Description: "The author argues that when John wrote his Gospel, he was familiar with and influenced by the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke"--
Brief description: Mark Goodacre is professor of religious studies at Duke University. He specializes in New Testament and Christian origins, and his research interests include the Gospels and the historical Jesus. He is the author of The Case Against Q: Studies in Markan Priority and the Synoptic Problem, Thomas and the Gospels: The Case for Thomas's Familiarity with the Synoptics, and The Fourth Synoptic Gospel: John's Knowledge of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Review Quotes:
"For anyone interested in questions of sources and literary relationships in the early Jesus movement, this book is a must read."
--Irish Theological Quarterly
"The book's seven chapters are concise, well organized, and to the point, with abundant charts and use of Greek. They also interact with a wide range of relevant literature. . . . The book makes it very difficult to assume that the author of John's gospel wrote independently of the synoptic gospels. Excellent for any library supporting New Testament studies."
--CHOICE
"Goodacre is an excellent writer and an incisive exegete, and there is much to appreciate in his landmark work."
--Theology
"Whether challenging the existence of Q or demonstrating the Gospel of Thomas's familiarity with the Synoptics, Mark Goodacre's analysis of well-worn academic positions is characteristically brilliant and regularly results in a significant challenge to the critical consensus. His present book, The Fourth Synoptic Gospel, is no different. Here Goodacre convincingly demonstrates John's knowledge of all three Synoptics in a clear and accessible way. This book will change the field! I cannot recommend it highly enough."
--Christopher W. Skinner, Loyola University Chicago
"Generations of scholars have struggled to comprehend the relationship between John and the Synoptics. Goodacre's masterful reexamination will likely solidify a new consensus. Yes, John knew and used the written Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John also creatively transformed them and should thus be read as the fourth Synoptic Gospel."
--James W. Barker, Western Kentucky University
"The relationship of John to the Synoptics is an important issue because it directly affects why John includes what it does and is worded as it is. Mark Goodacre takes this complicated subject and approaches it in ways that are clear and straightforward. And his copious examples are insightful and eye-opening. It would be hard to view the fourth Gospel the same way again after reading this book."
--Jeff Cate, California Baptist University