Who is in charge?

The New Testament gives a message of hope that Jesus is the King who established the reign of God through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Good News of God’s Reign explores how each New Testament author casts this vision for how early believers could live under God’s rule in their first-century contexts. In the process, readers will discover the diversity of the early church and its leading figures. They will learn about the major themes of each New Testament writing, which are clearly and thoughtfully presented to illuminate the Christian community’s struggles and successes.

The Gospels recount stories from Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension as he inaugurated this kingdom. Acts relates the origin of the church as God’s kingdom expands from Jerusalem to Rome. Paul, an ambassador of God’s kingdom, writes thirteen letters that equip churches representing God’s rule. The remaining New Testament letters provide windows into the diversity of early Christian communities living in light of God’s rule. The book of Revelation wraps up the New Testament story with the promised final victory of God’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

Carl N. Toney is the dean of Pacific Christian College of Ministry and Biblical Studies at Hope International University in Fullerton. He also chairs their graduate ministry program. He earned his PhD from Loyola University Chicago.

“Carl Toney’s Good News of God’s Reign is a beautifully produced, sure-handed guide to the New Testament writings. Accessible, engagingly written, informative, perfectly structured—this book offers everything one could want in a college-level introduction to the New Testament. Students who read this book will gain a clear understanding of the overall shape of the New Testament writings, the first-century world and contexts in which they were authored, and the major themes of these texts. Perhaps most importantly, students will encounter the central claim of the New Testament: Through the mission and work of Jesus, God is in charge.”

—David Downs, PhD, Clarendon-Laing Professor in New Testament Studies, Keble College, University of Oxford

“Many course texts aimed at introducing the New Testament are written for advanced student populations and therefore have little hope of serving as a useful resource for undergraduates. Against that general trend, Carl Toney has produced an academically informed, visually attractive, and pedagogically intuitive volume designed for undergraduate students and rooted in his years of experience in effective classroom teaching. This book is an excellent classroom resource. I warmly commend it, both to professors and their students.”

—Christopher W. Skinner, PhD, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Loyola University Chicago

“This textbook does more than explain what’s in the Bible—it invites readers into the glorious drama of God’s reign in Christ. Carl Toney skillfully guides students through the New Testament with academic integrity and theological illumination. This is a perfect starting place for students and interested Bible readers who want to make sense of ancient texts from another time and place. Highly recommended!”

—Nijay K. Gupta, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary

“Concise, accurate, up-to-date, and above all interesting. Readers will find themselves caught up in the gospel story afresh. Carl Toney’s Good News of God’s Reign is perfect for all those who are eager to encounter the life-changing message of the New Testament.”

—Matthew W. Bates, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary, author of Why the Gospel?, host of OnScript podcast

“In Good News of God’s Reign, Carl Toney has provided an introduction to the New Testament that is both highly engaging and visually stimulating. Writing with prose that is highly accessible for undergraduate and seminary students, Toney deftly brings his readers into the world of the New Testament, its critical issues, and the story of its books, authors, and original readers. The vivid art and striking pictures compliment well the book’s readable content, and they will no doubt help keep students engaged as they read. As one who has taught undergraduate students for the past 20 years, I highly commend Good News of God’s Reign to those teaching introductory courses on the New Testament and plan to use it in such courses of my own moving forward.”

—Adam Winn, PhD, S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor, Samford University

“This is a quintessential textbook for undergraduates. Not only is it informative and readable but the many pictures, maps, and charts invite students to enjoy a visual feast as they read. Each chapter opens by providing the historical context behind the respective New Testament writing, and then the content of that writing is deftly handled. Instructors will appreciate that each chapter ends with relevant key terms, recommended readings, and questions to assist discussions in a classroom setting.”

—B. J. Oropeza, PhD, Professor in the School of Theology, Azusa Pacific University and Seminary; coeditor of Perspectives on Paul: Five Views

“The concept of the ‘fullness of time’ is central to the proclamation of the gospel and makes it clear that, in God’s economy, timing is everything. Carl Toney offers Good News of God’s Reign to the world at a perfect time. As the need grows for people to not only recapture the biblical story but understand how to engage it well, Toney’s creative, thoughtful, and inviting approach provides an accessible entrée into the world of the New Testament. Students of the Bible will find in this book a valuable resource that will lead to a deeper understanding of the text and equip them to embody its message.”

—Abson Prédestin Joseph, PhD, Professor of New Testament and Vice President for Academic Services, Bethel University, Indiana

“Carl Toney has produced a rich, readable, and visually stunning introduction to the New Testament. Professor Toney is consistently sensitive to the varying ways New Testament texts relate to the older biblical texts of the Jewish scriptures and to the contemporary Greco-Roman world in which they were written. He is conversant with scholarly discussions and debates without losing his readers in the weeds of those debates. Perhaps most importantly, he leads readers of the New Testament into those primary virtues that mark—or should mark—followers of Jesus: love, faith, and hope.”

—Rafael Rodríguez, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; author of Jesus Darkly: Remembering Jesus with the New Testament

ISBN: 9781684261116

Pages: 368

Dimensions (inches): 8 x 10

Weight (pounds): .5