The second century CE has often been described as a kind of dark period with regard to our knowledge of how the earliest Christian writings (the gospels and Paul’s letters) were transmitted and gradually came to be accepted as authoritative and then, later on, as “canonical”. At the same time a number of other Christian texts, of various genres, saw the light. Some of these seem to be familiar with the gospels, or perhaps rather with gospel traditions identical or similar to those that found their way into the NT gospels. The volume focuses on representative texts and authors of the time in order to see how they have struggled to find a way to work with the NT gospels and/or the traditions behind these, while at the same time giving a place also to other extra-canonical traditions. It studies in a comparative way the reception of identifiably “canonical” and of extra-canonical traditions in the second century. It aims at discovering patterns or strategies of reception within the at first sight often rather chaotic way some of these ancient authors have cited or used these traditions. And it will look for explanations of why it took such a while before authors got used to cite gospel texts (more or less) accurately.

Eight essays, originally presented by scholars from six nations at a conference held April 1988, Notre Dame, Indiana. They explore Gospel traditions in the second century, focusing on, among other subjects: the Western Text, the papyri, the text of the Fathers, the status of synoptics, and redactorial activities. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Editors Mark Harding and Alanna Nobbs have here brought together the internationally recognized scholarly excellence of Macquarie University faculty and associates to provide a major contribution to the study of the content and environment of the New Testament Gospels. Few books in current New Testament scholarship seriously tackle its social setting and textual tradition beyond a chapter or two. The Content and Setting of the Gospel Tradition integrates the texts with the literary, social, and historical context in which they were written.

This labor of love distills Dr. Ron Ray’s lifetime reflections on the truth and meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gathered in one volume is an abundant harvest from the best of twentieth–century systematic theology. Beginning students will find here an informative and clear introductory text. Working pastors will receive a refresher course to steady and strengthen a ministry of integrity and joy. Preachers will benefit from the author’s recommendation of the “topical-biblical sermon,” an approach that leads to contemporary topics for textually-based scriptural preaching, while reinvigorating topical preaching with scriptural sturdiness. With both conviction and transparency, Ray welcomes his readers into a thoughtful conversation about why and how the Christian message still matters today. In the process, we also see firsthand how and why systematic theology can still matter today for those entrusted with proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. —James F. Kay, Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor, Princeton Theological Seminary This critical and constructive perspective interacts with such fields as biblical studies, Old and New Testament theology, hermeneutics and other philosophy. Ray’s synthesis arises out of a unique theological and pastoral pilgrimage as a minister in the United States and as a missionary theologian and Christian ethicist in Nigeria and Kenya. As one might expect from a scholar who did the first PhD dissertation on Jacques Ellul, Ray writes with a forthright, probing, honest style. He criticizes authors at highly specific points, but often demonstrates indebtedness to the same scholars. He is deeply informed by the New Testament, and secondarily by the Old Testament, yet insists that interpretive dishonesty is no Christian virtue. —Leicester R. Longden, Assoc. Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship Emeritus, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

Collection of texts published previously.

Lee Martin McDonald provides a magisterial overview of the development of the biblical canon --- the emergence of the list of individual texts that constitutes the Christian bible. In these two volumes -- in sum more than double the length of his previous works -- McDonald presents his most in-depth overview to date. McDonald shows students and researchers how the list of texts that constitute 'the bible' was once far more fluid than it is today and guides readers through the minefield of different texts, different versions, and the different lists of texts considered 'canonical' that abounded in antiquity. Questions of the origin and transmission of texts are introduced as well as consideration of innovations in the presentation of texts, collections of documents, archaeological finds and Church councils. In the first volume McDonald reexamines issues of canon formation once considered settled, and sets the range of texts that make up the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) in their broader context. Each indidvidual text is discussed, as are the cultural, political and historical situations surrounding them. This second volume considers the New Testament, and the range of so-called 'apocryphal' gospels that were written in early centuries, and used by many Christian groups before the canon was closed. Also included are comprehensive appendices which show various canon lists for both Old and New Testaments and for the bible as a whole.

This book offers a new explanation of the development of the first three Gospels based on a careful examination of both patristic testimony to the "Hebrew Gospel" and internal evidence in the canonical Gospels themselves. James Edward breaks new ground and challenges assumptions that have long been held in the New Testament guild but actually lack solid evidence.

A collection of papers from two international symposia by such important scholars as Aune, Dunn, Gerhardsson, Meyer, Rordorf and Talmon. The articles share the conviction that the only way to break the deadlock in the Synoptic problem is to examine the oral tradition about Jesus which lay behind the Gospels, and to continue even beyond them. The book addresses such central issues as the characteristics of oral tradition: oral tradition in Judaism, in the teaching of Jesus (his aphorisms and the narrative meshalim) and in the Gospel narratives; and the relationships of John, Paul and the Didache to oral tradition. This volume should bring onto a new plane the discussion of the all-important oral stage of Gospel tradition.

In this book respected New Testament scholar Pheme Perkins delivers a clear, fresh, informed 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. Cutting through the media confusion over new Gospel finds, Perkins s Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels presents a balanced, responsible look at how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke came to be and what they mean.

This work represents the first independent study of the Jewish-Christian Gospel fragments and of the use of the Jewish-Christian Gospel tradition in early Christian and medieval literature. The author identifies and introduces the Jewish-Christian Gospels and their sources, presents a critical study of genuine and spurious references to Jewish-Christian Gospels, and then goes on to offer a critical text (with apparatus and bibliography), a translation and a full commentary for each individual fragment.