The Great Books of the New Testament

Fred W. Beuttler is an academic administrator at the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago. Many Christians know the Bible as a collection of stories, like the Good Samaritan, or a collection of verses, like the love chapter read at weddings. But few can say why there are four gospels, or what Paul’s purpose was in writing the letter to the Galatians or to the Ephesians. Most read the Bible as a devotional book, but in an increasingly secular context, Christians need a more mature understanding of the whole biblical text. This workshop will equip participants to teach each New Testament book from a literary “great books” perspective, examining the books as wholes, focusing on authorial voice and each book’s purpose, theme, content, and unity.