| Preface |
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11 | (2) |
| To the Professor |
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13 | (2) |
| To the Student |
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15 | (2) |
| Abbreviations |
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17 | (2) |
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Why Study the New Testament? |
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19 | (20) |
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The Bible: A High Stakes Book |
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Why Study the New Testament? |
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It Mediates God's Presence --- and with It, Truth |
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It Is of Ultimate Personal Significance |
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It Is Foundational to Cultural Literacy |
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Why These Twenty-Seven Books? |
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Old Testament Precedent for a Canon |
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The Divine Authorship of the New Testament: Inspiration |
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Recognition of the Canon in the Church |
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The Integrity of the New Testament Text |
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Why Study the New Testament? |
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To Avoid the Tyranny of Preformed Personal Opinion |
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To Avoid Misguided Reliance on the Holy Spirit |
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To Enable Historical-Theological Interpretation |
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PART 1 Encountering Jesus and the Gospels |
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The Middle East in the Days of Jesus |
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39 | (30) |
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The History of Palestine from the Return to the Destruction of Jerusalem |
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The Maccabean/Hasmonean Period (166--63 B.C.) |
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The Domination of Rome (63 B.C.--A.D. 70) |
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The Rule of Herod the Great (37--4 B.C.) |
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The Rule of Herod's Descendants (4 B.C.--A.D. 66) |
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Archelaus (4 B.C.--A.D. 6) |
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Antipas (4 B.C.--A.D. 39) |
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Herod Agrippa I and II (A.D. 37--66) |
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The Jewish War and Destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 66--70) |
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Jewish Religion in Jesus' Day |
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The Unifying Factors in Judaism |
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Other Groups in Palestine |
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The Literature of the Jews |
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The Old Testament Apocrypha |
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The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha |
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The Gospel and the Four Gospels |
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69 | (8) |
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The Content of the Message |
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The Growing Body of Material |
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The Distinctive Gospel Form |
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Why the Gospels Were Written |
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The Trustworthiness of the Gospels |
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The Gospel of Matthew: The Messiah Has Come! |
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77 | (10) |
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Purpose and Characteristics |
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Jesus the Fulfillment of God's Intention |
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Jesus the Savior of Israel and the World |
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Jesus the Supreme Authority |
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Jesus the Teacher, Preacher, and Healer |
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The Followers of Jesus and the Church |
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The Gospel of Mark: Son of God, Servant of All |
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87 | (10) |
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Purpose and Characteristics |
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The Supernatural Nature of Jesus |
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The Unfolding Mystery of Jesus' Divine Sonship |
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The People's Confirming Reactions |
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The Death and Resurrection of Jesus |
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The Ministry of Jesus as Servant |
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The Gospel of Luke: A Savior for All People |
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97 | (10) |
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Purpose and Characteristics |
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Jesus as Savior of the World |
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Events of Jesus' Early Life |
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The Place of Women in Jesus' Ministry |
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The Ministry of the Holy Spirit |
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The Gospel of John: Eternal Life through His Name |
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107 | (10) |
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Date and Place of Writing |
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Purpose and Characteristics |
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In the Beginning Was the Word |
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Jesus' Divine Qualities and Essence |
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Jesus as Unique Divine Messenger |
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Jesus' Fulfillment of Israel's and All Humanity's Hopes and Needs |
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Man from Galilee: The Life of Jesus Christ |
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117 | (20) |
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The Gospels and the Life of Jesus |
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Jesus' Birth and Youth (6 B.C.-A.D. 26) |
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The Beginning of Jesus' Public Ministry (A.D. 26--27) |
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The Galilean Ministry (A.D. 27--29) |
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Jesus' Travels outside Galilee (A.D. 29) |
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The Perean and Judean Ministry (A.D. 29--30) |
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Jesus' Last Days on Earth and Crucifixion (April A.D. 30) |
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The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus (April--June A.D. 30) |
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The True Meaning of Jesus of Nazareth |
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Lord, Teach Us: The Teaching Ministry of Jesus Christ |
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137 | (16) |
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The Form of Jesus' Message |
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God, the Kingdom of God, and Jesus' Relation to the Kingdom |
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Jesus' Special Relation to God |
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Jesus' Special Relation to Other Human Beings |
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Human Life, Human Sinfulness, and God |
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The End of the Age, the Second Coming, and the Life to Come |
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Modern Approaches to the New Testament: Historical Criticism and Hermeneutics |
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153 | (16) |
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Two Ways of Reading the New Testament |
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The Necessity of Criticism |
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Roots of Historical Criticism |
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Contribution and Limitations of Historical Criticism |
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The Promise of Hermeneutics |
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Invitation to Further Hermeneutical Study |
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The Modern Study of the Gospels |
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169 | (12) |
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The Rise of Source Criticism |
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The Rise of Form Criticism |
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The Rise of Redaction Criticism |
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The Modern Search for Jesus |
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181 | (12) |
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The Search for the Real Jesus |
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A Brief History of the Search |
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The Search for the Real Words of Jesus |
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A Brief Look at the Search |
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The Criteria Used to Find Jesus' Real Words |
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A Positive Approach to the Problem |
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PART 2 Encountering Acts and the Earliest Church |
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The World and Identity of the Earliest Church |
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193 | (16) |
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Religions and Philosophies |
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The Early Christians: New People in Christ |
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How Early Christians Saw Themselves |
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What Early Christians Believed |
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The Decisive Fact of Jesus' Death and Resurrection |
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Acts 1--7: The Earliest Days of the Church |
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209 | (14) |
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Characteristics and Importance |
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Literary Features and Structure |
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Outline of Acts 1--7 Initial Witness to Christ in and around Jerusalem (1:1--2:47) |
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The First Christian Pentecost (1:12--2:47) |
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Pointed Message, Dramatic Response |
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Spreading the Message, Gathering Opposition (3:1--7:60) |
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Acts 8--12: Salvation for Both Jew and Gentile |
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223 | (14) |
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Perspective of Acts 8--12 |
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Minor Figures: Ten More Who Believed |
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The Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26--40) |
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Simon the Tanner (9:43; 10:6, 17, 32) |
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James, Brother of John (12:2) |
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Simon the Sorcerer (8:9--25) |
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Herod Agrippa I (12:1--23) |
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Peter (8:14--25; 9:32--43; 10:1--11:18; 12:3--18) |
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Saul (8:1--3; 9:1--31; 11:25--30; 12:25) |
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Acts 13--28: The Light of Christ to the Ends of the Earth |
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237 | (16) |
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First Missionary Journey (13:1--14:28) |
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The Jerusalem Council (15:1--35) |
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Second Missionary Journey (15:36--18:22) |
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Third Missionary Journey (18:23--21:15) |
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Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea (21:15--26:32) |
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Voyage to Rome (27:1--28:10) |
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Ministry at Rome (28:11--31) |
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PART 3 Encountering Paul and His Epistles |
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All Things to All People: Life and Teachings of the Apostle Paul |
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253 | (20) |
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Brief Overview of the Life of Paul |
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Missionary Journeys and Paul's Letters |
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Which Letters Did Paul Write? |
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Paul's Teaching about God |
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Evil and the Human Dilemma |
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Children of Abraham, Children of God: Paul's View of the People of God |
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273 | (14) |
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Gospels---Acts---Epistles |
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The City of Rome and Christianity |
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The Occasion and Purpose of Romans |
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Prognosis I: Justified by Faith in Jesus Christ (3:21--8:17) |
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Prognosis II: Redeemed by Grace (8:18--11:36) |
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Prescription (12:1--15:13) |
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Conclusion (15:14--16:27) |
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Corinthians and Galatians: Apostolic Counsel for Confused Churches |
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287 | (20) |
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First and Second Corinthians |
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Founding of Christianity in Corinth |
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Letters to and from Corinth |
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Author, Date, Place of Writing |
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South Galatia or North Galatia? |
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Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon: Letters from Prison |
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307 | (20) |
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Declarations and Exhortations |
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Implications of Christ's Supremacy |
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Literary and Historical Questions |
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Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus: A Legacy of Faithfulness |
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327 | (20) |
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First and Second Thessalonians |
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Origin of 1 and 2 Thessalonians |
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God-Focus at Thessalonica |
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First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus |
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Fourth Missionary Journey and Authorship |
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Occasion for Writing and Message |
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Occasion for Writing and Message |
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Occasion for Writing and Message |
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The Wisdom of the Pastoral Epistles |
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PART 4 Encountering the General Epistles and the Apocalypse |
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Hebrews and James: Maintaining Full Commitment to Christ |
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347 | (14) |
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The General Epistles Hebrews: Sermonic Epistle |
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The Mystery of Hebrews' Authorship |
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Date, Recipients, Purpose, and Genre |
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Down with the Old Testament? |
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Author, Date, Recipients, and Purpose |
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Peter, John, and Jude: A Call to Faith, Hope, and Love |
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361 | (14) |
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The Comfort and Encouragement of Christ |
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Revelation: God Is in Control! |
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375 | (12) |
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Theories of Interpretation |
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The Teachings of Revelation |
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Epilogue: Matters to Ponder |
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387 | (8) |
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The New Testament Story: Over But Not Ended |
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The Legacy of the Apostolic Age |
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Basis for Reflection and Action |
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| Glossary |
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395 | (12) |
| Answers to Review Questions |
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407 | (2) |
| Notes |
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409 | (12) |
| Scripture Index |
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421 | (14) |
| Name Index |
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435 | (4) |
| Subject Index |
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439 | |