An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament
by Frank Viola

Watch the New Testament come alive. Understand God's Word like never before.

The book includes the following:

• The entire background, including the historical setting and sociological context, that lies behind each New Testament letter. You will learn what caused the New Testament authors to write their letters, when they wrote them, who they wrote them to, and what they were specifically addressing. 
  
  
• Dates and times of all of the major events that occurred in the New Testament, including when each letter was written and where it was written from.
  
  
• Dates and times of the major historical events of secular history interwoven with the New Testament story.
  
  
• Maps of all four of Paul's church planting trips and his journey to Rome.
  
  
• An explanation of all of the major cities where each church was planted, a sociological profile of what the people were like in each city and what they experienced in their daily lives.
  
  
• A user-friendly guide to take you through each New Testament book after you have learned the entire historical setting for each one. This will help you to understand each New Testament letter in a brand new way.
  
  
• Endnotes containing Scripture and historical details plus an extensive bibliography so that you can reconstruct the entire story for yourself.
  
  

Endorsements

Frank Viola has produced a useful and engaging account of the New Testament Church, helpfully setting people and events within their first-century cultural context. While not everyone will agree with every detail of the author's reconstruction or theological interpretation, for any such retelling unavoidably involves some interpretation, still this account helps contemporary believers more fully appreciate the remarkable dynamism of our earliest Christian forebears.

Howard A. Snyder, New Testament scholar and author, The Community of the King, Liberating the Laity, A Kingdom Manifesto, Decoding the Church

Many of us have been challenged by Franks previous books examining New Testament church life and practice. Now with this story, focused on helping us see the church in its New Testament context, but in appropriate chronological order, we are greatly helped to understand the various letters of the New Testament. When you see the writings of Peter and Paul and John and the context into which they wrote, it helps make the why of their letters as clear as the what! Read this book at one sitting and you will marvel as the story of the early church unfolds before your very eyes.

Tony Dale, editor, House 2 House magazine

This volume has provided much needed information that is now in one place for the first time! Read it as I did with a highlighter pen in hand! Thanks, Frank, for the way you let the Lord use you in preparing this for the rest of us!

Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr., author, Where Shall We Go From Here?

Frank Viola has given us a different kind of church history, a history not of the institution but of the Body. It focuses on the people of God and their struggles; on Paul and his converts, enemies, disciples, and friends; on Peter and John and the churches they birthed and raised. Franks book emphasizes what went forward among the saints to create eternal value rather than what happened politically to create the church of subsequent centuries. Although most history is written by the winners to justify their victory, The Untold Story gives us a history of the early churches as Gods own people, whether they were ultimately victorious or troubled.

Hal Miller, author, Christian Community: Biblical or Optional?

Frank Viola has done it again! This time he weaves the New Testament together in a single, chronological story. I love it! We will be promoting this book and I will be giving it to friends this year as gifts.  

Nate Krupp, author, Gods Simple Plan for His Church