Most of the following essays reveal my interest in the significance of literary forms--both the short literary forms in the Gospels, such as pronouncement stories, and an entire Gospel as a formed narrative. I am interested in the significance of these forms, not just in literary classification systems . . . . I am interested in literary form as a clue to how the text may engage hearers and readers--impact their thought and life--if they are sensitive respondents. The Gospel stories have been shaped in ways that give them particular potentials for significant engagement. Study of literary form can help us recognize these potentials. --from the Introduction

Contents

Part I: Gospel Sayings and Stories

1 Tension in Synoptic Sayings and Stories

2 The Pronouncement Story and Its Types

3 Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories

4 Types and Functions of Apophthegms in the Synoptic Gospels

5 The Gospels and Narrative Literature

6 You Shall Be Complete--If Your Love Includes All (Matthew 5:48)

Part II: The Gospel of Mark

7 The Disciples in Mark: The Function of a Narrative Role

8 The Gospel of Mark as Narrative Christology

9 Reading It Whole: The Function of Mark 8:34-35 in Mark's Story

Part III: Paul’s Gospel

10 Paul as Liberator and Oppressor: Evaluating Diverse Views of 1 Corinthians

11 Participation in Christ: A Central Theme in Pauline Soteriology