The Bible contains four Gospels which tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth. And yet; many more Gospels once existed. Who; then; determined which Gospels would; for the next two thousand years; serve as the main gateways to Jesus and his teaching? Recent books and films have traced the decision to a series of fourth-century councils and powerful bishops. After achieving victory over their rivals for the Christian name; these key players; we are now told; conspired to 'rewrite history' to make it look like their version of Christianity was the original one preached by Jesus and his apostles: the Gospels of Matthew; Mark; Luke; and John became the prime tools for their re-sculpting of the Christian story; leading to the destruction of previously treasured writings like the Gospels of Judas; Mary; and Thomas. Are the four canonical Gospels; then; in the Bible as the result of a great; ecclesiastical conspiracy? Or does this explanation itself represent another 'rewriting of history'; this time by a group of modern academics? Who Chose the Gospels? takes us to the scholarship behind the headlines; examining the great (and ongoing) controversy about how to look at ancient books about Jesus. How the four Biblical Gospels emerged into prominence among their competitors is a crucial question for everyone interested in understanding the historical Jesus and the development of the Christian church.
#90871 in Books imusti 2008-06-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.00 x .40 x 7.60l; .35 #File Name: 0199540632208 pagesOxford University Press USA
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. ExtraordinaryBy M. StrongThis small book summarizes much of Augustine's thought and theology. All good comes from God and man's fall precipitated the covenants; laws and finally Christ. Our source for this is the Bible but how should that book be read and taught? Augustine reveals the importance of identifying metaphor in analyzing texts and the danger of being over literal. Language; therefor; is the key theme both in understanding scripture and explaining it appropriately to the education and intelligence of the listener. He then goes on to emphasize the need for the homilist to understand rhetoric at least to balance the rhetoric of disbelievers. I would consider this book essential reading for any serious Christian today or; for that matter of any student of philosophy. I have yet to read any modern or even earlier writer who thinks and writes more clearly on scripture and language.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. a turning pointBy Avid readerEven for those who no longer believe in its message; the Bible is generally regarded as a treasure trove of poetic and artistic gems that over the centuries (from Dante to Shakespeare; Milton and T.S. Eliot; to throw out names almost at random) have shaped Western values and sensitivities. It might; therefore; be hard for us to imagine how foreign; even barbaric the Bible appeared to the cultural expectations of late Antiquity. In his "Confessions" Augustine freely admits that for a long time he found it impossible to accept the message of the Bible because it was written in a style so foreign to the liberal arts he had been trained in. It was only when he heard Saint Ambrose of Milan preach on the Bible with all the rhetorical skills late antiquity demanded of its cultural elite that he began to appreciate the Biblical message in its own right. Ten years later--by now probably already bishop in the African town of Hippo--Augustine sits down to help others to make a similar transition from disdain to admiration for the Bible. Augustine first summarizes the central message of the Bible (quite an astounding and beautiful accomplishment) and then turns to the difficult medium of the message. He gives advice on how to gain the necessary factual and linguistic information to approach the biblical environment and how to deal with its often so strangely figurative and obscure style of expression. After an hiatus of over 40 years; in which he--like Ambrose--preached on themes of the Bible using all the tricks of the rhetorical trade of his time; he concludes his treatise by taking a decidedly different approach: He shows his contemporary readers that the Bible should not be perceived as a barbaric import because it exhibits many of the rhetorical devices that even a Cicero could not have improved on. These are the same strategies he recommends to a new generation of preachers. -- The value of this treatise is; in my view; primarily an historical one. It shows a crucial turning point in Western culture and it shows the architect of that turning point at work. After Augustine the Bible could no longer be regarded as a foreign import into Western culture. Instead it became fully integrated and soon even assumed the role of foundation stone of that same culture; an astounding turn about. -- This is a fascinating book; though the editor could have been more forthcoming in explaining some of the rhetorical concepts that are important for Augustine's argument.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Ahead of his timesBy JamesAugustine is to be greatly appreciated for his impact on culture; sacred and secular. The man was a theological genius whose writings are extremely practical; addressing the issues of his day within the church. This is considered by many to be one of the first treatments of the fields of homiletics and hermeneutics. Highly recommended for anyone studying Christian preaching and = teaching. Be warned though; Augustine's tendency to allegorize much of Scripture might offend the modern mind which prefers a more literal hermeneutic.
