The Gospels as Stories

A Narrative Approach

to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Jeannine K. Brown

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 2020 by Jeannine K. Brown

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Brown, Jeannine K., 1961– author.

Title: The gospels as stories : a narrative approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John / Jeannine K. Brown.

Description: Grand Rapids : Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019050085 | ISBN 9780801049842 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Gospels—Criticism, Narrative. | Narrative theology.

Classification: LCC BS2555.52 .B756 2020 | DDC 226/.066—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019050085

ISBN 978-1-5409-6312-3 (casebound)

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations labeled CEB are from the Common English Bible. © Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Unless otherwise indicated, Septuagint translations are the author’s own.

To Kate and Libby:

You are indispensable to my narrative

Contents

Figures

Preface

Abbreviations

Part 1 Introduction

1. The Turn to Gospels as Stories: Narrative Criticism in Gospel Studies

Part 2 Plot and Plotting

2. The Selection, Sequence, and Shape of the Story

3. Narrative Plotting in the Gospel of Luke

Part 3 Character and Characterization

4. The People in the Story

5. Matthew’s Characterization of the Disciples

Part 4 Intertextuality

6. The Stories behind the Story

7. Intertextuality in John: Passover Lamb and Creation’s Renewal

Part 5 Narrative Theology

8. How a Story Theologizes

9. The God of Mark’s Gospel

Part 6 Conclusion

10. The Ongoing Power of the Gospels as Stories

Recommended Resources

Glossary

Scripture Index

Subject Index

Figures

1.1. A Narrative’s Story Level: The “What” of the Story

1.2. A Narrative’s Discourse Level: The “How” of the Story

2.1. Unique Episodes and Teachings in the Gospels: A Selection

2.2. The Pacing of Matthew’s Gospel: Alternation of Narrative (N) and Discourse (D)

3.1. Parallel Accounts in the Lukan Birth Narrative (Luke 1–2)

3.2. Sequencing of Vignettes in Luke 1–2

3.3. Diagram of Plot and Themes for Luke 4:14–9:50

3.4. Meal Scenes in the Travel Narrative

3.5. Unique Lukan Parables in the Travel Narrative

4.1. Key Christology Emphases in the ...