This text offers an alternative way of reading the Gospels, which treats seriously the fact that they first existed as manuscripts. Through an analysis of the different forms of a number of key passages, it demonstrates that the Gospels cannot be properly understood as texts without taking into consideration their physical existence as manuscripts, printed books and electronic text. In conclusion, the author argues that the search for an original text of the Gospels overlooks the way in which the early church passed down its traditions. This book challenges many of the assumptions of New Testament scholarship. But, at the same time, it does not assume any prior knowledge of the discipline, and could therefore be used as an alternative to traditional primers of New Testament textual criticism.
