An Introduction to the New Testament for Catholics

The title of this book may be a bit puzzling-An Introduction to the New Testament for Catholics? The New Testament belongs to all Christians, and the modern study of the New Testament has benefited from the contributions by scholars of all Christian denominations. But there are problems with the New Testament that are specific to Catholics. In this volume, Joseph Kelly deals with the concerns of modern Christians reading the Bible and provides an accessible introduction for students. It's a book that teachers can use rather than a book that presents teachers with problems they have to explain. Most New Testament introductions confuse students by talking about the historical Jesus and the historical Paul by discussing Paul before Jesus because Paul came before him in the New Testament writings. Many Catholics also expect to find all of the church's current teachings and practices laid out in the Bible and are confused when they are not. Kelly helps readers to understand what modern scholars say about the individual books by outlining them in the communities that produced them. He explains that we can't understand what roles the New Testament can play in modern life if we don't understand what it meant to the earliest Christians. The New Testament was read by unsophisticated believers. It was accessible then, and it is accessible now. It tells the story of the most remarkable person who ever lived and of his disciples. It includes some of the most famous narratives in the world, some of the most memorable tales, most immoral words, and striking images. It introduces us to great people who moved history, and tells of the now anonymous people who took the difficult step of leaving thereligions of their ancestors and families to become Christians. Kelly shows that in looking at the New Testament we see real people communicating with us, sharing their beliefs, their fears, and their hopes, and our shared humanity bridges any gap. Distant yet familiar, challenging yet comprehensible, the New Testament is a precious heritage, and one that Kelly recommends we must make our own.