Nearly two thousand years separate us from the world of Jesus. What if you could close the distance? What if you could think like the first Christians—and read the New Testament responsibly for today?
Introducing The New Testament in Its World, the new book that distills decades of N. T. Wright’s ground-breaking work on Christian origins into one volume for the first time.
Offering an immersion into the New Testament’s writings and the world behind them, this book will reshape how you read the Christian story—and refresh your understanding of the mission of God today.
What to expect:
N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird
Hardcover/Software, 992 pages
Think like a first-century Christian and read the New Testament responsibly for today. This book presents a lifetime of N. T. Wright’s scholarship on Christian origins in a new, accessible volume.
Taught by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird
37 Lectures (over 13 hours of content)
Go deeper into the world of the New Testament with these lectures from N. T. Wright and Michael Bird. Filmed on location throughout the Holy Land and Mediterranean, the lectures are available in video and audio formats.
Get the free podcast guides.
Also available: "At Home in the New Testament," N. T. Wright’s brief guided tour of five powerful books in the New Testament. (PDF + video)
One of the world’s foremost New Testament scholars, N. T. Wright (@profntwright) is the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the award-winning author of many books, including the Christian Origins and the Question of God series.
His latest work
The New Testament in Its World weaves together Wright’s decades of research on Christian origins, new writing from Wright, and input from scholar and author Michael F. Bird (@mbird12), all in one new volume. Hear more from Wright and Bird below.
This is the only comprehensive reading of the entire New Testament and its development by distinguished scholar and author N. T. (Tom) Wright. Here’s how The New Testament in Its World will help you.
By the book’s end, you will be able to answer these questions and more:
The New Testament in Its World is your passageway from the twenty-first century to the era of Jesus and the first Christians. Order your copy today.
What people are saying
”A lifetime of scholarship and a landmark publication.”
—Scot McKnight
“Big, bold theological interpretation . . . in an accessible, single volume.”
—Matthew V. Novenson
“This is the New Testament introduction of all New Testament introductions.”
—Craig S. Keener
“Witty, accurate, accessible, eye-catching. A must-have resource.”
—Nijay K. Gupta
“Both look and content are energizing and engaging . . . magisterial.”
—Jeannine K. Brown
“Written with characteristic jauntiness and scholarly rigor.”
—Lynn H. Cohick
“The epitome of faith seeking understanding.”
—Esau McCaulley
“An amazing volume—one-of-a-kind.”
—Craig L. Blomberg
After you order, submit your receipt number above to get free bonus content.
Go deeper into the first-century world with The New Testament in Its World Video Lectures and Audio Lectures, taught by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird.
The video lectures are the definitive video introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the New Testament. These 37 lectures were filmed on location in the Holy Land and Mediterranean, including sites at:
The lectures are also available in audio format, split into two parts:
Audio Lectures, Part 1 explores key issues of New Testament study: how to listen to the New Testament, the world of Jesus and the early church, approaches to studying the historical Jesus, the historical context of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and Paul’s life and theology. Audio Lectures, Part 1 includes 13 short bonus lectures not found in the video lectures.
Audio Lectures, Part 2 digs into each book of the New Testament, then concludes with lectures on how the New Testament came to be, and how to live the New Testament story today.
Coming soon.
Dig deeper into the New Testament with N. T. Wright and Michael Bird—for FREE. Enter your email address to get in-depth episode guides to The New Testament in Its World podcast. They're packed with key takeaways, references and recommended reading, and reflection questions.
Are you new to The New Testament in Its World podcast? Hear scholars N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird discuss the meaning of the resurrection, what life was like for first-century Christians, and more. You also get to hear from a different guest scholar in every episode.
1 - Craig Keener
Discussed: Beginning New Testament Study, and a Conversation in Jerusalem
2 - Lynn H. Cohick
Discussed: Canonization, and N.T. Wright’s Reading and Research Habits
3 - Jeannine K. Brown
Discussed: The Jewish Context of Jesus, and “Faith in Christ” vs. “Faithfulness of Christ”
4 - Nijay K. Gupta
Discussed: The Story of Paul’s Life and Ministry, and N.T. Wright’s Favorite New Testament Book
5 - Esau McCaulley
Discussed: The Afterlife in Greco-Roman Thought, and Teaching the New Testament
Listen wherever podcasts are found, or right here:
