An ideal guide for students, addresses the many difficult questions faced by those studying early Christianity, including: Written for both classroom and personal use, this book brings together decades of ground-breaking research, writing, and teaching into one volume. It presents the New Testament books—along with their subjects: Jesus and the early church—within the historical and social context of Second Temple Judaism and Greco-Roman politics and culture. allows you to recover the excitement of what it was like to live as Christians in the first or second centuries. Features include: Also available are Video and Workbook companion resources (sold separately) to enhance learning and experience the world of the New Testament.