Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels
Enjoy the Verbum free book and extras in April!Overview
In Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels, respected New Testament scholar Pheme Perkins delivers a fresh introduction to the earliest written accounts of Jesus—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—situating those canonical Gospels within the wider world of oral storytelling and literary production of the first and second centuries. Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels presents a balanced look at how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke came to be and what they mean.
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- Introduces the earliest written accounts of Jesus
- Looks at how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke came to be and what they mean
- Places the canonical Gospels within the wider world of oral storytelling and literary production
- What Is a Gospel?
- Books and Believers in Early Christianity
- The Quest for Sources
- Reading Mark’s Gospel
- Reading Matthew’s Gospel
- Reading Luke’s Gospel
- Gospels from the Second and Third Centuries
Top Highlights
“A final note suggests that by the end of the second century most Christians accepted the four-Gospel canon as authoritative accounts of Jesus.” (Page 2)
“Luke’s concerns are not primarily historical but theological, to confirm the truth of Christian preaching. The” (Page 204)
“Given the varied types of narrative in which lives of famous persons are recounted, it seems unnecessary to exclude the Gospels from the larger category of ‘life’ or biography. Though modern readers value character development, the ancients assume that heroes exhibit a fixed character that embodies a philosopher’s teaching or the values of a society.” (Page 3)
“Even though Matthew’s book is twice as long as Mark and Luke’s nearly so, one can still discern a narrative skeleton that resembles Mark’s Gospel. By adding material on Jesus’ family and birth, Matthew and Luke have brought the story closer to what readers might have expected in a biography.” (Page 21)
“When Matthew and Luke revise or supplement Mark, they are engaged in a natural process of filling out the story.” (Page 22)
This book not only provides a much-needed general introduction to the Synoptic Gospels but also introduces its audience to the apocryphal Gospels, including the Gospel of Judas. Perkins’ treatment is fair and balanced, and her analogies to contemporary culture are inspired and illuminating.
—Adela Yarbro Collins, Buckingham Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation, Yale University
Pheme Perkins provides a comprehensive and up-to-date discussion of each Synoptic Gospel and a balanced analysis of all the apocryphal and Gnostic Gospels that have attracted so much attention recently. Her knowledge of the ancient texts, long experience as a teacher, sound judgment, and clarity of expression make this book a reliable guide for college and seminary students and for all who are perplexed about the Gospels and the development of early Christianity.
—Daniel J. Harrington, chair of the biblical studies department, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Pheme Perkins provides an accessibly written, evenhanded, and carefully reasoned guide to major issues in Gospel studies. In economical fashion she enables the reader to gain a sure understanding of the place of Synoptic and apocryphal Gospels in ancient literary culture and in the development of early Christianity. Highly recommended.
—Margaret M. Mitchell, Shailer Mathews Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, University of Chicago Divinity School
Pheme Perkins is professor of New Testament in the theology department at Boston College. Among her many published books are Reading the New Testament, Gnosticism and the New Testament, Galatians and the Politics of Faith, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching First & Second Peter, James, and Jude, and Peter: Apostle for the Whole Church.
Reviews
1 rating
Father Vincent Euk
4/1/2025
This is a great book. She will tell how to navigate through her book giving you advice on what your interests are.
Park GeonBeen
9/22/2015
Enjoy the Verbum free book and extras in April!