How to Read the Gospels

Acknowledgments
Part I
	A Historical, Literary Introduction
Chapter 1
	Introduction
		What Is a Gospel?
		How to Read the Gospels
			As the Story of Jesus
				As the Story of the Evangelists Reflecting on the Significance of Jesus
				As the Story of Jesus and Evangelists for Contemporary Readers
		Transmission of the Story of Jesus
			The Synoptic Problem
				Two-Source Hypothesis
				What Is Q?
				Redaction Criticism
		Notes
Chapter 2
	The Gospel of Mark
		Outline
		The Markan Jesus
		Distinctive Theological Themes
		Parables in Mark
		Notable Interpretation Issues
		A Close Reading of Mark
			1:1–13, Prologue
				1:14–8:26, Public Ministry
				8:27–10:52, Jesus on the Way to Jerusalem
				11:1–13:37, Ministry in Jerusalem
				14:1–15:47, Passion Narrative: Last Supper, Trials, and the Crucifixion
				16:1–8, The Resurrection of Jesus
		Questions for Reflection
		Further Reading
		Notes
Chapter 3
	The Gospel of Matthew
		Outline
		The Matthean Jesus
		Distinctive Theological Themes
		Parables in Matthew
		Notable Interpretation Issues
		A Close Reading of Matthew
			1:1–2:23, Infancy Narrative
				3:1–4:25, Ministry of Jesus
				5:1–7:29, First Discourse: Sermon on the Mount
				8:1–9:38, Jesus Heals Many People
				10:1–10:42, Second Discourse: Missionary Instructions
				11:1–12:50, Jesus’s Ministry Continues While Opposition Arises
				13:1–53, Third Discourse: Collections of Parables
				13:54–17:27, Jesus Continues with His Mission and Foretells His Death and Resurrection
				18:1–35, Fourth Discourse: Community Instructions
				19:1–20:34, Jesus Continues to Teach on the Way to Jerusalem
				21:1–23:39, Jesus Enters Jerusalem and Confronts Leaders
				24:1–25:46, Fifth Discourse: Sermon on Eschatology
				26:1–27:66, Passion Narrative
				28:1–20, The Resurrection of Jesus
		Questions for Reflection
		Further Reading
		Notes
Chapter 4
	The Gospel of Luke
		Outline
		The Lukan Jesus
		Distinctive Theological Themes
		Parables in Luke
		Notable Interpretation Issues
		A Close Reading of Luke
			1:1–4, Preface
				1:5–2:52, Birth and Childhood of Jesus
				3:1–4:13, Preparation for the Ministry of Jesus
				4:14–9:50, Jesus’s Ministry in Galilee
				9:51–19:27, On the Way to Jerusalem
				19:28–21:38, Jesus’s Teaching in Jerusalem
				22:1–23:56, The Suffering and Death of Jesus
				24:1–53, The Resurrection of Jesus
		Questions for Reflection
		Further Reading
		Notes
Chapter 5
	The Gospel of John
		Outline
		The Johannine Jesus
		Distinctive Theological Themes
		“I Am” Sayings of Jesus
		Notable Interpretation Issues
		A Close Reading of John
			1:1–18, Prologue
				1:19–5:47, Jesus’s Ministry
				6:1–12:50, Jesus’s Ministry Grows and Faces Opposition
				13:1–17:26, Farewell Discourses
				18:1–20:31, Suffering and Glory
				21:1–25, Addendum
		Questions for Reflection
		Further Reading
		Notes
Part II
	Reading the Gospels from Various Perspectives
Chapter 6
	Overview of Interpretive Approaches to the Gospels
		Author-Centered, Historical Approach
			Historical-Critical Method
				Social-Science Criticism
		Text-Centered, Literary Approach
			Textual Criticism
				Narrative Criticism
		Reader-Centered, Comprehensive Approach
			Reader-Response Criticism
				Feminist Criticism
				Womanist Interpretation
				Ekklesia-Centered, Theological Interpretation
				Jewish Interpretation
				Inter(con)textual Interpretation
				Queer Criticism
				Postcolonial Criticism
				Deconstruction Interpretation
				Minoritized Criticism
				Disability Studies
				Ecological Criticism
		Notes
Chapter 7
	The Gospel of Mark from Various Perspectives
		Author-Centered, Historical Approach
			Historical-Critical Method
				Social-Science Criticism
		Text-Centered, Literary Approach
			Textual Criticism
				Narrative Criticism
		Reader-Centered, Comprehensive Approach
			Reader-Response Criticism
				Feminist Criticism
				Womanist Interpretation
				Ekklesia-Centered, Theological Interpretation
				Jewish Interpretation
				Inter(con)textual Interpretation
				Queer Criticism
				Postcolonial Criticism
				Deconstruction Interpretation
				Minoritized Criticism
				Disability Studies
				Ecological Criticism
		Notes
Chapter 8
	The Gospel of Matthew from Various Perspectives
		Author-Centered, Historical Approach
			Historical-Critical Method
				Social-Science Criticism
		Text-Centered, Literary Approach
			Textual Criticism
				Narrative Criticism
		Reader-Centered, Comprehensive Approach
			Reader-Response Criticism
				Feminist Criticism
				Womanist Interpretation
				Ekklesia-Centered, Theological Interpretation
				Jewish Interpretation
				Inter(con)textual Interpretation
				Queer Criticism
				Postcolonial Criticism
				Deconstruction Interpretation
				Minoritized Criticism
				Disability Studies
				Ecological Criticism
		Notes
Chapter 9
	The Gospel of Luke from Various Perspectives
		Author-Centered, Historical Approach
			Historical-Critical Method
				Social-Science Criticism
		Text-Centered, Literary Approach
			Textual Criticism
				Narrative Criticism
		Reader-Centered, Comprehensive Approach
			Reader-Response Criticism
				Feminist Criticism
				Womanist Criticism
				Ekklesia-Centered, Theological Interpretation
				Jewish Interpretation
				Inter(con)textual Interpretation
				Queer Criticism
				Postcolonial Criticism
				Deconstruction Interpretation
				Minoritized Criticism
				Disability Studies
				Ecological Criticism
		Notes
Chapter 10
	The Gospel of John from Various Perspectives
		Author-Centered, Historical Approach
			Historical-Critical Method
				Social-Science Criticism
		Text-Centered, Literary Approach
			Textual Criticism
				Narrative Criticism
		Reader-Centered, Comprehensive Approach
			Reader-Response Criticism
				Feminist Criticism
				Womanist Interpretation
				Ekklesia-Centered, Theological Interpretation
				Jewish Interpretation
				Inter(con)textual Interpretation
				Queer Criticism
				Postcolonial Criticism
				Deconstruction Interpretation
				Minoritized Criticism
				Disability Studies
				Ecological Criticism
		Notes
Chapter 11
	Conclusion
		The Importance of Various Readings of the Gospels
		Criteria for Solid Interpretation
		Reader’s Critical, Imaginative Role
		Notes
	Bibliography
Bibliography
About the Author