; 7:54, 57-58a) (p. 322). Bibliographical references would have been welcome

in the numerous places where Koester makes rather bold conjectures and in places where

he navigates opposing interpretations, settling on one without allowing the reader to

follow up.

The updated and expanded edition of this important work will ensure that it

retains its well-deserved place in the library of students of the New Testament for years

to come.