the reader /

Sandra M. Schneiders --

Gospel according to Matthew /

Stephen C. Barton --

Gospel according to Mark /

Joel B. Green --

Gospel according to Luke /

John T. Squires --

Gospel according to John /

Marianne Meye Thompson --

Gospels and the development of doctrine /

Frances Young --

Gospels embodied : the lives of saints and martyrs /

David Matzko McCarthy --

Praying the gospels : spirituality and worship /

Gordon Mursell --

Living the gospels : morality and politics /

Scott Bader-Saye.

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 theoretical 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 look at the impact of the gospels in church and society across history and up to the present day. -- From publisher's description.