The Christian World around the New Testament brings together Richard Bauckham's well-known work on Gospel origins, early Christianity, and patristic literature into one convenient volume.

Containing thirty-one studies published over Bauckham's distinguished career, this volume ranges widely over early Christianity and early Christian literature in the New Testament and the early patristic periods. It reflects the author's conviction that the historical study of early Christianity should not isolate New Testament literature from other early Christian literature but must take full account of such sources as the apostolic fathers and Christian apocryphal literature.

Some of these studies further develop themes from Bauckham's books on aspects of the Gospels, including the intended audiences of the Gospels, how Gospel traditions were transmitted, the role of the eyewitnesses in the origins of the Gospels, the importance of Papias's evidence about Gospel traditions, and the relationship between canonical and Gnostic Gospels. Some studies relate to important people, such as Peter, Barnabas, Paul, and James. Bauckham's work includes a full investigation of the evidence for the martyrdom of Peter, an attempt to locate the estate of Publius where Paul stayed on Malta, and studies on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day in both the New Testament and patristic periods. Other studies survey the main categories of apocryphal Christian literature, including the apocryphal Gospels and Acts, with a special focus on noncanonical apocalypses, such as the Apocalypse of Peter and the Latin Vision of Ezra.

Published simultaneously with Mohr Siebeck's hardcover edition, this paperback edition will be indispensable to scholars and students of the New Testament and the early church.