
Understanding the New Testament
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Narrated by:
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Professor David Brakke
About this listen
The New Testament is a fascinating book - the canonical root of Christian history and theology. Yet the book is also a paradox, because this single “book” is comprised of 27 different books by more than a dozen authors, each of whom has a different perspective and is responding to a different set of historical circumstances. How do you reconcile this diversity of voices into a single, unified belief system? And should you even try?
For a historian, the diversity of authors is not a challenge to be reckoned with, but rather an exciting opportunity. In the New Testament, we have 27 primary sources that offer a doorway to the extraordinary history of the early Christian communities. In these books, you can discover how:
- Christian practices developed;
- Conflicts of belief were debated and addressed;
- The institution of the Church evolved; and
- A man named Jesus of Nazareth was transformed into the Messiah.
Join Professor David Brakke, an award-winning Professor of History at The Ohio State University, for Understanding the New Testament. In these 24 eye-opening lectures, he takes you behind the scenes to study not only the text of the New Testament, but also the authors and the world in which it was created. You will explore Jewish lives under Roman occupation, reflect on the apocalyptic mood of the first and second centuries AD, witness the early Christians’ evangelism beyond the Jewish communities, and witness the birth of a faith that continues to shape our world today.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear about someone committing a violent, reprehensible, even evil, act. And each time it happens, before we know anything about the circumstances, we are already sure of one thing: We are nothing like that perpetrator. But how can we be so sure? After all, we are all human. In Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature, Professor Daniel Breyer takes us on a fascinating philosophical journey into many of the deepest and darkest questions that have engaged humanity for millennia.
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A Great Cross-Cultural Conversation
- By Anonymous User on 09-09-19
By: Professor Daniel Breyer, and others
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
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Writing the Bible: Origins of the Old Testament
- By: Martien Halvorson-Taylor, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Martien Halvorson-Taylor
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
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Who wrote Great Expectations? That’s easy: Charles Dickens. Who’s the author of Beloved? Toni Morrison, of course. Now how about the Old Testament? You’d think for a book as widely known, studied, and distributed as the Bible, the question of authorship would have been sorted out by now. But the question is more complex (and fascinating) than it seems. Why? Because asking it is to challenge everything we might assume about the Bible’s identity as a book, about what “writing” and “authorship” really mean, and about how a written text could become sacred.
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What a Great Courses Book Is Meant to Be
- By Gilbert M. Stack on 12-16-21
By: Martien Halvorson-Taylor, and others
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Holy Land Revealed
- By: Jodi Magness, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jodi Magness
- Length: 18 hrs and 35 mins
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As the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, the Holy Land (in and around modern-day Israel) is one of the most important regions in the world and the setting for defining events in religious history. Comb through this evidence for yourself with The Holy Land Revealed, which will add new dimensions to your understanding of this dynamic place. Delivered by archaeologist and award-winning Professor Jodi Magness of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these 36 lectures give you an insider’s look at how archaeology helps us relive this period of civilization.
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The MAJOR disappointment
- By Mark W on 06-10-21
By: Jodi Magness, and others
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God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
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Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
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Jesus
- Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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In this highly accessible discussion, Bart Ehrman examines the most recent textual and archaeological sources for the life of Jesus, along with the history of first-century Palestine, drawing a fascinating portrait of the man and his teachings. Ehrman shows us what historians have long known about the Gospels and the man who stands behind them. Through a careful evaluation of the New Testament (and other surviving sources, including the more recently discovered Gospels of Thomas and Peter), Ehrman proposes that Jesus can be best understood as an apocalyptic prophet.
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I must read for those whose wanting to expand their insight from a single perspective (devotional) to include historical
- By RGO on 11-25-19
By: Bart D. Ehrman
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Creation Stories of the Ancient World
- By: Joseph Lam, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph Lam
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
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Creation stories, found within many ancient cultures, are traditional accounts of the origins of the universe, the earth, and humanity. Often embodied as epic poetry, and told through the acts of divine beings, creation stories illuminate the values, beliefs, and creeds of the earliest civilizations. As such, these stories show us how early cultures made sense of the human condition, in theological, philosophical, and political terms. These 12 dynamic and thought-provoking lectures offer you a penetrating look at the origin stories of the great civilizations of the Mediterranean.
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great survey of Ancient Creation stories
- By Anthony Alemany on 07-13-23
By: Joseph Lam, and others
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1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
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With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
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History brought to life
- By Joshua on 07-10-13
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
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Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition
- By: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Wolfson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
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"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
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Great primer for hard SF fans and physics laymen
- By David on 01-05-15
By: Richard Wolfson, and others
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The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality
- By: Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Don Lincoln
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
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At the end of his career, Albert Einstein was pursuing a dream far more ambitious than the theory of relativity. He was trying to find an equation that explained all physical reality - a theory of everything. Experimental physicist and award-winning educator Dr. Don Lincoln takes you on this exciting journey in The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality. Suitable for the intellectually curious at all levels and assuming no background beyond basic high-school math, these 24 half-hour lectures cover recent developments at the forefront of particle physics and cosmology.
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Audible’s Best Science Offering, A Gem
- By MikeB on 12-08-18
By: Don Lincoln, and others
The Best GC Overview of the NT
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introduction to critical/historical secular view
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Paul is a menace but can take criticism though.
Interesting to view the NT as unfolding over time, reacting to things, rather than a static text.
Mark writes during war time. he uses "Messianic Secret" Jesus was divine but never told anyone. compare to EVERY other apostle who never said it was a "secret"
PARABOLES!!!!! Apostles often used as caricature, not seeing divinity, needing constant re-explaining, regular doubt, etc.
Luke's main source is Mark, but apostles are not dumb, but info was hidden (by god?) until big J died at which point he came back and explained. Mark = apostles are dumb, Luke =apostles are shielded from info.
OG gospel ends with apostilles not learning, and women at cave ordered to spread good news, but they never do. Later additions retcon because " We know the Goodnews now therefore they must have learned / spoken.
Gospel according to John (written from perspective of "beloved disciple" who is unknown) might not be about/by John.
First human to call Jesus son-of-god was a Roman Centurion at the crucifixion.
Hating on figs is an analogy of money changers in temple.
Anachronism is rife: Blind man is expelled from synagogue which was not a thing during Jesus' lifetime but a major issue at time of writing of Gospel according to John.
John: Hard dichotomy follower of Jesus or follower of Moses (non-Christian Jews). Compare to Matthew who has Jesus as 2nd Moses and sees no conflict.
Jesus is quite different in dif. books. Mathew and Mark give different narratives regarding J stating if he was son of god (I am vs. You say I am)
All gospels agree J is son of god, why conflict in J statements? interesting.
Lends credence to authenticity of quotes.
Jesus is either descendant of Abraham or predated Abraham. Paul spent a lot of time rewriting Abraham to let gentiles remain uncircumcised.
Typology - everything in Old Test is alluding to New Test. (Supersessionism is extreme version which says Old Test no longer required). Book of Hebrews uses a lot of typology (note Letters to Hebrews is not a letter nor to Hebrews).
Book of James (author is not brother of Christ but might be purposely ambiguous to claim authority). Faith without Works is dead.
James Faith = belief, Work = good deeds
Paul Faith = TRUST in god, Work = Jewish law (circumcision, Kosher, etc)
Scholars believe James is commenting on Paul, but James is likely misunderstanding Paul. Commonly seen as contradictions in later history. see Martin Luthur.
To avoid unnecessary persecution "Accept the authority of"; masters, husbands, the emperor.
Book of Jude (Judas but not Iscariot) brother of James (unspecified James) author not brother of Baptist but likely wants people to think that.
Main use of Jude is to rebuke other Christians, example 2nd Peter quotes Jude
Timothy has requirements for bishops / priests / deacons and promotes patriarchy. Timothy wants silent women, but Paul has women below men but allows them to have a voice.
Revelation to John (not apostle John and author makes this clear). John was persecuted by government for his faith
Roman citizens had to sacrifice, particularly to Dea Roma and the genius of emperor. Jews were exempt but when Christians no longer considered Jews they had to sacrifice.
If Christians refused, they could be punished, up to and including death, making them a martyr.
Revelations echos Daniel (Old Testament), but a lot of strange images that are not explained opening them up to interpretation.
Lots of juxtaposition and paradox, feeling of chaos but also clearly ordered by god (precise numbers and frequent use of 7 which echos wholeness).
Paul recommends not eating meat sacrificed to idols, revelations says it is a SIN! Jezebel a prophetess says its okay to eat the meat.
144,000 male virgins will be saved (metaphor not literal) juxtaposed by jezebel fornicators (fornication is eating meat sacrificed to idols).
Historically Bible read piecemeal, so contradictions and conflicts rarely noticed, or if noticed many readers assumed that they themselves did not fully understand.
Bishop Irenaeus promoted reading whole bible to understand diversity in gospels. However, he condemned heretics who exploited the difference in bible. Irenaeus teaches the rule of truth, which is the truth taught by disciples and has been handed down via the church. Irenaeus' rule of truth is predecessor to Nicaean Creed. Rule of Truth is the bridge that connects diversity within New Test as well as Old Test.
The Diatessaron is the most prominent early gospel harmony combines the four gospels into a single coherent narrative. contrast this with allegorical interpretation, differences are for education, not contradictions.
Martin Luthur - Canon within the Canon. All bible sacred but certain parts more correct. e.g. if James contradicts Paul, Paul is correct.
Cannon within cannon usually are ideas rather than whole books, e.g. ignore parts that contradict preconceptions.
Krister Stendahl proposes a more nuanced approach, different passages are appropriate for specific issues. e.g. Emperor appointed by god, but Rome is satanic. both are correct but at different times.
overall interesting book, highly recommend.
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Prof. Brakke presents ideas less controversially than Prof. Ehrman. Although I enjoy both of them, this might be more suitable to someone first thinking about the historic approach to scripture.
Excellent summary of NT scholarship
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Great Course on the New Testament
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Good solid information
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Good explanation of the New Testament
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Understsnding the Gospel from the New Testa I
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Familiar but Worthwhile
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Brakke (PhD) offers well-rounded New Testament 101
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