Acts and Paul's Letters - (Scripture Connections) by Mark L Strauss (Paperback)

About the Book

Situated at the pivotal intersection of the departure of Jesus Christ and the arrival of the Holy Spirit, Acts and Paul's Letters: The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth tells the story of the birth of the Christian church and the remarkable spread of the gospel. Readers will learn how to interpret Paul's thirteen letters within the context of the historical telling of the early Christian movement in the Book of Acts and will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of one of the most important epochs in human history.

Book Synopsis

Situated at the pivotal intersection of the departure of Jesus Christ and the arrival of the Holy Spirit, Acts and Paul's Letters: The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth tells the story of the birth of the Christian church and the remarkable spread of the gospel. Readers will learn how to interpret Paul's thirteen letters within the context of the historical telling of the early Christian movement in the Book of Acts and will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of one of the most important epochs in human history.

The Scripture Connections series is a concise and accessible guide to the Bible that focuses on Scripture's natural unity. Each volume covers a particular set of biblical books, providing a thorough overview of the content and background in a shorter page count than a traditional textbook. The authors bring forward connections between Scripture and the ancient world, other biblical texts, the good news of the gospel, and everyday life, inviting readers to engage more deeply with God's Word.

Review Quotes

"Few scholars, if any, can communicate with as much clarity and precision as Mark Strauss. His Acts and Paul's Letters: The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth serves as a parade example for this. As expected from anything Strauss writes, the book balances concise accessibility with meticulous research, adroitly bridging the gap between the scholarly world and the beginning student or lay reader."
--Joseph R. Dodson, The Craig L. Blomberg Chair of New Testament, Denver Seminary

"Mark Strauss has gifted professors and students with a valuable resource on Acts and Paul's letters. Strauss provides lucid discussions of introductory matters such as the authorship and dating of books, while also supplying gospel connections, application for readers, interactive questions, and study resources for more advanced study. His sidebars bring the reader up to speed on important historical and interpretive conundrums such as the speeches in Acts and the interpretation of pistis Christou. A perfect book for college and seminary courses!"
--Miguel Echevarría, associate professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Mark Strauss's survey of Acts and the letters of Paul is a very welcome addition to our stock of textbooks. It is well written, rooted in wide research, and succinct. This last descriptor is particularly welcome. In an era of bloat, with books getting longer and longer, it becomes difficult to find textbooks both deep enough and short enough to suit classroom use. This volume admirably qualifies on both counts."
--Douglas Moo, professor of New Testament emeritus, Wheaton College

"This is a useful textbook written for undergraduate students who desire an evangelical basis for understanding this portion of the New Testament. One of the strengths of the textbook is its clarity: it helps students understand the New Testament as a unit. Finally, the connections in particular will help students to be better readers of Scripture and to reflect on how Scripture applies to their lives."
--Osvaldo Padilla, professor of divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

"Look no further for a concise yet comprehensive survey of Acts and Paul's letters. This volume provides a clear overview of the context and content of these New Testament books, along with up-to-date discussions on relevant historical backgrounds and modern debates concerning specific books and passages. Both beginning and advanced students will find this guide helpful as they explore the significance of these biblical texts for their own lives."
--David W. Pao, dean and professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"The perfect textbook for a basic intro course on the second half of the New Testament (Acts and Paul). I needed a textbook that could be consumed by students in a more compressed time framework. A skilled guide, well-versed in all critical issues, Strauss leads students on a quick tour of these New Testament books, keeping the focus on content. Strauss helps students see the forest while not getting too focused on specific trees."
--E. Randolph Richards, research professor of New Testament, Palm Beach Atlantic University

"Strauss has provided an excellent introduction to Acts and the Pauline epistles. This textbook is substantive but also short enough to allow supplemental resources. Its emphasis lies on what the text says, but also connects the book to the Old Testament, the gospel, and our own life. It will serve students for years to come."
--Patrick Schreiner, associate professor of New Testament and biblical theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"In this book, Mark Strauss gives the church and Christian students a great gift. This well-organized and clearly written book opens up the book of Acts and Paul's letters for readers. It will be a fine textbook for an introductory university or college course, or an adult Sunday school class. Dr. Strauss knows the biblical material well and illuminates it in engagement with relevant scholarship. He also includes 'life connections' which help readers reflect on the way Scripture speaks to their lives today. Warmly recommended!"
--Steve Walton, senior research fellow and professor of New Testament, Trinity College, Bristol, United Kingdom

About the Author

Gary Edward Schnittjer (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is distinguished professor of Old Testament for the School of Divinity at Cairn University.

Mark L. Strauss (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary.