Stephen Neill's The Interpretation of the New Testament 1861–1961 (often cited in theological studies) is a comprehensive historical survey covering the development of biblical interpretation methods over a century. It highlights the shift from the radical historical criticism of the 19th century to the more theological and exegetical approaches of the 20th century. The book focuses primarily on the historical study of the New Testament, including the search for the historical Jesus and the emergence of the Formgeschichte (history of forms) method. Neill explains how the views of European (especially German) theologians influenced the reading of the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline epistles. This work is crucial for understanding how the Gospel writers' evidence of faith began to be distinguished from purely historical accounts during this century.