The Cambridge Companion to the Gospels (2^nd Ed., Revised edition)
Cambridge Companions to Religion Series

Throughout the history of Christianity, the four canonical gospels have proven to be vital resources for Christian thought and practice, and an inspiration for humanistic culture generally. Indeed, the gospels and their interpretation have had a profound impact on theology, philosophy, the sciences, ethics, worship, architecture, and the creative arts. Building on the strengths of the first edition, The Cambridge Companion to the Gospels, 2nd edition, takes account of new directions in gospels research, notably: the milieu in which the gospels were read, copied, and circulated alongside non-canonical gospels; renewed debates about the sources of the gospels and their interrelations; how central gospel themes are illuminated by a variety of critical approaches and theological readings; the reception of the gospels over time and in various media; and how the gospels give insight into the human condition.

Part I. Approaching the Gospels: Context and Method: 1. What is a gospel? Loveday Alexander; 2. The fourfold gospel Francis Watson; 3. Gospel sources and inter-relations Todd Brewer; 4. The scriptural matrix of the Gospels Richard B. Hays and Christopher Blumhofer; 5. The gospels and 'the historical Jesus' Stephen E. Fowl; 6. The gospels and the reader Sandra M. Schneiders; Part II. The Gospels as Witnesses to Christ: Content and Interpretation: 7. The Gospel according to Matthew Roland Deines; 8. The Gospel according to Mark Elizabeth E. Shively; 9. The Gospel according to Luke John T. Squires; 10. The Gospel according to John Christopher W. Skinner; 11. Gospels canonical and non-canonical as witnesses to Christ Simon Gathercole; 12. God and the knowledge of God in the gospels Stephen C. Barton; Part III. The Afterlife of the Gospels: Impact on Church and Society: 13. The gospels and doctrine Frances Young; 14. Reception history of the gospels Christine Joynes; 15. Praying the gospels: spirituality and worship Gordon Mursell; 16. The gospels embodied: the lives of saints and martyrs David Matzko Mccarthy; 17. The gospels in morality and politics Scott Bader-Saye; 18. The gospels for the life of the world Ben Quash.

Stephen C. Barton is a theologian with a specialism in New Testament Studies. He was Reader in New Testament in the Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University (1988-2010). Currently, he is an Honorary Research Fellow of Durham and Manchester Universities. His publications include The Spirituality of the Gospels, Discipleship and Family Ties in Mark and Matthew, Invitation to the Bible, and Life Together. Family, Sexuality and Community in the New Testament and Today.
Todd Brewer is a New Testament Studies scholar and holds a PhD from Durham University. He is the author of Hermeneutics and Early Christian Gospels. He is managing editor for the theology and culture site, mbird.com.