Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction / Stephen C. Barton -- Part I: Approaching the gospels : context and method -- What is a gospel? / Loveday Alexander -- The fourfold Gospel / Francis Watson -- The canonical matrix of the Gospels / Richard B. Hays -- The Gospels and 'the historical Jesus' / Stephen E. Fowl -- The Gospels and the reader / Sandra M. Schneiders -- Part II: The Gospels as witnesses to Christ : content and interpretation -- The Gospel according to Matthew / Stephen C. Barton -- The Gospel according to Mark / Joel B. Green -- The Gospel according to Luke / John T. Squires -- The Gospel according to John / Marianne Meye Thompson -- Part III: The afterlife of the Gospels : impact on church and society -- The Gospels and the development of doctrine / Frances Young -- The Gospels embodied : the lives of saints and martyrs / David Matzko McCarthy -- Praying the Gospels : spirituality and worship / Gordon Mursell -- Living the Gospels : morality and politics / Scott Bader-Saye.