Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

The New Testament as pastoral response -- The environment of early Christianity : essential landmarks -- The cultural and social world of the early church : purity, honor, patronage and kinship -- The four Gospels and the One Jesus : critical issues in the study of the Gospels -- The Gospel according to Mark : following the way to the cross -- The Gospel according to Matthew : following the words of the Messiah -- The Gospel according to Luke : following the heart of the Father -- The Acts of the Apostles : following the leading of the Spirit -- The Gospel according to John : following the One from above -- The Epistles of John : painful breaches of the bond of unity and love -- A prologue to the study of Paul's letters -- The letter to the Galatians : walking in line with the Spirit -- The Thessalonian correspondence : living in the light of the "day" -- The Corinthian correspondence : valuing oneself and others in the Lord -- The Epistle to the Romans : the God of Jew and Gentile -- The Epistle to the Philippians : unity in the face of adversity -- The Epistle to Philemon : the slave is our brother -- Excursus : pseudepigraphy and the New Testament canon --

The Epistles to the Christians in Colossae and Ephesus : walking in the light of Christ's victory -- The letters to Timothy and Titus : trustworthy management of God's household -- The Epistle to the "Hebrews" : living in trust and gratitude to God -- The Epistle to James : promoting consistency of belief and behavior -- The first letter of Peter : an ethic for resident aliens awaiting their inheritance -- Jude and 2 Peter : the dangers of deviant disciples -- The Revelation of John : living in the light of God's triumph.