Beginning with Walter Bauer in 1934, the denial of clear orthodoxy in early Christianity has shaped and largely defined modern New Testament criticism, recently given new life through the work of spokesmen like Bart Ehrman. Spreading from academia into mainstream media, the suggestion that diversity of doctrine in the early church led to many competing orthodoxies is indicative of today’s postmodern relativism. Authors Köstenberger and Kruger engage Ehrman and others in this polemic against a dogged adherence to popular ideals of diversity.

Köstenberger and Kruger’s accessible and careful scholarship not only counters the “Bauer Thesis” using its own terms, but also engages overlooked evidence from the New Testament. Their conclusions are drawn from analysis of the evidence of unity in the New Testament, the formation and closing of the canon, and the methodology and integrity of the recording and distribution of religious texts within the early church.

Editorial Reviews

“In the beginning was Diversity. And the Diversity was with God, and the Diversity was God. Without Diversity was nothing made that was made. And it came to pass that nasty old ‘orthodox’ people narrowed down diversity and finally squeezed it out, dismissing it as heresy. But in the fullness of time (which is of course our time), Diversity rose up and smote orthodoxy hip and thigh. Now, praise be, the only heresy is orthodoxy. As widely and as unthinkingly accepted as this reconstruction is, it is historical nonsense: the emperor has no clothes. I am grateful to Andreas Köstenberger and Michael Kruger for patiently, carefully, and politely exposing this shameful nakedness for what it is.”
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“The Heresy of Orthodoxy will help many to make sense of what is happening in early Christian studies today. It explains, critiques, and provides an alternative to, the so-called ‘Bauer Thesis,’ an approach which undergirds a large segment of scholarship on early Christianity. The ‘doctrine’ that Christianity before the fourth century was but a seething mass of diverse and competing factions, with no theological center which could claim historical continuity with Jesus and his apostles, has become the new ‘orthodoxy’ for many. The authors of this book do more than expose the faults of this doctrine, they point the way to a better foundation for early Christian studies, focusing on the cornerstone issues of the canon and the text of the New Testament. Chapter 8, which demonstrates how one scholar’s highly-publicized twist on New Testament textual criticism only tightens the tourniquet on his own views, is alone worth the price of the book. Köstenberger and Kruger have done the Christian reading public a real service.”
—Charles E. Hill, Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary

“The Bauer thesis, taken up in many university circles and popularized by Bart Ehrman and through TV specials, has long needed a thorough examination. The Heresy of Orthodoxy is that work. Whether looking at Bauer’s thesis of diversity, at contemporary use made of the theory to argue for the early origin of Gnosticism, at the process that led to the canon, or what our manuscript evidence is, this study shows that Bauer’s theory, though long embraced, is full of problems that need to be faced. What emerges from this study is an appreciation that some times new theories are not better than what they seek to replace, despite the hype that often comes from being the new kid on the block. It is high time this kid be exposed as lacking the substance of a genuinely mature view. This book does that well, and also gives a fresh take on what the alternative is that has much better historical roots.”
—Darrell L. Bock, Research Professor of NT Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“This is an admirably lucid and highly convincing rebuttal of the thesis that the earliest form of Christianity in many places was what would later be judged as ‘heresy’ and that earliest Christianity was so diverse that it should not be considered as a single movement—a thesis first presented by Walter Bauer but most recently advocated by Bart Ehrman. As Köstenberger and Kruger show with such clarity and compelling force, this still highly influential thesis simply does not stand up to scrutiny. By looking at a whole range of evidence—early Christian communities in different regions in the Roman Empire, the New Testament documents themselves, the emergence and boundaries of the canon and its connection to covenant, and the evidence for Christian scribes and the reliable transmission of the text of the New Testament—they show step by step that another view of early Christianity is much more in keeping with the evidence. That is, that there is a unified doctrinal core in the New Testament, as well as a degree of legitimate diversity, and that the sense of orthodoxy among New Testament writers is widespread and pervasive. They also unmask the way contemporary culture has been mesmerized by diversity and the impact this has had on some readers of the New Testament. In this astute and highly readable book—a tour de force—Köstenberger and Kruger have done us all a great service. It is essential reading for all who want to understand the New Testament and recent controversies that have arisen in New Testament Studies.”
—Paul Trebilco, Professor of New Testament Studies, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

“Köstenberger and Kruger have written a book which not only introduces the reader to the problematic Bauer thesis and its contemporary resurgence, but which, layer by layer, demonstrates its failure to account reliably for the history of communities, texts, and ideas which flourished in the era of early Christianity. In their arguments, the authors demonstrate their competence in the world of New Testament studies. But, additionally, they weave throughout the book insights into how fallacies within contemporary culture provide fuel for a thesis which long ago should have been buried. Believers will find in these pages inspiration to ‘contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.’”
—D. Jeffrey Bingham, Department Chair and Professor of Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“In recent times, certain media darlings have been telling us that earliest Christianity knew nothing of the ‘narrowness’ of orthodox belief. Now the authors of The Heresy of Orthodoxy have provided a scholarly yet highly accessible rebuttal, showing that what is actually ‘narrow’ here is the historical evidence on which this old thesis is based. In a culture which wants to recreate early Christianity after its own stultifying image, this book adds a much-needed breath of balance and sanity.”
—Nicholas Perrin, Franklin S. Dyrness Chair of Biblical Studies Associate Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College; author, Lost in Transmission? What We Can Know about the Words of Jesus

“Köstenberger and Kruger have produced a volume that is oozing with common sense and is backed up with solid research and documentation. This work is a comprehensive critique of the Bauer-Ehrman thesis that the earliest form of Christianity was pluralistic, that there were multiple Christianities, and that heresy was prior to orthodoxy. Respectful yet without pulling any punches, The Heresy of Orthodoxy at every turn makes a convincing case that the Bauer-Ehrman thesis is dead wrong. All those who have surrendered to the siren song of postmodern relativism and tolerance, any who are flirting with it, and everyone concerned about what this seismic sociological-epistemological shift is doing to the Christian faith should read this book.”
—Daniel B. Wallace, Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Andreas J. Kostenberger focuses on John’s argument for belief in Christ (John 20:31).

In Part 1, Kostenberger addresses the historical questions: authorship and the trustworthiness of John’s writings. After engaging scholarship, Kostenberger concludes (in opposition to the views of several scholars) that John wrote the books named after him.

The literary aspects of John’s writings are investigated in Part 2. Kostenberger looks at John’s use of irony and symbolism. Almost 100 pages of this volume is a careful reading of John’s writings based on their literary structure and various theological themes.

Almost half the book (Part 3) investigates the major themes of John’s theology. Themes addressed include John’s: worldview, use of Scripture, ideas about creation, view of the trinity, understanding of community, and love.

Kostenberger’s work is written for theologically-trained readers. But it is accessible via his straightforward writing, numerous indices, and detailed table of contents. Preachers who want their church members to recognize the larger ideas contained in John’s writings should read this book.

HT:Koinonia Blog

For more reviews visit:

Jim Hamilton’s Blog: http://jimhamilton.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/kostenbergers-new-theology-of-johns-gospel-and-letters/

Reformation 21: http://www.reformation21.org/shelf-life/a-theology-of-johns-gospel-and-letters.php

Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
Brimming with lavish, full-color photos and graphics, the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary walks you verse by verse through all the books of the New Testament. It’s like slipping on a set of glasses that lets you read the Bible through the eyes of a first-century reader! Discoveries await you that will snap the world of the New Testament into gripping immediacy. Things that seem mystifying, puzzling, or obscure will take on tremendous meaning when you view them in their ancient context. You’ll deepen your understanding of the teachings of Jesus. You’ll discover the close, sometimes startling interplay between God’s kingdom and the practical affairs of the church. Best of all, you’ll gain a deepened awareness of the Bible’s relevance for your life.
Winner of the Gold Medallion Award in the Commentary/Reference Works category.

Articles on Bible Reference

The Baker Exegetical Commentary Series is rapidly filling out, with new volumes on Mark (Robert Stein), Jude & 2 Peter (Gene Green), and 1–3 John (Robert Yarbrough). Each of these volumes continues to maintain the high standard set by previous volumes in the series (with the possible exception of John; the reader will have to judge). Also from Baker is an important volume edited by Markus Bockmuehl and Alan Torrance, Scripture’s Doctrine and Theology’s Bible, with contributions by N. T. Wright, Oliver O’Donovan, and others.

Three important recent contributions published by Zondervan are Lee Fields, Hebrew for the Rest of Us: Using Hebrew Tools without Mastering Biblical Hebrew; Constantine Campbell, Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek; and Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Walter Kaiser, Darrell Bock, and Peter Enns). Hebrew for the Rest of Us looks to be a very helpful tool; Campbell’s book seems to bring a very important, but complex, topic down to the level of the serious Bible student; and the latest book in the Three Views series received an enthusiastic response at the recent ETS meeting at which a session was devoted to the volume.

Two recent contributions are parts of fairly new promising series. The first is John Harvey’s Anointed with the Spirit and Power: The Holy Spirit’s Empowering Presence (P & R), the second volume in the Explorations in Biblical Theology series edited by Robert Peterson, a solid survey of an important subject. The second is Christopher Bass’s That You May Know: Assurance of Salvation in 1 John (B & H) in the NAC Studies in Bible & Theology edited by Ray Clendenen. Both of these new series are welcomed, and we can look forward to forthcoming volumes.

Tom Thatcher has turned into one of the most prolific editors of works in Johannine studies. Two volumes edited by him appeared this year: Anatomies of Narrative Criticism: The Past, Present, and Futures of the Fourth Gospel as literature (co-edited by Stephen Moore; SBL), with contributions by Alan Culpepper, Robert Kysar, Mark Stibbe, and Francis Moloney; and Jesus, the Voice, and the Text: Beyond the Oral and the Written Gospel (Baylor University Press), seeking to carry further the seminal work by Werner Kelber (interviewed by the editor).

Finally, among the important recent works on biblical studies published in recent months are two new books by Greg Beale: We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry (InterVarsity) and The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority (Crossway). Beale also delivered an address on the second topic at the recent ETS meeting in Providence, RI. The Crossway volume carries on Beale’s interaction with Peter Enns. InterVarsity also published The Lord’s Supper: Five Views (edited by Gordon Smith).

This should keep the readers of this blog busy for the Christmas break. Happy reading, and Merry Christmas!

Michael Bird

Craig Blomberg

Darrell Bock

Peter Bolt

James Crossley

Philip Davies

Craig Evans

Mark Goodacre

George Guthrie

Andreas Köstenberger

Scot McKnight

Thomas Thompson

Peter Williams

All interviews in one file

Essays

SBL Forum Essays

The Pastoral Epistles. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised Edition.
To keep pace with current evangelical scholarship and resources, the Gold Medallion Award-winning Expositor’s Bible Commentary has been revised and updated. Continuing the legacy of excellent evangelical scholarship, these volumes offer a major contribution to the study and understanding of the Scriptures. These commentaries provide pastors and Bible students with a comprehensive and scholarly tool for expositing and teaching the gospel.

Articles on Paul

In this booklet, Dr. Kostenberger deals with six key issues raised by The Da Vinci Code. Dr. Kostenberger interacts with biblical and historical data to show that Dan Brown’s truth claims have no basis in fact.

Click on the image of the booklet to download it in pdf format or call Southeastern Seminary’s LifeWay campus store at 919.556.3481 to order a hard copy. See also the PowerPoint presentations below.

If you want Dr. Kostenberger to speak at your church or group, click here to see his speaking schedule. Click here to schedule Dr. Kostenberger to speak at your function.
Essays

• “The Da Vinci Code: Tale of our Times, Opportunity for Witness.” This is an article written for Deeper Devotion, a web-based resource for youth and college ministry.
• “Why is Da Vinci so successful?” Dr. Kostenberger wrote this as a FirstPerson column for BPNews.
• “The Da Vinci Code: A Myth of Christian Origins.” This article was written for the Reformation 21 journal.
• “Da Vinci: Opportunity or Othercott?” Another FirstPerson column for BPNews.

Multimedia Resources

• Audio of a panel discussion at Southeastern’s 20/20 Collegiate Conference. The panel consists of Drs. Andreas Kostenberger, Norman Geisler, Richard Hays, and Bart Ehrman
• Radio Interview on the Calling for Truth radio station
• Dr. Kostenberger’s PowerPoint presentation for his speaking engagements. This is based on Dr. Kostenberger’s booklet on The Da Vinci Code. It is strongly recommended that the PowerPoint be used in conjunction with the booklet. For ordering information, call 919.556.3481 or contact Matt Lytle at 919.761.2491
  • Condensed version (1-part digest)
  • Complete version (3-part series)
• Watch a video of the first part of Dr. Kostenberger’s three-part series on The Da Vinci Code. Courtesy of Richland Creek Community Church
• Watch a video of the second session and view the slide presentation
• Watch a video of the third and final session at Richland Creek
• Watch a video of Dr. Kostenberger and Dr. Michael Green in a response to The Da Vinci Code at TrueLife.org

Other Resources

• The Da Vinci Code resources web site at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• “The Gospel of Judas: A Villain Rehabilitated?” A blog by Dr. Kostenberger on the recently-discovered Gospel of Judas
• Read an article summarizing Dr. Kostenberger’s faculty lecture on the state of New Testament scholarship
  • Listen to the faculty lecture

Quo Vadis, Evangelicalism?: Nine Presidential Addresses from the First Fifty Years of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Study
Quo vadis?-Where are you going?-is an appropriate question to ask of the current evangelical movement. To get a bearing on evangelical thought and assess future directions, the editor of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Andreas J. Kostenberger, has gathered selected addresses from past presidents of the ETS and contributed a thorough introduction and probing epilogue of his own. Covering the early years, the maturing movement, and recent times, the addresses-which span JETS’ first fifty years-include discussions of foundational doctrinal issues, exegetical and theological practice and methodology, and current concerns delivered by some of evangelicalism’s most distinguished leaders.

Whatever Happened to Truth?
“Here is an anomaly: Christians outside the West dying because they believe their faith is true and Christians inside the West doffing their hats to the idea and then looking the other way! This book explores what it should mean to say that Christians know the truth, doing so in ways that are searching, sure-footed, biblically convincing, and intellectually satisfying.” —David F. Wells, Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Essays and Articles related to Evangelical Theology

Books about Biblical Theology

Do We Know Jesus?
Co-translated by Dr. Köstenberger. A completely new translation of this powerful classic examination of true daily discipleship. First written in 1937, this devotional book provides 366 daily readings on what it means to know and follow Jesus. Known for his intellectual abilities as well as his evangelical piety, Schlatter’s writing will challenge the mind and enrich the heart of every disciple of Jesus.

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission
According to Andreas Köstenberger and Peter O’Brien, this significant theme has rarely been given its due attention in biblical theology. Motivated by their passion to see God’s mission carried out in today’s world, they offer a comprehensive study of the theme of mission. In Salvation to the Ends of the Earth they explore the entire sweep of biblical history, including the Old Testament, the second-temple period, each New Testament Gospel, Paul and his writings, and the General Epistles and Revelation.

The History of the Christ: The Foundation of New Testament Theology
Appearing for the first time in English, The History of the Christ is a translation of the first volume of this Tübingen scholar’s Die Theologie des Neuen Testaments (New Testament Theology). According to translator Andreas Köstenberger, New Testament Theology, perhaps like no other work by Schlatter, provides access to the totality of his theology, tracing in bold, broad strokes the movement of the gospel.

The Theology of the Apostles: The Development of New Testament Theology
Translated by Dr. Köstenberger. The second volume of Schlatter’s New Testament theology demonstrates that the teaching of the apostles was consistent with the message of Jesus.

Articles about Biblical Theology