The Written Gospel

This book discusses the origins, composition and reception of the canonical gospels in the early church.

Markus Bockmuehl (Edited by), Donald A. Hagner (Edited by)

9780521832854, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 July 2005

388 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.79 kg

'… distinguished contributors … the persevering reader will frequently be grateful both for occasional enlightenment and for a challenge to reflect again on some of the enduring questions posed by these four enigmatic texts.' Church Times

This book comprehensively surveys the origin, production and reception of the canonical gospels in the early church. The discussion unfolds in three steps. Part One traces the origin of the 'gospel' of Jesus, its significance in Jewish and Hellenistic contexts of the first century, and its development from eyewitness memory to oral tradition and written text. Part Two then more specifically examines the composition, design and intentions of each of the four canonical gospels. Widening the focus, Part Three first asks about gospel-writing as viewed from the perspective of ancient Jews and pagans before turning to the question of reception history in the proliferation of 'apocryphal' gospels, in the formation of the canon, and in the beginnings of a gospel commentary tradition.

Introduction Markus Bockmuehl and Donald A. Hagner
Part I. Before Writing: 1. 'Gospel' in Herodian Judaea William Horbury
2. The gospel of Jesus Klyne Snodgrass
3. Q1 as oral tradition James D. G. Dunn
4. Eyewitness memory and the writing of the gospels Martin Hengel
Part II. Writing the Four Gospels: 5. Who writes, why and for whom? Richard A. Burridge
6. How Matthew writes Richard C. Beaton
7. How Mark writes Craig A. Evans
8. How Luke writes David P. Moessner
9. How John writes Judith Lieu
10. Beginnings and endings Morna D. Hooker
Part III. After Writing: 11. The four among Jews James Carleton Paget
12. The four among pagans Loveday Alexander
13. Forty other gospels Christopher Tuckett
14. The one, the four and the many Ronald A. Piper
15. The making of gospel commentaries Markus Bockmuehl.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG], History of religion [HRAX]