Writing and Rewriting the Gospels

Writing and Rewriting the Gospels John and the Synoptics James W. Barker; foreword by mark GoodacreWm. B. Eerdmans, 2025ISBN 9780802874528 Softcover, 208 pp.5.91 X 8.9 X 0.71 inches | 0.57 pounds A compelling reappraisal of the relationships between the canonical gospels Biblical scholars have long debated the Synoptic problem and the literary relationship between the Gospel of John and the Synoptics. During the twentieth century, the consensus shifted decisively to the Two-Source hypothesis for the Synoptic problem along with the view that John's Gospel was independent of the Synoptics. In recent decades all consensus has dissolved--yet these questions retain currency and significance.  James W. Barker takes up these questions and reappraises the evidence. Drawing on his expertise in ancient compositional practices, he makes a persuasive case for a snowballing trajectory, whereby each canonical gospel drew upon other canonical gospels. Thus, Mark was written first; Matthew draws on Ma