NEW TESTAMENT BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following brief bibliography is intended to suggest the first references a seminary student engaged in theological interpretation of the New Testament will want to consult; the bibliographies and notes of these works will in turn lead the student to other significant resources. Occasional annotations suggest a work's particular value. Commentaries are identified only by author's name.
I welcome suggestions for augmenting the bibliography; please email peterson@austingrad.edu with "NT Bibliography" in the subject line.
E. P. Sanders, Judaism: Practice and Belief 63 bce-66 ce. Best and clearest account of
Judaism at the time of Christian
beginnings, especially in Palestine.
Hans-Josef Klauck, The Religious Context of Early Christianity. Most accessible
introduction to the pagan milieu of the early church.
Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Encyclopedic guide to the first-
century historical, cultural, and religious environment.
Everett Ferguson, Early Christians Speak (2 vols.). Traces aspects of religious practice
from the first Christian century into the second and third.
Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. Best one-
stop introduction to the texture of the documents composing the NT.
Lee Martin McDonald and Stanley E. Porter, Early
Christianity and Its Sacred Literature.
Evangelical in orientation; superior to Johnson in its consideration of historical
Questions.
Raymond Brown, Introduction to the New Testament. Unexciting but solid; virtually
defines the current consensus in historical interpretation.
N. T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God. The most important work from
this prolific author, now the Anglican Bishop of Durham.
Richard Bauckham, James. An exemplary theological exegesis of one letter which also
includes an illuminating comparison of the ethics of James with Jesus' sayings,
Paul, and 1 Peter (pp. 93-108, 113-57).
Nils Dahl, Jesus the Christ
Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the NT: Its Origin,
Development, and Significance
Dale Allison, Jesus of Nazareth
Markus Bockmuehl, This Jesus: Martyr, Lord, Messiah
John Meier, A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus (4 vols.; 1991-)
E. P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus
Richard Bauckham, ed., The Gospels for All Christians
E. P. Sanders and Margaret Davies, Studying the Synoptic
Gospels
Mark S. Goodacre, The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze
Philip S. Turner, Hidden Gospels
Nils Dahl, Jesus in the Memory of the Early Church
Robert Gundry
W. D. Davies and Dale Allison (3 vols., International Critical Commentary)
Paul Minear, Matthew: The Teacher's Gospel
Paul Minear, The Gospel According to Matthew: A Handbook
for Prophets
Robert Gundry. Largely misses the big picture, but a valuable source of information on
each pericope of the Gospel.
Larry W. Hurtado (New International Commentary). Best overall guide to the
interpretation of the Gospel.
Austin Farrer, St Matthew and St Mark. Suggestive approach, if unconventional.
Robert Tannehill, The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation, vol. 1
Joel Green The Gospel of Luke (New International Commentary on the NT)
Luke Timothy Johnson, The Gospel of Luke
Raymond Brown (2 vols., Anchor Bible)
Martin Hengel, The Johannine Question.
Rudolf Schnackenburg (3 vols.)
Robert Tannehill, The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation, vol. 2
Colin Hemer, The Book of Acts in the Setting of
Hellenistic History
Luke Timothy Johnson, The Acts of the Apostles
Bruce Winter, The Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting (6 vols.)
Nils Dahl, Studies in Paul: Theology for the Early
Christian Mission
Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Paul and His Theology: A Brief Sketch
E. R. Richards, The Secretary in the Letters of Paul
E. P. Sanders, Paul
C. E. B. Cranfield
James D. G. Dunn (2 vols., Word Biblical Commentary)
Joseph Fitzmyer (Anchor Bible)
Luke Timothy Johnson, Reading Romans
Richard B. Hays (Interpretation)
Anthony Thiselton (New International Greek Testament Commentary)
Gordon D. Fee (NICNT)
Victor Paul Furnish (Anchor Bible)
John T. Fitzgerald (Abingdon)
Sam K. Williams (Abingdon)
J. Louis Martyn (Anchor Bible)
Markus Barth (Anchor Bible)
Nils A. Dahl (in Harper's Bible Commentary)
Gordon D. Fee
Markus Bockmuehl
Markus Barth and Helmut Blanke (Anchor Bible)
1-2 Thessalonians
Abraham J. Malherbe (Anchor Bible)
1-2 Timothy, Titus
Luke Timothy Johnson, Letters to Paul's Delegates
Joseph Fitzmyer
Markus Barth and Helmut Blanke
Harold Attridge (Hermeneia)
Craig Koester (Anchor Bible)
Luke Timothy Johnson (Anchor Bible)
Richard Bauckham, James
Paul Achtemeier (Hermeneia)
Richard Bauckham (WBC)
Raymond Brown (Anchor Bible)
Stephen Smalley (WBC)
David Aune (3 vols., Word Biblical Commentary)
Richard Bauckham, Theology of the Book of Revelation
Austin Farrer, A Rebirth of Images
Austin Farrer, The Revelation of St John the Divine