The First Edition of the New Testament

The First Edition of the New Testament is a groundbreaking book that argues that the New Testament is not the product of a centuries-long process of development. Its history, David Trobisch contends, is the history of a book--an all Greek Christian bible--published as early as the second century C.E. and intended by its editors to be read as a whole. Trobisch claims that this bible achieved wide circulation and formed the basis of all surviving manuscripts of the New Testament.

Abbreviatons; 1. Introduction; Historical Sources; Thesis and Outline; 2. Evidence for a Final Redaction; Terminology; What Does ''Final Redaction'' Mean?; The Notation of the Nomina Sacra; The Use of the Codex Form; Arrangement and Number of Writings in the Manuscripts; The Titles of the Writings; The Title of the Canonical Edition; 3. The Editorial Concept; Three Perspectives: Reader, Macrostructure, Traditional Material; Implied Authorship; The Selection of Authors; The Title of the Edition; Nomina Sacra; Codex; 4. A Note to the Readers of the Canonical Edition; Acts of the Apostles; 2 Timothy; 2 Peter; Gospel According to John; 5. Outlook; Modern Editions; The Readership of the Canonical Edition; Notes; Bibliography; Index of Manuscripts and Ancient Sources

David Trobisch is Throckmorton-Hayes Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Bangor Theological Seminary.