Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-189) and index.

1. The 'New Testament' and its literary forms -- 2. Jesus of Nazareth -- 3. The Jesus traditions in the first generations : the logia sources and the oral tradition of Jesus -- The sources of the gospels : the synoptic question -- Traditions of the itinerant charismatics : the logia source -- Traditions of the local communities : the passion and the synoptic apocalypse -- Popular traditions : the miracle stories -- 4. Paul of Tarsus -- 5. The beginnings of the Letter literature in the first generation: the letters of Paul -- 1 Thessalonians -- a letter arising out of the situation -- The anti-Judaizing letters : Galatians and Philippians -- A. Galatians -- B. Philippians -- C. Philemon -- The anti-enthusiastic letters : the letters to the Corinthians -- A. Paul and the community in Corinth -- B. 1 Corinthians -- C. 2 Corinthians -- The theological synthesis : Romans as Paul's testament -- 6. The synoptic gospels and the acts of the apostles : the new form of literature in the second and third generations -- The Gospel of Mark -- The gospel of Matthew -- Luke-Acts -- Writing the gospels and directing the community -- A. The gospel of Mark -- B. The gospel of Matthew -- C. Luke-Acts -- 7. Pseudepigraphical letters : the continuation of the literature of the first generation -- The origin of the pseudepigraphy of primitive Christianity -- The Deutero-Pauline letters -- A. 2 Thessalonians -- B. Colossians -- C. Ephesians -- D. The pastoral letters -- The Catholic letters -- A. 1 Peter -- B. James -- C. Jude -- D. 2 Peter -- Hebrews -- 8. Johannine writings : the link between gospel and letter literature -- The gospel of John -- The Johannine letters -- A. 1 John -- B. 2 and 3 John -- The apocalypse of John -- 9. The way to the 'New Testament' as a literary unity.

All the main issues for reading the New Testament are covered in this exciting new introduction by one of the world's foremost biblical scholars.