Russell Pregeant's Engaging the New Testament (1995) has provided a rich interdisciplinary New Testament introduction for upper-level and graduate students; incorporating numerous methodsliterary, historical, psychological, theological, and social-scientific, and critically perceptive introductions to each of the New Testament writings. Encounter with the New Testament adapts the best features of that textbook for beginning undergraduate students; surveying approaches to biblical studies, historical and cultural backgrounds, the historical Jesus, and the rise of the resurrection faith attention to extracanonical materials. The text book includes charts, maps, illustrations, reading suggestions, and more.