Jesus and the Gospels

Description

This book offers an ideal introduction to the Gospels and explains why it is that scholars and lay people have such different understandings of the person of Jesus. The first half of the book looks at the main sources for the life of Jesus, principally the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but also the so-called apocryphal Gospels. The second half of the book begins with an examination of the criteria employed by scholars to determine the earliest and most reliable forms of the tradition. The third edition interacts with developments in modern scholarship, particularly the advance of memory studies. With study questions at the end of each chapter, updated reading lists, and a new chapter bringing scholarship up to date the third edition of this classic text will provide a perfect companion for students coming to grips with academic study of Jesus and the Gospels.

Clive Marsh is Director of Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester, UK. Steve Moyise is Professor of New Testament at the University of Chicester, UK.

The first edition of this book has already proved its worth to students beginning Gospel study. In this revised and expanded version its authors - experienced teachers of Theology and New Testament - offer a succinct, readable, and stimulating introduction. The writers maintain a good balance between more technical aspects of the subject (e.g., Gospel composition and relationships, "historical Jesus" issues) and matters of more general interest. -- Ruth B. Edwards, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Divinity (New Testament), University of Aberdeen Moyise and Marsh have written a very useful student introduction to key issues in the critical study of Jesus and the Gospels. It does not leap straight in to the quest of the historical Jesus but helpfully surveys the relevant materials, and provides valuable summaries of the positions of major scholars. This is a concise, readable and appealing invitation to study Jesus and the Gospels. -- Mark Goodacre, Associate Professor in New Testament, Duke University, USA The book clearly explains the issues involved for scholars in studying Jesus and the Gospels with chapters usually including conclusion/summary, further reading and question to aid readers. -- Robert S. Dutch * Journal for the study of the New Testament * This text is informative and well-written... each chapter is furnished with a solid conclusion, a bibliography for further reading, and further questions to consider. This text is a valuable introduction to the Gospels and equips the reader with a framework that will prove useful for further studies in the Gospels. -- Mark Lee Genter, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, USA * Theological Book Review, Vol. 19 No. 1 * It is for students and teachers... and should serve them well. The arrangement of topics is logical ... It is easy for students to use. -- Rev David Blatherwick * Methodist Recorder * ...a nice introduction to the study of Jesus and the Gospels and would make a good textbook for a course for undergraduates. The writing is straightforward and easily comprehensible for those with little to no background in biblical studies or theology. * Biblical Theology Bulletin *