What are the four Gospels? Are they collections of sayings or stories, biographies, or something more? In this volume of the Reading and Interpreting the Bible Series, Svetlana Khobnya and Kent Brower not only offer a promising answer to this question but also carefully examine the Gospels, noting their differences and similarities. Additionally, various methods of interpretation are introduced, the Gospels are analyzed for their use of the Old Testament, and special attention is given to the urgency of the historical setting in which they were written. With a chapter and a bibliography devoted to each Gospel, this book is an excellent resource for biblical study. Reading the Bible with understanding is challenging. Without sound guidance, making sense of the different literary types, settings, and cultures found in the Scriptures can be overwhelming. The Reading and Interpreting the Bible Series opens the door to a proper and accessible method of biblical interpretation. Each volume concentrates on a specific literary type found in the Bible, highlighting its features and function. Social, political, and religious settings are examined, and a critical analysis of the biblical text brings to light its message and relevance for today. Readers will find in these volumes numerous illustrations of how to interpret specific texts, which can be used as a pattern for individual or group Bible studies.
