By Rachel Lewis
Readers may skip over historic details, comparisons and other relevant data while reading the New Testament because they don''t always understand the historical significance.
That''s why John W. Welch and John F. Hall say they produced their new book, 'Charting the New Testament.' They want to clear up any confusion readers have by providing historical perspectives of the New Testament.
'Charting the New Testament,' a new book from FARMS, follows after the success of 'Charting the Book of Mormon' also co-written by Welch.
The new book offers insights with the use of charts, tables and graphs that explain the doctrine and the background in the New Testament to Latter-day Saints.
'The New Testament is one of the books of scripture we study the least and know the least about its background,' said Hall.
Both authors feel it vital for Latter-day Saints to know more about the New Testament.
'Many people ask, ''Are Latter-day Saints Christian?'' One of the ways we can show them we are Christian is this book that is visible evidence of our Latter-day Saint testimony of the New Testament and Jesus Christ,' Welch said.
The book addresses questions pertaining to the value of Roman coins during the life of Jesus, the distinction between the Jewish sects, and the identification of the different Marys are a few of the issues addressed in the book.
'This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to research the background of New Testament. The book provides great historic information as well as lists of other books to find more information,' Hall said.
Charting the New Testament offers a wide variety of perspectives, said Welch who studied classical languages at BYU, Greek philosophy at Oxford University and law at Duke''s School of Law, and now teaches law and Book of Mormon at BYU.
His co-author John Hall, also a professor at BYU, brings insights with a Ph.D. in ancient history form the University of Pennsylvania and his study of ancient languages at BYU.
The two professors will be offering a class this winter semester called 'The World of the New Testament' in the classical civilizations department that will study the historical, linguistic, and societal background of the New Testament.
Both authors will be presenting a power point presentation showing material from their new book in the Tanner Building room 710 at noon on Wednesday Sept. 25.