An exemplary text, Russell Pregeant's Engaging the New Testament (1995) has provided a rich interdisciplinary New Testament introduction for upper-level and graduate students, incorporating a wide range of methods?literary, historical, psychological, theological, and social-scientific, and critically perceptive introductions to each of the New Testament writings.

Encounter with the New Testament adapts and abridges the best features of that textbook for beginning undergraduate students — surveying approaches to biblical studies, and discussing historical and cultural backgrounds, the historical Jesus, and the rise of the resurrection faith with attention to extracanonical materials. The textbook includes charts, maps, illustrations, reading suggestions, and more.

“This is one of the most exciting books available for introducing students to the New Testament at the beginning of the twenty-first century A wonderful contribution.” Vernon K Robbins, Professor of New Testament and Comparative Sacred Texts, Emory University

Russell Pregeant is Professor of Religion and Chaplain at Curry College, Milton and Lecturer in New Testament at Andover Newton Theological School.