Contents |
Preface and Acknowledgements from the First Edition |
Preface to the Revised Edition |
Preface to the SPCK Classics Edition |
1 Four Gospels, |
Four portraits |
What are the gospels? |
Genre |
How did the gospels come to be written? Sources |
What sorts of material do the gospels contain? Forms |
What about the authors? Redaction and composition |
Literary approaches to the texts Narrative and readers |
Creativity and inspiration Criticism of scripture |
The four living creatures The allocation of the symbols to the gospels |
The four symbols as visual teaching aids Reasons and explanations |
From Jerome to the Book of Kells |
The illuminated gospels |
2 The Roar of the Lion - Mark's Jesus |
The lion's appearance Symbolism and meaning |
The bounding lion |
Mark's style, structure and narrative technique |
The beast of conflict |
Opposition and ministry, Mark 1-8 |
The lion and his pride The role of the disciples |
What kind of animal is this creature? Identity and interlude, Mark 8-10 |
Jerusalem - the lion's lair or robbers' den? |
The Temple, Mark 11-13 |
In at the kill The Passion, Mark 14-15 |
'Rose like a lion'? |
The Resurrection, Mark 16.1-8 |
3 The Teacher of Israel - Matthew's Jesus |
The human face Symbolism and meaning |
Where is he who is born King of the Jews? Infancy narratives, Matthew 1-2 |
Another Moses? |
Beginning ministry, Matthew 3-8.1 |
The new teaching |
The Discourses, Matthew 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 23-25 |
Conflict between the Teacher and Israel Matthew 8-23 |
The Teacher's suffering The Passion, Matthew 26-27 |
The Teacher's vindication The Resurrection, Matthew 28 |
4 The Bearer of Burdens - Luke's Jesus |
The powerful ox Symbolism and meaning |
The ox in the Temple and the stall Infancy and beginnings, Luke 1-4.13 |
The ox plods a long, slow journey Luke's style and structure |
The ox, the herd, and the drivers |
Luke's characterization |
Those who are burdened with heavy loads |
The ministry of the ox |
Strength to bear the burdens |
Luke's spirituality |
The sacrificial, saving victim The Passion, Luke 22-23 |
He rides again |
The Resurrection, Luke 24 |
5 The High-Flying Eagle - John's Jesus |
Gwaihir and Farsight the Eagles Symbolism and meaning |
The high-flying perspective Prologue and beginnings, John 1.1-51 |
'The way of an eagle in the sky' Following John's story, style and structure |
'The eagle has landed'? |
The person of Jesus |
Talons bared for conflict |
The Book of Signs and "the Jews", John 2-12 |
Living under the shadow of his wings Discipleship and the Last Supper, John 13-17 |
The hour of glory The Passion, John 18-19 |
'Risen with healing in his wings' |
The Resurrection, John 20-21 |
6 One Jesus? |
Four portraits or four Jesuses? From four gospels back to one Jesus From four gospels forward to many Jesuses Plurality within limits |
Biography, faith and worship |