Four Gospels, One Jesus?

by Burridge, Richard A.

• ISBN13: 9780802808769
• ISBN10: 080280876X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-12-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

"In this very readable book Richard Burridge depicts Jesus through the four Gospel authors' distinctive portraits of him. Without bogging down readers with technical terminology, Burridge brings to bear his research comparing the Gospels with classical biographies and offers a clear interpretation of each Gospel author's portrait. A striking feature is his use of the ancient symbols for the Gospels - human face, lion, ox, and eagle - to represent each book's unique picture of Jesus." "This second edition incorporates the latest scholarship on the historical Jesus, a new section on how the Gospels have been read throughout history, and an expanded discussion of how to teach and preach the Gospels through the lectionary. Burridge also tackles the question of how these ancient writings bear on today's hot-button issues of unity and diversity. Four Gospels, One Jesus? will be appreciated by teachers, pastors, students, and other readers wanting to understand Jesus more fully."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements	xi
Four Gospels,...	1	(32)
Four portraits	1	(4)
What are the gospels?
Genre	5	(3)
How did the gospels come to be written?
Sources	8	(5)
What sorts of material do the gospels contain?
Forms	13	(2)
What about the authors?
Redaction and composition	15	(3)
Literary approaches to the texts
Narrative and readers	18	(3)
Creativity and inspiration
Criticism of scripture	21	(2)
The four living creatures
The allocation of the symbols to the gospels	23	(4)
The four symbols as visual teaching aids
Reasons and explanations	27	(2)
From Jerome to the Book of Kells
The illuminated gospels	29	(4)
The Roar of the Lion	33	(32)
Mark's Jesus
The lion's appearance
Symbolism and meaning	33	(2)
The bounding lion
Mark's style, structure, and narrative technique	35	(5)
The beast of conflict
Opposition and ministry, Mark 1--8	40	(5)
The lion and his pride
The role of the disciples	45	(3)
What kind of animal is this creature?
Identity and interlude, Mark 8--10	48	(4)
Jerusalem---the lion's lair or robbers' den?
The Temple, Mark 11--13	52	(6)
In at the kill
The Passion, Mark 14--15	58	(4)
`Rose like a lion'?
The Resurrection, Mark 16.1--8	62	(3)
The Teacher of Israel	65	(34)
Matthew's Jesus
The human face
Symbolism and meaning	65	(2)
Where is he who is born King of the Jews?
Infancy narratives, Matthew 1--2	67	(4)
Another Moses?
Beginning ministry, Matthew 3--8.1	71	(6)
The new teaching
The Discourses, Matthew 5--7, 10, 13, 18, 23--5	77	(8)
Conflict between the Teacher and Israel
Matthew 8--23	85	(7)
The Teacher's suffering
The Passion, Matthew 26--27	92	(3)
The Teacher's vindication
The Resurrection, Matthew 28	95	(4)
The Bearer of Burdens	99	(32)
Luke's Jesus
The powerful ox
Symbolism and meaning	99	(1)
The ox in the Temple and the stall
Infancy and beginnings, Luke 1--4.13	100	(4)
The ox plods a long, slow journey
Luke's style and structure	104	(4)
The ox, the herd, and the drivers
Luke's characterization	108	(8)
Those who are burdened with heavy loads
The ministry of the ox	116	(4)
Strength to bear the burdens
Luke's spirituality	120	(4)
The sacrificial, saving victim
The Passion, Luke 22--23	124	(3)
He rides again
The Resurrection, Luke 24	127	(4)
The High-Flying Eagle	131	(32)
John's Jesus
Farsight the Eagle
Symbolism and meaning	131	(1)
The high-flying perspective
Prologue and beginnings, 1.1--51	132	(4)
`The way of an eagle in the sky'
Following John's story, style and structure	136	(6)
`The eagle has landed'?
The person of Jesus	142	(5)
Talons bared for conflict
The Book of Signs and ``the Jews'', John 2--12	147	(4)
Living under the shadow of his wings
Discipleship and the Last Supper, John 13--17	151	(5)
The hour of glory
The Passion, John 18--19	156	(3)
`Risen with healing in his wings'
The Resurrection, John 20--21	159	(4)
...One Jesus?	163	(17)
Four portraits or four Jesuses?	163	(3)
From four gospels back to one Jesus	166	(5)
From four gospels forward to many Jesuses	171	(3)
Plurality within limits	174	(4)
Biography, faith, and worship	178	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	180	(7)
Index	187