Product Description

The four gospels are a central part of the Christian canon of scripture. In the faith of Christians, this canon constitutes a life-giving witness to who God is and what it means to be truly human. This volume treats the gospels not just as historical sources, but also as crucial testimony to the life of God made known in Jesus Christ. This approach helps to overcome the sometimes damaging split between critical gospel study and questions of theology, ethics and the life of faith. The essays are by acknowledged experts in a range of theological disciplines. The first section considers what are appropriate ways of reading the gospels given the kinds of texts they are. The second, central section covers the contents of the gospels. The third section looks at the impact of the gospels in church and society across history and up to the present day.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #472467 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 312 pages

Review
'This addition to the Cambridge Companions is at least as distinguished as its numerous predecessors.' Theology

'…an excellent, reflective collection. It will be especially welcomed by seminaries of every kind.' Journal for the Study of the New Testament

'The collection is useful as it combines theological, historical and literary approaches together and deliberately tries to avoid a faith versus academy approach to the Gospels. … this is a sound volume with good introductions to the Gospels and it covers material not always included in most Gospel introductions.' European Journal of Theology

'Carefully planned and written as a series of essays collected together in three parts …' Anvil

About the Author
Stephen C. Barton is Reader in New Testament, Department of Theology, Durham University.

Customer Reviews

starts out stuffy but takes flight
This collection of learned essays starts off rather studious, with a lot of notes on the scriptural sources of Christological doctrines. But the later essays grow into a theme of how the Gospels have changed history. And here we see a record of people moved, not by doctrines and creeds, but by what Jesus actually taught. I'd especially recommend the inspiring essays, "The gospels embodied: the lives of saints and martyrs", by David Matzko McCarthy, and "Living the gospels: morality and politics", by Scott Bader-Saye.