Getting the Gospels

On March 23 1998 director James Cameron made an indelible mark on Academy Award history. It wasn't because his film Titanic captured so many Oscars. Nor was it because of the movie's unprecedented box-office success. Rather Cameron will forever be remembered in Hollywood's annals because upon accepting his award for Best Director he enthusiastically declared "I am the king of the World!" Taken literally Cameron's exclamation denotes a claim to absolute sovereignty. Understandably public derision followed. What Cameron's critics failed to consider however was the premise behind his expression. The line is borrowed from Titanic. In that context it has an altogether different meaning. Rather than self-adulation it speaks of joy in the face of such good fortune. Undoubtedly that is what Cameron meant to convey but his point escaped those unfamiliar with his premise. This real-life analogy sets the stage for Getting the Gospels. As Cameron drew upon Titanic early Christians drew similarly upon their religious and literary backgrounds to communicate their Good News of Jesus Christ. Yet without this background modern readers may misinterpret certain Biblical texts. Getting the Gospels examines what the evangelists knew and how their presuppositions inform enrich and transform their writings. The book follows Jesus' life through twelve case studies selected from each of the four Gospels. Each chapter blends scholarly research and contemporary comparisons to underscore the imperative role that such premises play in the interpretation of the New Testament.