New Testament Theology
Magnifying God in Christ
About
"[Schreiner's] overall treatment of New Testament theology offers an excellent exposition of the New Testament's central message, the glory of God in Christ. . . . Students and scholars are in the author's debt for providing a very helpful tool that will prove its value."--Panayotis Coutsoumpos, Review of Biblical Literature
While no single New Testament document claims to offer a comprehensive theology, Thomas Schreiner suggests that certain recurring themes emerge from the study of the whole. In this volume, he traces key themes as they appear throughout the New Testament canon, exploring the emphases that emerge from a detailed reading of the texts.
Schreiner's approach is based on solid exegesis of all the key texts and leads him to a unified view of core New Testament teaching. He focuses particularly on two overarching themes. The first concerns the unity of redemptive history and the kingdom of God. The New Testament takes up Old Testament imagery and affirms that the kingdom has come (although it remains unfulfilled) in Jesus Christ. The second related theme concerns the goal of the kingdom--the glory of God through the work of Christ and the empowering presence of the Spirit. In the second half of the work, Schreiner takes up the question of what these themes mean for the life of the believer and the ministry of the community of faith.
Although this substantial and comprehensive volume will be of great interest to scholars, Schreiner's first concern is to provide an accessible guide for students and pastors. He has succeeded admirably, and readers will find here a lucid exposition of the theology of the New Testament.
Endorsements
"Thomas Schreiner is known for being a skillful and careful New Testament scholar. In his New Testament Theology his abilities and his clear, concise style are on full display as he gives us a synthetic account of this complex subject, an account that reflects his high view of Scripture. This is probably the best New Testament theology written in the last several decades from a decidedly Reformed and evangelical point of view. While I disagree with the analysis at various points, it is still a fine piece of work, and I am happy to commend it."--Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
"Schreiner's New Testament Theology has long been awaited by colleagues, friends, and students. The appendix, which provides a helpful survey of the discipline of New Testament theology, and the discussion of justification, which contains a summary of the modern debate and a defense of a forensic interpretation of the Pauline teaching, are alone worth the price of the book."--Robert H. Stein, senior professor of New Testament interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Tom Schreiner's New Testament Theology is a valuable addition to the field, providing to students the kind of overview that only a seasoned scholar can produce. The volume is particularly significant for taking a more thematic approach than have most other New Testament theologies. Schreiner therefore comes closer than most others to giving us a genuine New Testament 'theology' (rather than New Testament 'theologies')."--Douglas J. Moo, Blanchard Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College
"Lucid, incisive, and above all devoted to listening to the text of the New Testament, Tom Schreiner's volume is like a cool drink in a postmodern desert. Schreiner unfolds the richness of New Testament theology through the lens of salvation history, showing how fruitful the promise-fulfillment, already-not yet paradigm is for understanding the New Testament. If you want a New Testament theology that is informed, exegetically grounded, canonically based, Trinitarian, and written from the standpoint of a sturdy faith, then this is the book for you!"--Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
"Scholars frequently focus so tightly on the details of the New Testament documents that they miss the big picture. On the other hand, all too often attempts to summarize the message of the New Testament ignore the particular expressions and diverse emphases of its twenty-seven books. Without losing the trees for the wood, Schreiner's New Testament Theology offers a superb exposition of the New Testament's central message, the glory of God in Christ. Pastors and students will find it an invaluable resource for answering the question most readers are asking: what is the New Testament about?"--Brian S. Rosner, senior lecturer in New Testament and ethics, Moore Theological College
"A magnificent achievement! Schreiner has combined the breadth and depth of his knowledge of the New Testament with extensive discussion of the scholarly literature. Best of all, it follows the New Testament in testifying to the majesty and glory of God."--Simon J. Gathercole, lecturer in New Testament studies, University of Cambridge
The Author
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Thomas R. Schreiner
Thomas R. Schreiner (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and professor of biblical theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has taught at SBTS for...
Continue reading about Thomas R. Schreiner
Reviews
"[Schreiner] is a rigorous scholar with a pastor's heart, and his New Testament Theology has been greatly anticipated. . . . Schreiner's book includes a fairly thorough and robust treatment of the texts dealing with manhood and womanhood. . . . . New Testament Theology is a masterful work. . . . Schreiner presents a clear, bold, and winsome picture of biblical manhood and womanhood."--Christopher W. Cowan, Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood blog
"In what seems like a saturated market of New Testament theologies, Thomas Schreiner's own contribution to the description of a New Testament theology is refreshing, and just simply, ground-breaking in its own right. . . . Any serious reader [will] find himself richly immersed in a well-controlled discussion moving between narratives and doctrinal discussions, as well as scholarly contributions and contemporary debates that continue to this day. . . . The command of Schreiner's erudition subtly emerges in his handling of numerous scholarly discussions. Schreiner is not easily dismissive of novel, even new-fangled ideas and proposals, but he is very much willing to weigh the various sides of the dialogue, and arrive at a well-reasoned position. . . . Though the thematic elements may seem familiar, Schreiner's work unapologetically treads on new grounds with his framing of God-centeredness, along with an engagement of the New Testament books, and academic discussions that have emerged in the past century. This contribution to the field of New Testament theology will be read and appreciated for many years to come."--Donald Kim, Southwestern Journal of Theology
"The key NT theology this year is Thomas Schreiner's New Testament Theology. . . . Schreiner provides a thematic overview of the NT rather than the book-by-book approach of several other recent NT theologies. Both approaches have their strengths, so it is good now to have Schreiner's from this direction. . . . Schreiner explicitly writes for pastors and students, making this big volume accessible and very useful for the preacher."--Ray Van Neste, Preaching
"This substantial work resonates well with the Evangelical perspective of its author. . . . [Schreiner's] focus is squarely on the exposition of the theological message of the New Testament works. Within that framework this is a welcome addition to a growing number of recent books attempting a comprehensive look at the theology of the New Testament as a whole."--Donald Senior, CP, Bible Today
"Congratulations to Dr. Schreiner and Baker Academic for this superb demonstration of their collaborative skills. . . . An added feature of this massive exposition is that it is well-watered from the reservoir of contemporary sources with which [Schreiner] interacts (identified in concise footnotes and ample bibliography). . . . For pastors and theological students who are looking for a contemporary and competent presentation of NT teaching integrated by the unfolding story of Jesus Christ in terms of his divine person and saving work, this volume will serve admirably for many years of stimulating study and preaching."--Nelson D. Kloosterman, Mid-America Journal of Theology
"This massive volume is focused upon the centrality of God and Christ in the NT theological enterprise. . . . An appendix provides an excellent historical overview of past NT theological research, including a discussion of the very definition of NT theology. . . . There is much of interest here for readers of all religious and/or scholarly persuasions."--Casimir Bernas, Religious Studies Review
"At the very top of the list in terms of recent theological studies, we should note the release of New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. . . . This massive theology of the New Testament is one of the most significant volumes in biblical theology to be released in many years. Schreiner's work belongs on every preacher's bookshelf and will serve to redefine and redirect New Testament theology for years to come. Schreiner's keen theological understanding and exegetical eye are combined in this volume."--Preaching
"Schreiner has produced a near exhaustive New Testament theology that takes a distinctive thematic approach to the task. . . . The challenge for any NT theologian is to balance contingency with coherence and to perform evenly an inductive study with adequate theological synthesis. Schreiner's book is a worthy model in that task. . . . This is a book that should be on the bookshelf of every interested Christian. May it be read for many years to come!"--Michael F. Bird, Themelios
"The introduction of a major book on New Testament theology is always a welcome event, all the more when the author has a proven track record of publication in the field on New Testament studies. . . . Schreiner's method is based on solid exegesis of all the main passages. . . . [Schreiner's] overall treatment of New Testament theology offers an excellent exposition of the New Testament's central message, the glory of God in Christ. This book is especially significant for taking a more thematic approach than most other New Testament theologies. The appendix and the helpful and full bibliography will give students an outstanding source for further study and research in the area and themes of New Testament theology. Students and scholars are in the author's debt for providing a very helpful tool that will prove its value."--Panayotis Coutsoumpos, Review of Biblical Literature
"Schreiner has written some important volumes during his career . . . yet, none of these has attempted to combine the full range of deep exegesis with tracing broad themes as does his latest work. New Testament Theology . . . stands alone as a masterpiece of Calvinistic evangelical biblical theology. . . . This book has many strengths to commend it to students of Scripture, be they laypersons, pastors, or scholars. Schreiner's work certainly displays characteristic finesse in dealing with difficult passages and issues. . . . The appendix, which is an essay on NTT, is the highlight of the book as Schreiner gives a brief history of NTT and some of the various debates surrounding biblical theology, systematic theology, and the difference between them. . . . New Testament Theology is a solid contribution and would fit into any NTT collection."--Ron C. Fay, Criswell Theological Review
"The core thesis [of New Testament Theology] is outstanding: the foundation and goal of NT theology is glorifying God in Christ, and God sovereignly accomplishes that goal in salvation history. . . . NTT is not divorced from application. It reflects the pastoral heart of Schreiner, who has served as a preaching pastor for the past eleven years. It is well researched and evidences decades of full-time teaching on the seminary level. . . . NTT is useful as a mini-commentary worth consulting when working on a particular passage or theme. . . . The twenty-two page appendix is an especially useful overview of NT theology. . . . Schreiner's NTT is commendable for its depth and breadth. He understands where a biblical theology of the NT fits in the overall theological task, namely, that it is foundational to systematic theology. NTT is a welcome, impressive addition to NT studies for the benefit of Christ's church."--Andrew David Naselli, Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
"The wording is clear, discussions succinct, and biblical references compendious. . . . On main issue after main issue and on the vast majority of the more minor topics, I find myself in full agreement with Schreiner's exegesis and synthesis. . . . On recent theological debates, Schreiner regularly takes a judicial, mediating position. . . . Even the very thorough, up-to-date reader can learn new possibilities from Schreiner's exegesis. . . . Schreiner's work arose out of teaching this material at college and seminary level for years, so that its widest appeal will no doubt be as a textbook. . . . The book will function as an outstanding reference work, while the reader who perseveres in reading it cover-to-cover will find it encyclopedic in its coverage and yet at times even devotionally inspiring due to its consistent immersion in the very words of Scripture."--Craig L. Blomberg, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
"Schreiner's theme is comprehensive; he knows the pertinent biblical texts very well; his interpretations are well argued and conservative; the modern scholarship used to buttress his arguments is wide ranging and ecumenical; his presentation is orderly; the result is the product of very hard work. Readers who share Schreiner's theological and historical views about the nature of the NT and his thematic approach to NT theology will profit most from this massive undertaking. Those who do not must at least admire his learning, industry, and respect for the biblical text."--Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, Catholic Biblical Quarterly
"Schreiner advances a thematic approach, a decision that does justice to the unified nature of the New Testament writings, highlighting the overarching theme reflected in the various subdivisions of the New Testament. This indeed is the most distinctive feature of the present volume. . . . The volume includes useful conclusions at the end of each chapter. . . . An appendix charting the development of the NT theology as a bona fide theological discipline is a good guide for the readers new to the field. . . . Schreiner's volume . . . has no competition among the thematic approaches to the biblical theology of the New Testament. . . . Every student and pastor will benefit immensely from reading it and using it."--Radu Gheorghiţă, Midwestern Journal of Theology
"New Testament Theology is marked by several strengths. First, by consistently arguing for a thesis, Schreiner contributes to the important discussions of the teaching of the NT about both God and faithful living. Second, it is consistently inductive and utilizes categories derived from the biblical story rather than from systematic theology. Third, he provides a repeatable model for theological reflection that endeavors to explicate the message which the human and divine biblical authors sought to communicate while recognizing theological development within the NT itself. . . . Fourth, the interaction with secondary literature provides opportunities for the student to pursue the most interesting aspects more completely. . . . [Schreiner] has successfully produced a useful volume for pastors and students."--Craig M. Long, Trinity Journal
"It is a pleasure to see a fresh thematic approach. . . . Schreiner provides a comprehensive thematic summary of the NT story from a Reformed perspective with a strong emphasis on covenant theology . . . and the glory of God. . . . Next to his fresh approach, the strength of this volume is its careful and consistent consideration of the OT subtext and storyline for NT theology. . . . [This volume] rightly emphasize[s] the grand narrative of God's history with (t)his world--in ways reminiscent of some of the great creeds of the Christian church. . . . Several roads in the quest for NT theology are still to be travelled and exciting tasks are still ahead. With [this volume] the present generation of scholars and perhaps even the next generation have an excellent point of departure."--Christoph Stenschke, Religion & Theology
"A monumental tour de force, which is both thorough and comprehensive. The author adopts a thematic approach, which he summarizes as magnifying God in Christ through the Spirit. He gives an exhaustive summary of the biblical evidence, often with a linguistic commentary. The whole is set in its historical context. . . . The author wrote the first three drafts of the book without consulting secondary sources and claims that, 'The body of literature in New Testament Studies far exceeds the ability of anyone to even come close to reading all that is written.' Nevertheless with a bibliography spanning 46 pages with over 1,200 references he has done pretty well! Footnotes guide the reader to the relevant literature and often, especially where there are controversial issues, Schreiner will give a summary and an evaluation of what various scholars say. Although this is a conservative work the author is very fair in his treatment of opposing views. This is particularly true of the valuable appendix which gives a reflective historical summary of the subject from the eighteenth century to the present. This is a highly significant book, which cannot be too highly commended, which will no doubt remain a valuable reference work for years to come."--Reg Luhman, Faith and Thought
"This book is the product of prolonged reflection on the full range of texts in the NT. . . . Even those most skeptical about Schreiner's approach will find plenty of valuable textual observations that will make them think."--Peter Oakes, Journal for the Study of the New Testament