Gerd Theissen presents all the main issues straightforwardly, but with a depth of scholarship and brilliance of analysis that is unsurpassed- Questions of theology- how could a human figure come to be worshipped as a deity in a monotheistic culture? Questions of history- what was going on in the society in which such extraordinary events happened? Questions of literature- how did the Gospels and letters come to be written and assume the importance they have? As in his other books, notably The Shadow of the Galilean, and The Historical Jesus, Theissen brings to life not only the foundation document of Christianity but also the way in which the Christian church came to be born. He explains who the authors of the various writings of the New testament were, when they wrote and for whom, and why some early Christian writings were canonized as Holy Scripture and others were not. Gerd Theissen's approach is so interesting and illuminating that anyone considering the New Testament for the first time, and even experienced students, will value this book immeasurably. Here is a story with never a dull moment, presenting a lifetime's learning with all the readability of a good novel.