This book looks at the critical strategies devised by scholars over the last century in their attempt to break open the meaning of the ancient texts of the New Testament. The different approaches to the central question of interpretation are evaluated, and particular attention given to the social and cultural context in which the scholars write. The development of different overall strategies of New Testament interpretation shape the book. An introductory chapter looks at the main factors influencing the development of historical studies of the New Testament. At the centre of the book is a discussion of Rudolph Bultmann’s important attempt to reconcile the critical, historical and theological study of the New Testament, together with an assessment of the reasons for the break-up of that synthesis. This is preceded by chapters covering the history of religious schools, Karl Barth and dialecticial theory. The final section of the book reviews developments since Bultmann in various fields: history of Jesus, Mark, John and Paul, and concludes with a review of current approaches to the theology of the New Testament.