In this book aptly titled, Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels New Testament scholar Pheme Perkins delivers a clear, fresh and informed introduction to the earliest written accounts of Jesus' life, ministry, and resurrection as they are told in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Perkins situates the Synoptics within the wider world of ancient oral storytelling and literary production of the first and second centuries. This includes a candid discussion of the Gospel sources as well as a highly informative chapters on how books and/or documents were written and gathered in the ancient world and what this tells us about the Synoptic Gospels--items critical scholars all too often ignore. She also situates the Synoptics in relationship to their later counterparts known as pseudepigrphal gospels such as the gospel of Judas.
Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels presents a balanced, well-rounded and responsible look at how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke came to be while nurturing their significance for Christians today. An outstanding resource for introductory or exegetical courses on the Synoptics, and an excellent resource for churches seeking to wrestle with the canon and why Christians hold to the Synoptics and not other spurious gospels.
