THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH: REVISED & EXPANDED - Frank Viola

Content of This Page

Updated: April 22, 2025

SCROLL DOWN for the following:

1) Book Description and Endorsements by 20 high-voltage scholars

2) Download the FREE Sneak Preview Sampler

3) The best place to ORDER the book

4) FAQ – Answers to Your Questions (updated regularly)

5) Download the Press Release

6) Listen to recent INTERVIEWS, creative UNBOXINGS, and spoken MESSAGES on the New Testament Story

7) Order BULK copies at a DISCOUNT

8) Typos Caught on the First Printing (please continue to send them to us)

9) Book Frank to Speak on “The Untold Story”

10) Three Final Things

Experience the New Testament Like Never Before

Endorsements from New Testament scholars Craig Keener, Darrell Bock, Joel B. Green, Michael Licona, Mark Strauss, Richard Horsley, David deSilva, Constantine Campbell, Paul Barnett, Clinton Arnold, Reta Finger, Eckhard Schnabel, Jeffrey A. D. Weima, Amy Chase, and many others.

One famous scholar said that reading the New Testament letters is like hearing one end of a phone conversation. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded) reconstructs the other end so you can understand virtually every word.

Seamlessly weaving the narrative of Acts with the Epistles, you’ll discover a coherent story enriched by intriguing details of first-century life. This unique and innovative presentation of the New Testament unlocks its epic story in a way that will leave you breathless and equipped to understand the Bible like never before.

Though it’s non-fiction, this masterpiece reads like a cinematic experience that will captivate your heart by putting you in the center of the drama. Drawing on the best of contemporary scholarship, Frank Viola includes background information about the people, cities, and places that are mentioned throughout the New Testament, all in an engaging narrative.

As you dive into this riveting volume, you will:

Gain an intimate glimpse into the lives of apostles Peter, James, John, Paul, and their colleagues.
Uncover the events that inspired each New Testament letter, shedding new light on every line from Romans to Revelation.
Meet the key figures who shaped the world, like Priscilla, Apollos, Lydia, Luke, John Mark, Phoebe, Aristarchus, and Epaphras.
Witness the dynamic tumult of first-century churches, individuals, and events as they unfold vividly before you.

Prepare to be ushered into the living, breathing atmosphere of the first century so you can uncover the hidden riches contained in God’s Word.

Endorsements

“In The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, Frank Viola brings context and background together, inviting us on a captivating journey through the birth and growth of the first-century church. With a reputation for captivating prose and heartfelt storytelling, Viola brings his unique perspective to reconstruct the events from Matthew to Revelation.” (From the Foreword.)

—Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

“This unique volume is full of documentation as well, showing the care that went into it. For pastors and all others interested in the unfolding of the New Testament, this book is a treasure to mine.”

—Darrell Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement Hendricks Center Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies

“With great erudition, Frank Viola has provided readers with a wonderful resource. It would be an understatement to say the breadth of research involved in this project is ‘impressive.’ Highly recommended.”

—Michael Licona, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament Studies, Houston Christian University

“Frank Viola performs an invaluable service for Christians today by centering this book on the story of the early church, what he calls “the community of the King.” The result is a highly readable (and well-researched) story of the New Testament church, a genuinely accessible biography of the church, that congregations and classrooms will find indispensable.”

—Joel B. Green, Senior Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Fuller Theological Seminary

“In this fascinating volume Frank Viola seeks to write a narrative history of the early church by examining the New Testament documents within their respective historical and chronological contexts. His conclusions are plausible and consistently interesting and insightful. This is an excellent resource for those seeking to understand authentic Christianity by listening to its earliest voices.”

—Mark L. Strauss, Ph.D., University Professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary

“In one volume Frank Viola has recast the entire New Testament as a single readable narrative, but as supported by scholarly notation of the highest order. This single book is for the general reader, the pastor, and the academic. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church is an amazing accomplishment. I know of no book like it. Highly recommended.”

—Paul Barnett, Ph.D., New Testament Scholar and Lecturer Emeritus, Moore College, Sydney

“I know no other book like this. Written for everyday readers, it is accessible, engaging, and compelling—and yet it is meticulously researched with depth and breadth of learning, in conversation with leading scholars in the field. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand how the whole New Testament fits together—as history, theology, and mission.”

—Constantine R. Campbell, Professor and Research Director, Sydney College of Divinity

“This is an enormously helpful survey of the history of the roughly thirty years from the ministry of Jesus to the end of the apostolic period, replete with comments on the significance of historical events for the faith of Jesus followers and with comments on secondary literature.”

—Eckhard Schnabel, Mary F. Rockefeller Emeritus Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

“Viola has produced a truly remarkable book—a reconstruction of the gospel story of the New Testament church that skillfully and helpfully presents the events recorded in Matthew through Revelation in a chronological rather than canonical order.”

—Jeffrey A. D. Weima, Professor of New Testament Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

“Viola weaves the evidence of the New Testament into a single unfolding and compelling story. Yet he does so not with unbridled imagination, but with a profound reliance on the best scholarship available. The end result is an accurate, engaging and compelling account of this movement that has had a monumental impact on history and continues to do so today.”

—Clinton E. Arnold, Research Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology (Biola University)

“Frank Viola has bravely and diligently undertaken the task of collecting the many bits and pieces of this story that can be known from the letters alongside Acts and of presenting one plausible vision of how all these pieces can be synthesized into a coherent, unfolding story.”

—David A. deSilva, Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary

“Frank Viola uses the evidence from your Bible to tell the story of Jesus and the New Testament church as a single drama from beginning to end. Using the biblical accounts, he weaves a careful, readable chronology that (as the title asserts) has never been done before!”

—Reta Halteman Finger, professor emerita of New Testament at Eastern Mennonite University

“A masterpiece! The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded is stunning in its sweep – compelling and readable. It’s an enthralling journey into the New Testament story – a work full of depth and insight.”

—Jon Zens, D.Min., theologian, author, editor of Searching Together

“This vivid retelling brings to life Paul and his companions—alongside Peter, James, and John—chronicling the conflicts and hardships they endured and their unwavering courage to proclaim Jesus as promised Messiah and Savior. Viola’s ‘plausible reconstruction’ not only fills in the New Testament’s historical narrative but also invites readers to see themselves as part of an ongoing story. (Lovers of footnotes will find themselves in paradise!)”

—Amy J. Chase, Ph.D., Drew University, Madison, New Jersey

“Often, we take the letters of Paul in isolation from the letters of John or the Acts of the Apostles or the book of Revelation. Instead, Viola knits these together into a satisfying account of what happened in the first century of the Jesus movement. This is no solo project; he analyzes loads of data with the help of top scholars from around the world to guide him, and us. What emerges is an engaging, intricately told, plausible account of the origins of our Christian faith that sheds fresh light on all the New Testament letters. The story continues . . .”

—David B. Capes, Ph.D., New Testament Scholar and Director of Academic Programming, The Lanier Theological Library and Learning Center, Houston

“Frank Viola’s The Untold Story of the New Testament Church offers a compelling narrative of the entire New Testament and early Christianity from the Gospels to Revelation. It’s truly a monumental accomplishment that connects history and Scripture with attention to detail as a cohesive whole.”

—Alan Bandy, Robert Hamblin Chair of Biblical Exposition Professor of New Testament and Greek

“Understanding the early church requires more than just dry facts. Frank Viola’s The Untold Story of the New Testament Church takes on the monumental task of retelling this history in a captivating narrative, offering a fresh perspective on the people, places, and events that shaped Christianity.”

—Christoph Heilig, Ph.D., New Testament Scholar and Research Group Leader at the University of Munich

“A remarkable achievement. Viola’s literary masterpiece is breathtaking in its analysis of the first-century church. Gripping story-telling, captivating narrative, and profoundly insightful are apt descriptions for this amazing book. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded is accurate, engaging, and entertaining. The book will be used by Christians for generations to unlock the New Testament. Written with striking detail and intellectual vibrancy, this powerful volume puts you inside the story as it brilliantly weaves the narrative in Acts with the epistles against the backdrop of first-century history. The immense sourcing will please academics and the readable narrative will thrill non-specialists. Raising the Viola catalog to new heights, this is an admirably accessible work backed by fine scholarship. The book empowers readers to gain a deeper understanding of the New Testament and effectively apply its teachings in contemporary life. This is the New Testament guide of all New Testament guides—a magnificent work.” – Christian Book Reviews

Bestselling author Frank Viola has released his epic chronological reconstruction of the New Testament story.

This work is not a new translation of the New Testament. It’s far beyond that.

It reads like a heart-pounding drama, though it’s non-fiction. It tells the entire saga of the early church with the New Testament epistles placed within the narrative in their chronological sequence.

The book has been reviewed by numerous first-rate scholars to confirm its accuracy. It contains over 2,400 footnotes which provide sources and shed further light on the narrative.

This volume is a complete rewrite and expansion of the first edition that came out in 2005 (the old edition is greatly flawed and incomplete).

This new book is more than a new edition; it’s a brand-new work, five times larger than the old outdated version.

Free Sneak Peek Sampler

Click the image below to read the SNEAK PEEK SAMPLER.

Order the Book

The best places to order the book in the USA – least expensive and most reliable shipping – are:

Amazon

Christian Book

If you live outside the USA, look for the book on Amazon in your country and also in other online bookstores that sell to your country. We are told that some online bookstores that went out of stock will restock in early April, but Amazon in many countries currently has stock. You will have to check with them as, again, we don’t have any control or say in what bookstores do or the price they set. That’s completely in the hands of the publisher (Destiny Image) and the bookstores.

FAQ (Answers to Your Questions)

I’m half way through the book and it’s incredible! I’ve studied the New Testament for years and the book has opened my eyes to so many things I’ve never seen before. I’ve heard the interviews on this page (they are great), and I’d like have Frank on my podcast. How do I invite him on my show?

Send an official invitation to Frank@FrankViola.com – include the name of your podcast with a link to it on Apple Podcasts. If it’s not on Apple, send a link to another podcast platform where it’s available.

Is there an audio version of the book?

There is no audiobook, and there are no plans to create one. If there ever is one created in the future, you will still want the print or digital version for the footnotes and maps. They are essential for understanding the story.

The old edition was in audiobook and audio CD, but again, that edition is 20 years old. It’s deeply flawed, out of date, and incomplete. Do not buy it. (The old edition has an unappealing orange cover, that is how you know the difference.)

But Frank has released a message entitled “BURN THAT CANDLE: Unlocking the New Testament Story” which is a highly condensed version of the book with new content added (it’s not really a summary, but a message that takes on thread in the story and blows it up big).

It released on the Christ is All podcast (Spotify, Apple podcasts, Podbean, etc.) and you can find the YouTube version of it at the bottom of this page.

I listened to your message BURN THAT CANDLE (wow!) and the interviews on YouTube at the bottom of the book landing page, and they interrupt with ads.

That’s true for all YouTube videos from any YouTube author for those who use the free version. But you can “skip” the ad after a few seconds. This is difficult while listening during driving. The premium version of YouTube doesn’t show any ads.

If you don’t want interruptions, listen to them all on other platforms. The links appear at the bottom of this page.

I don’t live in the USA. What is the best place to order the book? I can’t seem to find it here.

If you live outside the USA, search for the online bookstores that sell books to your country. There should be quite a number of them. Check if the online bookstores carry Frank’s book Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. If a store does, check to see if it carries the new book, The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded (the one with the white cover and colorful brushstrokes).

If they don’t carry it at all, then contact the bookstore (most of them have an email and/or phone number). Some may carry it, but it currently may not be in stock. If that’s the case, you can probably back order it (in which case you would get a receipt).

You are best suited to do a search in your own country for the book. Amazon is in many countries, and there are other online bookstores that sell to specific countries as well, but you must search for them.

I live in [name of country outside the USA]. Why is Amazon selling it more expensively than in the USA?

We have no idea. We don’t control prices on the book, even in the USA. You can always contact the publisher (Destiny Image) and ask them any questions that are not answered on this page. Their website is online.

Note that Frank is the author, not the publisher, so he has no control over prices, bookstore stock, etc.

Is the new version in hardcover?

No, it’s only in paperback and digital (Kindle, Nook, etc.). The old edition from 20 years ago had a hardcover edition, but again, that old edition (orange cover) is profoundly flawed, incomplete, and outdated. Plus, the hardcover version of that old edition has a flawed cover on it. Do not buy it.

I have a [church, fellowship, Bible study group, school]. Can I get a discount if I order the book in bulk?

Scroll down to the bottom of this page and you will see two options for bulk copy ordering.

I bought several copies and one of them has a flawed cover. It looks like an anomaly in the printing. What do I do?

Contact the bookstore where you purchased it. For instance, if it was Amazon, they have an automatic system for return and replacement. And also a customer service number. Most online bookstores have the same. Of every book printed in the USA, probably 1 out of 5,000 has some kind of flaw on it, so it’s not terribly unusual. We are sorry you got one of those.

Also, it’s a mistake to mention a book copy flaw in an Amazon review or any other bookstore review. The bookstore teams don’t read reviews. Contact the bookstore directly.

Some of the images of the book on the Amazon page make it looks like it’s only 200 pages. Isn’t the book bigger than that?

Yes, it’s larger than 200 pages. A few of the side photos of the book on Amazon were uploaded by the publisher before the book was printed, so the graphic artist was guessing. The book actually looks more appealing when you hold it in your hands than the photos appear.

I’m a pastor of a large church in the United States and I read the sampler (wow!) and also ordered copies of the book for my church. I’d be interested in having Frank do a seminar on the New Testament story for my congregation. How do I go about doing that?

All the information you need is on Frank’s speaking page. Go there to issue an official invitation.

Will the book be available on Logos?

Currently, the publisher has no plans to put it on Logos. But if it is, it will probably be a year from now. You will want to get the print edition during release week. You won’t regret it. It’s absolutely stunning.

English isn’t my first language. Will the book be translated into other languages?

First, a foreign publisher must secure publishing and translation rights from the publisher (Destiny Image). A person cannot just randomly translate the book; it must be a publisher who does this.

Second, the publisher will not be authorizing foreign rights until 2026. So there will be no foreign translations soon.

Frank has said that the old edition from 20 years ago with the orange cover is flawed. What were the flaws?

An entire book would have to be written to answer this question since the flaws are countless. This, of course, is impossible to do and it would be a foolish use of an author’s limited time.

Frank created a podcast episode answering this question (episode #30 of the Christ is All podcast). Remember, the old edition was written two decades ago.

He wrote the old orange edition in his youth in a hurry. At the time, he had a small fraction of the scholarly works that he now possesses, and more than half of them didn’t even exist at the time.

Much has happened during the last 20 years in the field of New Testament studies, and he has also become a far better researcher and writer.

If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you can listen to the podcast episode under “Three Final Things” where he answers this question directly.

I ordered the book but didn’t receive it. What do I do?

You must contact the bookstore where you purchased it. Amazon, ChristianBook, B&N, Faith & Flame, etc. all have customer service numbers to call or contact pages to reach out to. Again, we don’t sell the book and have nothing to do with any of the bookstores that make it available. You have to contact the seller from which you purchased it.

I would like to get signed copies from Frank. How can I do that?

This question is answered in the “Bulk Copy Orders” section and also the “Three Final Things” section below.

I live in the USA but I don’t order from Amazon.

You can order from ChristianBook.com. It’s currently in stock there.

I bought your book before the bonus deadline (March 16th) and sent in the receipt, but I don’t see the bonuses. What do I do?

If you don’t see the bonus response in your email inbox, it means one of three things:

(1) You sent your receipt to the WRONG email address. Or you misspelled it. The correct email address to send the receipt to is clearly displayed below this FAQ section.

(2) It went into one of these folders:

Promotions (Gmail)

Spam (most email services)

Junk (most email services)

Other (Hotmail and other email services)

(3) You sent your receipt FROM an email address that has a full inbox. So we will get this message as a bounce back: “The recipient’s mailbox is full and can’t accept messages now.” Therefore, resend from a good email address that doesn’t have a full inbox.

If the reply with the bonuses is not in your email inbox, the email will be in one of those folders. That is, if you wrote to the correct email address.

You can resend the receipt again to the right email address, and look at those folders if you don’t see the reply with the bonuses in your inbox.

I bought the book on March 16th, the last day the bonuses were available, but I forgot to claim my bonuses. What do I do?

Go to this page. It has instructions.