This book reflects J. Christiaan Beker's experience of more than twenty years of teaching and introductory courses in New Testament. In distinction from a history-of-religions approach, he aims at allowing the theological thrust of the New Testament to become transparent for today's readers.

The work pre-supposes the normative and canonical claim of the New Testament for all forms of Christian theology. Beker concentrates on some of the most central issues within the New Testament by surveying sixteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. A chronological sequence is followed, beginning with Paul's letters.