NEW TESTAMENT: HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Much of the following will be familiar to you if you have already
read the "How to use Barron's Book Notes" section on this disk. We
have included this information individually here because there are
many unique things you should be aware of when using Barron's Book
Notes for the New Testament.
The New Testament is read by millions of Christians in churches and
homes every day in the belief that it contains the word of God.
Moreover, it is studied by historians seeking to understand the
society and ideas of the ancient world. But the New Testament is
also a book filled with fascinating characters, dramatic incidents,
and speeches and letters of great beauty and intensity--in other
words, it is a great work of literature.
You have to know how to approach literature in order to get the most
out of it. This Barron's Book Notes volume is designed to help you
read and understand the New Testament.
Begin with this guide's section on the New Testament and Its Times.
As you read, try to form a clear picture of the religious ideas that
lie behind the New Testament and the society that produced it. This
background should make it easier for you to understand the life and
teaching of Jesus, and the beliefs of the early Christians about
what Jesus meant for them.
Then go over the rest of the introductory materials--such as
sections on personalities, themes, and literary forms. Underline, or
write down in your notebook, particular things to look for, such as
crucial personalities and events, important religious teachings and
moral ideas, and repeated literary devices.
Now you're ready to start reading the New Testament itself. You may
want to put this Barron's Book Notes volume aside until you've
completed the assigned reading. Or you may want to alternate,
consulting the Book Notes analysis of each section as soon as you've
finished reading the corresponding part of the original. As you read
the New Testament, it's wise to underline passages of special
importance, and to write key words in the margin. (Of course, you
should only mark up an inexpensive copy of the New Testament that
you own, not a family heirloom, and certainly not a Bible that
belongs to a library or another person.) Reread crucial passages you
don't understand. Don't just take this guide's analysis for granted--
read the text carefully and think it through.
Once you've finished the assigned sections, you may want to review
them right away, so you can clarify your ideas about what the text
means. You may want to leaf through the assigned readings
concentrating on the passages you underlined. This is also a good
