Includes bibliographical references and index.

Background and foreground. The texture of the text of the New Testament -- The literature of the New Testament -- Jesus of Nazareth in his early Jewish setting -- First century family values -- The Gospels and Acts. The earliest good news: Mark's Gospel -- The most popular Gospel: Matthew -- Luke the historian's two-volume work: Luke-Acts -- The last word on Jesus: the beloved disciple's testimony in the Gospel of John -- Paul and his rhetorical letters. Paul: outlines of the life and letters of the apostle -- Paul's narrative thought world -- Paul the letter writer -- The pastoral epistles and the problem of pseudonymous letters -- Letters and homilies for Jewish Christians. The sermon of James the Just: Jesus' brother -- The other brother and his eschatological think: Jude -- The suffering servant: 1 Peter -- The sermon of the famous anonymous preacher: Hebrews -- A beloved sermon and two elderly letters: 1-3 John -- In the end: apocalypse: and thereafter. Picking up the pieces, forming up the canon: 2 Peter -- Apocalypse later: the Book of Revelation -- The making of the New Testament: did the canon misfire?