consistently historical and comparative perspective, emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Distinctive to this study is its unique focus on the historical, literary, and religious milieux of the Greco Roman world, including early Judaism. As part of its historical orientation, the book also discusses other Christian writings that were roughly contemporary with the New Testament, such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the letters of Ignatius.FEATURES:* A uniquely accessible and engaging writing style that vividly brings the New Testament story to life* Descriptions and models of various methods for studying ancient literature* Time lines, illustrations, maps, and more than 100 photos, including three photo essays* Five types of text boxes: "What to Expect," "At a Glance," "Another Glimpse into the Past," "What Do You Think?," and "Take a Stand"* An extensive glossary of key terms, which appear in boldface type the first time they are used in each chapter* An updated Instructor's Manual on CD containing a media resources section, chapter summaries, key terms, pedagogical suggestions, PowerPoint based lecture outlines, and a test bank with essay and multiple choice questions (not included with book, available separately)* An updated Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/ehrman that provides students with links to media resources, chapter summaries, interactive multiple choice self quizzes, reading guides, flash cards, maps, and time lines* NEW TO THIS EDITION:* A completely reworked chapter (2) on textual criticism, which now appears at the beginning of the book* Take a Stand" boxes that are designed to help students synthesize the material in each chapter* Expanded bibliographies featuring the most up to date research available* New boxes on "Jesus and the Woman Taken in Adultery," "The Ending of Mark," and "The Laughing Jesus"

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