Parallel Lives Of Jesus Book Summary

Parallel Lives of Jesus by Edward Adams breaks down the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It compares and contrasts the four; defines their history; analyzes the story and narrative structure; and even evaluates the literature comparing specific passages. His main point is to show that the Gospels explore one main story—the life of Jesus Christ—but there are specific differences that only strengthen each other from their different perspectives. Adams wants his audience to read the Gospels as four, but one. The first part of his book, Part 1 titled “Approaching the Four Gospels,” studies the books as an overview. Part 1 highlights the main differences and similarities between the four plots, pinpoints the genre to be an ancient biography,

His study of characterization includes the titles used for Jesus, Disciples, and Religious Authorities. Narrative similarities among all the gospels include the following: third-person point of view, foreshadowing of Jesus’ death, and characterization of Jesus and the disciples. Lastly, Part 3 titled “Selected Parallel Episodes,” takes specific stories in each gospel and compares them side by side. The specific stories paralleled are the baptism of Jesus, the feeding of the five thousand, the walking on the water, the transfiguration, the death of Jesus, and discovery of the empty tomb. Each story has its own chapter. Studying the passages side by side allows the readers to truly understand the comparison of the rhetoric and plot of each Gospel. An introduction is followed by the direct texts and a section describing the narrative features. This part promotes contemplation of the Gospels among Adam’s readers. Adams wants his audience to consider the intricate details of the writing in the