misuse by such as the nascent Gnostic sects (cf. the Apostle’s use of “the wisdom of God” in 1 Cor 1:24). In addition, there must have been considerable anxiety among Christians lest all the original twelve disciples should die before the process of sifting and control had been completed. The four gospels were not written for people to whom Jesus-Messiah was outside experience; those outside the Christian community were not the intended audience for the gospels, however much the availability of those