gregor

I have debated whether to start a thread on "What is the best way for a neophyte to critically study Christianity." But, I think it worthwhile, based on my own mistakes.

Starting some ten years ago as a neophyte, I began randomly reading books without a good strategy, and really wasted alot of time due to my ignorance. Many books were fathoms over my head. I mean how could I appreciate and fully understand Mack or Eisenman if I hadn't yet read the more elementary books.

Thus, given the premise that you should crawl before your walk, I set forth below my proposal for how a neophyte should study - a plan that will take many months to complete, but will improve your chances of understanding some of the deeper treatises.

My proposed reading list, in this order:

1. Assimov's Guide to the Bible (very basic)

1a. Thomas Paine Age of Reason (interesting historically)

2. Helms - Who Wrote the Gospels (still basic)

3. Friedman - Who Wrote the Bible (slightly more acedemic)

4. Ranke-Heinemann - Put Away Childish Things

5. Crossan - Birth of Christianity (and other Crossan books)

6. Ehrman - Lost Christianities

7. Mack - Who Wrote the New Testament

8. Price - Incredible Shrinking Son

Having mastered these, the student can move to almost anything:

9. Other deeper treatises (Fredericksen, Koester, Meier, Eisenman, Mason, & etc.)

Does this seem like a logical progression from simple to complex? I welcome anyone's comments, again, focusing on how a new student should begin a study from the simple and "popular" to the complex and in depth.

Vorkosigan

You should add, before any of the other NT books, a comprehensive intro to the NT, like that of Schnelle, Ehrman, or Brown, or Koester's two-volume work, which is wonderful. After that, you should read Ancient Christian Gospels, also by Koester.

Amaleq13

How about a "primer" level featuring Carl Sagan's The Demon Haunted World?

Though not specifically focused on the NT, it does provide a good starting point for thinking rationally. Might help with the rest of your list.

Vinnie

You have nothing by third-questers (Meier, Sanders, Fredriksen, et al) which makes the listing very much off balance.


First the Bible. Don't study what you haven't read.

Don't limit yourself to the bible. Check out extracanonical works as well (e.g. Gospel of Thomas).

Basically go to Kirby's site and read every online work of the first and second centirues listed there.

Then pick up a major introduction to the NT as Vork suggested, then get Koester's Ancient Christian Gospels.

After this there are a ton of avenues to pursue. You could devote tons of time to:

Synotpic Problem
Existence of Q
Dating of the Gospels
The Dating and Dependence or Independence of Thomas.
The Dependence or Independence of John.
Paul's outlook.

or any number of others.

Or if you want Jesus reconstruction read Crossan, Meier, Fredriksen, Sanders, et al.

The New Jerome Biblical Commentary is suggested. It features critical commentary on all the verses of the Bible. This it is a very useful utility when studying earliest Christianity.

I think its vital one reads Patterson's book on the Gospel of THomas and at least a Gospel of Thomas commentary like Valentasis' or Davies since I see this work as first century and indepdnent of the canonicals. Its vital to study Thomas.

1) All Works at Kirby's Site including Bible
2) One or two Intros NT (Browns or Koesters).
3) Critical Commentary on the Bible (like NJBC)
4) Ancient Christian Gospels Koester (MUST READ!).
5) Critical Commentary on each individual book (e.g. Fitzmeyer, Luke)
6) Patterson Gospel of Thomas and Jesus and Davies Commentary.
7) Books by Meier, Crossan, Borg, Fredriksen, Sanders, Mack, Brown and others on Jesus

There are so many though. If one wants to pursue the synoptic problem alonge there are tons of books. For beginners learning go with the first four above. Then move on to 5, 6, 7 and other books (e.g. Case Against Q, Formation of Q, etc.).

I think WHo Wrote the NT can make the list as well. Not sure Mack's Q work should go in there though.

And Sander's and Davies 'Studying the Synoptic Gospels' is a great primer for studies into them.

Vinnie

gregor

Thanks, Vinnie. I've included the third questers as a general reference in point 9.

My entire point with this thread was that it was difficult for me to appreciate the depth of a Fredericksen without first reading a shallower book. Similarly, how can someone hope to understand the difference between Marcionites and gnostics, if they don't start with smaller, simpler concepts.

I agree that everything you reference is interesting, I was focusing more on the order that study should be pursued, and forgive me, but if the first book someone opens is to wade in on the fight between Eisenman and Wise on the DSS, you will probably lose interest and drop the entire study.

CX

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I might suggest perusing the BC&H reading list.

gregor

Always loved the reading list. I was just trying to set books out in some logical sequence - from kindergarten reader to graduate study materials.