As part of the Christian Bible the New Testament is at once widely influential & (especially among the young & the educated) increasingly unknown Those who want to know the basics can find in this introduction the sort of information that locates these ancient writings in their historical & literary context Those who want to learn why these compositions have had such impact can find here an appreciation for the religious experiences of the first Christians that forced them to reinterpret their Jewish & Greek heritage & reshape their symbolic world In addition to providing the broad conceptual & factual framework for the New Testament -- including the process by which distinct compositions became a sacred book -- this introduction provides as well a more detailed examination of specific compositions that have had particularly strong influence including Paul's letters to the Corinthians & Romans the four Gospels & the Book of Revelation ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable