The Gospels as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

by Jeannine K. Brown

Popular writer and teacher Jeannine Brown shows how a narrative approach illuminates each of the Gospels, helping readers see the overarching stories. This book offers a corrective to tendencies to read the Gospels piecemeal, one story at a time. It is filled with numerous examples and visual aids that show how narrative criticism brings the text to life, making it an ideal supplementary textbook for courses on the Gospels. Readers will gain hands-on tools and perspectives to interpret the Gospels as whole stories.

Genres: Biblical Studies, New Testament, Theology, Religion

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2020

About the author

Jeannine K. Brown (PhD, Luther Seminary) is professor of New Testament and director of online programs at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has served as a translation consultant for the New International Version, Common English Bible, and New Century Version and is the author of The Gospels as Stories and two commentaries on Matthew. She also contributed to The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary and is a coeditor of the revised Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels.

Reviews

[Jose Ovalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Gospel stories are inherently theological, and they communicate theology not apart from their narrative shaping but because of and through their stories"

For a lot of my Christian life, I’ve implicitly thought of Paul, Peter, Jude etc’s epistles as theology while the Gospels were the story of Jesus’ life. While that’s mostly true, I didn’t really think of the Gospel writers as theologians in and of themselves. That led me to not pay attention to how intricately woven and intentional every word in the Gospels are. This book helped me further appreciate the intentionally of the Gospels and be comfortable with the fact that what the writers “show” more than they tell- through repetition, key word choices, and allusions to the OT that are not quoted but just assume the readers would connect the dots (there’s a lot to say about people who advocate ditching the OT and just following the Jesus of the NT, the Gospels have the Old Testament in the background of almost every verse). Jeanine K Brown also provides really helpful examples that draw out the richness of this method, her section on God’s silence in Mark is wild.


Learning to read Gospels literarily (which includes reading them literally, but in the way that differences in narrative order between gospels become a stumbling block for belief in their historicity) makes reading a lot slower, but that’s the point. Read the Gospels like you drink a really good wine. Appreciate how all the notes of intertextuality, parallelism, pacing, and more fit together to tell of the mind blowing historical event of the Son of God becoming man to live and die for his people.

[Shane Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 reads: 09

Rating: 4 stars

Reading the Gospels as Stories is the fruit of Jeannine K. Brown’s own labors in researching and teaching the Gospels over several years. At its heart is Brown’s attempt to hear the “narrative logic” of the Gospels. (xi) The Gospels are certainly more than mere narratives, but they are not anything less than this. (3) Too often we “atomize” the Gospels (7, 148), separating the unified story into distinct sections (“pericopes”) in order to draw out altruistic and eternal truths. Redaction, source, and form criticism have done little to conceive of the narrative structure of the Gospels, only contributing to this abstracting and atomizing tendency. Brown defines narrative-criticism as attending “to the literary and stories qualities of a biblical narrative.” (11) Reading the Gospels as Stories surveys four aspects of narrative-criticism: plot (ch. 2), characterization (ch. 4), intertextuality (ch. 6), and moving from narrative to theology (ch. 8), what she calls “theologizing.”

One of the real strengths of Brown’s Reading the Gospels as Stories is that it is a friendly introduction to what can be a complex field. Reading the Gospels as Stories is replete with clear definitions and chapters given to illustrating each aspect of narrative-criticism from the text. Overall I thought that the chapter on theologizing was phenomenal, and truly inspired hope for the narrative-criticism enterprise. If we are to properly understand the theology of the Gospels we have to reckon with the fact that they are inherently storied—this is not accidental but a formal characteristic. Of all the narrative-criticism approaches, I felt as though characterization had the least to offer when it comes to reading the Gospels. This is partly, I think, due to the nature of Greco-Roman bioi which centered on the main ‘protagonist,’ so to speak, with very little concern for character or psychological development. However, the work of analyzing plot, intertextuality, and then working to construct theology is exciting and refreshing.

By way of example, I was struck by noticing Matthew’s own emphasis on exile in both his beginning (1:1-17) and end (28:18-20). If ‘exile’ frames his Gospel, how is this theme taken up in the main body? How are other key theological ideas (Christology, eschatology, ecclesiology, etc.) related to this overall frame? Have scholars paid attention to these narrative dynamics and cues? “Narrative-theologizing” (148) offers a rich framework to navigate these tensions and complexities, allowing for more concrete particularities when compared to modernism’s affinity for abstraction and propositional theology. (148-149). Finally, a question I had about Brown’s work relates to genre. Brown seems to assume Greco-Roman bioi as fundamental to the Gospels, but I would have loved to have seen more interaction and integration of this fact with her narrative approach. All in all, though, Reading the Gospels as Stories is a wonderful introduction. Brown artfully showcases the fruits of laboring in the Gospels when they are rightly seen for their essentially storied shape.

[Read for the Synoptics Literature seminar with Dr Pennington at SBTS]

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am convinced that narrative theology (reading the gospels as stories and being attentive to the literary techniques that the authors use to communicate) is crucial and this book was a helpful overview of this approach.

[Chris Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good study, but it's a little more academic than I expected it to be. As I was reading, I couldn't help but think about readers for whom it might go over their heads. It's still worth reading.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often when we read or study the Bible, we focus on the meaning of a specific passage or pericope. While knowing that understanding how the passage fits into the overall story of the Bible, it seems like too often we focus intently one one particular puzzle piece rather than looking at the picture as a whole. We often forget that individual books of the Bible are entire literary texts that were originally read as one story. In her new book The Gospels as Stories, Bethel University professor Dr. Jeannine K. Brown emphasizes looking at the whole story.

Brown begins The Gospels as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John by examining a variety of critical methods used in studying the Bible with specific attention given to narrative criticism. This individual chapter does a wonderful job of both setting the stage for the remainder of the book and providing a wonderful introduction to the landscape of current Bible scholarship. After laying this important groundwork, Brown goes on to expand on various concepts within narrative criticism. Each aspect of narrative criticism is described in a chapter using examples from all four Gospels followed by a chapter which examines that aspect in a specific Gospel. This combination of a chapter delving into the specifics followed by a chapter demonstrating how the information is used in a Gospel provides a wonderful look at how to apply narrative criticism.

Reading The Gospels as Stories reminds you that each Gospel is a story and as such includes a plot and character development. The authors had a particular audience in mind and would include information that connected with the specific audience in order to emphasize specific aspects of who Christ is and his purpose. While and after reading this book, you will wish to sit down and read an entire Gospel from start to finish--in fact, I would encourage you to do so while reading this book. The Gospels as Stories will be a wonderful book for use in a class on the Gospels, New Testament, or Introduction to the Bible. Beyond its use in a classroom setting, Brown's work is readable and accessible to a wider audience of educated individuals who wish to better read and understand the Bible. Highly recommended!

I received a complementary copy of The Gospels as Stories from Baker Academic/Brazos Press via NetGalley.

[Reagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brown has done an excellent job of making the narrative approach to Gospel interpretation accessible to the common reader. Brown has provided another rung on the ladder along with the likes of Robert Alter in approaching narrative criticism. Narrative criticism, I believe, is essential in understanding the authorial intent with an LGH hermeneutic, and this work is an excellent resource in helping the interpreter find the author’s intent.

[Eddie Mercado · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Jeannine Brown wrote an accessible, and cogent approach to reading the Gospels as narratives. She provides a distinct approach from Form and Redaction Criticism (which may ask some good questions, but are ultimately deficient) in favor of Narrative Criticism (reading each Gospel as one fully orbed Story of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ. She provides a helpful paradigm in reading the Gospel’s in general, while also giving helpful case studies of periscopes in particular. Brown has given a really insightful look into reading the Gospels in a much more holistic way when compared to popular 20th century Critical practices. There are a few shortcomings: a lack of discussion regarding concursus, and no self-conscious application of Biblical Theology as a discipline (though she does get close to it when discussing the Gospel’s Intertextuality with the OT). Nonetheless, this book provides an immensely helpful approach to the Gospels, is multi-disciplinary in nature, and will be helpful for Bible teachers and preachers.

[Lindsay John Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent argument and proof of concept for the benefits of reading the Gospels as stories. Brown applies the concepts of narrative criticism (e.g. plotting, characterization) to the Gospels and the fruitfulness of this approach is easily apparent. Brown is a clear enough writer but I do wish the style was a little more accessible, I could imagine assigning this book to undergrads but they might struggle a tad

[Phillip Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the time, we read just a passage from the gospels. This may help us digest what is said, but can lead to us missing the whole picture. We need to see them as a complete story, not bits gathered here and there. In The Gospels as Stories, Jeannine Brown shares both how to see the whole picture and why it is important to do so.

This book is thorough and does a good job of explaining the point. There were times that I had to read more slowly, and even re-read a passage, but that is because there is so much to take in. The Gospels as Stories would be a good addition for anyone that wants to dive deeper into how the gospels share the life and ministry of Christ and how they fit together.

I don’t know how many times I’ve read in the gospels, but I know that it’s never been in one sitting. I knew that they are meant to be seen as a whole, but it isn’t something that I apply when I read. Looking back, I can see a lot of times that I took the passages as individual pieces. After reading this book, I am going to keep an eye on my reading so that I don’t lose sight of the entire story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[George Kogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brown writes an accessible primer on the narrative criticism of the gospel accounts. Brown’s contention is that theological discourse is too often confined to abstract propositions devoid of the narrative context(s). Instead, it is important to recognize that theology is communicated to us through the medium of a story. She proceeds to emphasize attention to historical context, plotting, characterization, and intertextuality as the determinants of narrative criticism that aid the reader in developing greater familiarity with the narrative theology of the biblical texts. This is a helpful reader-friendly work for introducing someone to the world of narrative criticism and intelligent reading of the gospel accounts.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeannine Brown offers a small summation not of the content of the Gospels but of their writing styles. It is not an apologetic for the Gospels or even for Christianity but rather a survey of the writing style of the Gospels. There is no attention gives to whether or not portions such as John 8 and the ending of Mark were in the original manuscript. For that reason, it comes across rather simplistic. There is a bit of attention paid to how narrative or prose is structured. Attention is paid to the parts of narrative such as plot , setting, and characters. It’s not bad but I expected so much more.

[Carole Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be swayed by the fact that this book comes from an academic publishing company. Brown has expertly crafted a work that benefits Christians in formal classrooms as well as in casual living rooms. By presenting a sound explanation of the content of each of the four New Testament Gospels - and demonstrating solid, down-to-earth methods of sound Biblical interpretation - Brown's text gives Christian readers from all walks of life valuable tools for digging deeper into the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and growing closer in their relationship with Him.

[Greg Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! An excellent and wonderful read. Jeannine K. Brown takes her readers on a journey through all four Gospels highlighting how each has been written in a unique and purposeful way. All Gospels are cohesive narratives that cannot be simplified to verses, or chapters, or sections. Brown does a fantastic job of clearly showing, through examples from the Gospels, how plot, characters, references, and theology are all intertwined. This was an amazing book that all Christians or those simply curious should read.

[Freddy Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown reminds us it’s important especially in our regular study of the gospels to see them as a unified whole with an intention the author has and uses to convey to their intended recipient, which includes not only being selective about the oral traditions of Jesus, but also how they are woven together in regards to characterizations, plot, theme and literary devices. The result is four unique gospels which, even as they may use similar or same sources, can bring about different but equally valid truths and meaning.

[Nathan Battey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional book that blends a traditional historical approach with literary analysis. Insights abound. For a topic that is typically presented in a rather dry manner, Brown offers a rich and enjoyable presentation. A must read for bible students who want to hear the Gospels on their own terms and in a wholistic rather than piecemeal manner.

[Kevin Wolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to narrative criticism in the Gospels. Perfect for college courses, personal study, pastors, and maybe even the studious small group. There is a helpful glossary for key terms.

[Chloe Purcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot…I’m also very glad that it is over.

[Frank Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic exploration of narrative criticism and its importance in gospel studies. Brown is a thorough scholar and this work is no exception!

[Kat Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I read in 2020.