This two-volume set serves as a comprehensive comparative resource designed to facilitate the simultaneous study of the New Testament and the Apocrypha through a precise parallel arrangement. Oxford University Press utilizes established scholarly translations to provide a side-by-side textual analysis, allowing researchers and students to examine linguistic and thematic variations across these foundational religious texts. The work functions as a primary reference tool for those seeking to understand the historical and theological intersections between canonical and non-canonical early Christian writings.

Scholars and theologians frequently cite this set as a standard reference for comparative biblical research due to its clear layout and academic rigor. It is widely regarded as a foundational resource for libraries and individuals engaged in serious textual study of early Christian literature.