First-Century Gospel Storytellers and Audiences

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The essays present a transformative view of the Gospels, emphasizing their origins as oral performances for largely illiterate audiences rather than mere texts for individual reading. They highlight how evangelists engaged listeners, primarily Hellenistic Judeans, in dynamic storytelling sessions lasting several hours. This approach illustrates how the Gospels functioned as vibrant narratives that encouraged audiences to transition from skepticism to discipleship, ultimately positioning Jesus as the Messiah within a broader cultural context shaped by the aftermath of the Roman-Jewish war.