The New Testament

A letter written in 367 contains the earliest evidence we have which explicitly declares the New Testament to be made up of the twenty-seven books we know today. Many of the stories contained within these books are familiar to people all over the world from the life of Jesus to the missionary work of Paul but how did this disparate collection of books come together and then go on to be one of the most influential canons in the world? The New Testament: A Brief History tells that story starting with a look at the writing of the books and the controversies and arguments that raged around the formation of the canon. This Brief History also explores the pivotal role of the New Testament in church history, its influence throughout the ages in theology and ethics and its afterlife in literature, art and film.