Book Recommendation: Read the Gospels as Christian Scripture (Joshua Jipp)
An Excellent New Gospels Textbook
I just got in the mail last week a brand new textbook from Baker Academic, Reading the Gospels as Christian Scripture, by Dr. Joshua Jipp. Jipp has distinguished himself as a trusted voice in New Testament studies, and he is just a great human being all around. He has written several excellent books including Saved by Faith and Hospitality, The Messianic Theology of the New Testament, Reading Acts, and a 2023 monograph, Pauline Theology as a Way of Life.
This new textbook is in a series from Baker (with different authors covering different sections). Here are some things I like about this volume on the Gospels.
Beautifully written
Covers methods and history of scholarship briefly, but well
Focuses on literary and theological aspects of the Gospels
End of chapter summaries
Emphasizes Messianic identity of Jesus
Emphasizes discipleship in the Gospels
Jipp is sensitive to the problem of anti-semitic readings
Great charts and sidebars
Includes readings and extended quotes from scholars of color
Engagement with Patristic writers
There you go, what’s not to like?! This would work well as a great undergraduate textbooks or entry-level seminary textbook (for students with little/no background in biblical studies); or even for a church group studying the Gospels.