New Testament Basics introduces college, university, seminary, and divinity school students to the study of the New Testament. Authors Stefan Alkier and David M. Moffitt adopt five major aims:
to explore how the Bible came to exist, dealing with the formation and significance of the Christian canon
to discuss the ways the Bible continues to exert influence on contemporary culture, demonstrating the ongoing value and importance of biblical literacy
to introduce readers to some of the most fundamental methods used in the study of the New Testament, including a substantial discussion of semiotics and its usefulness for New Testament interpretation
to provide a survey of central historical, social, and economic information as important contextual knowledge for interpreting the New Testament
to offer some brief discussion of the contents of several New Testament texts and consider ways they might inform theological reflection
In the end, Alkier and Moffitt's New Testament Basics fosters within students important competencies needed to read and interpret the New Testament for themselves.
