Gospel Origins Collection (5 vols.)

The first part of this collection is devoted to one of the key questions of the “Synoptic Problem”: the literary and Christological relationship between Mark and Q. The second part deals with the “Third Quest” for the historical Jesus, concentrating on his teaching and its cultural context. These interrelated themes each attract detailed analysis of their methodology as well as their impact on New Testament studies generally, providing a very useful introduction to the state of research in these important fields.

This detailed commentary presents the Gospel of Matthew as a counter-narrative, showing that it is a work of resistance written from and for a minority community of disciples committed to Jesus, the agent of God's saving presence. It was written and functions to shape the identity and lifestyle of the early community of Jesus' followers as an alternative community that can resist the dominant authorities both in Rome and in the synagogue. The Gospel anticipates the time when Jesus will return and establish God's reign over all, including the powers in Rome.

Breaking Matthew into five narrative blocks, Carter presents a line by line commentary, considering historical, literary, cultural and ecclesial factors present at the time of the writing. These themes, accompanied by a survey of their studies on Matthew, are outlined in his masterful introduction.

In this volume, Scot McKnight writes an introduction to the Synoptic Gospels as a whole, illuminating their distinctive historical and theological features and their importance within the New Testament canon. Afterwards, three New Testament scholars offer study guides for the Synoptic Gospels; Christopher M. Tuckett writes on Luke, W. R. Telford on Mark, and John Riches on Matthew. Highly readable, this volume is recommended to the New Testament student, as well as anyone interested in the background and content of the Synoptic Gospels.