Written to Be Heard: Recovering the Messages of the Gospels

Recovers the lost messages of Mark, Matthew, Luke-Acts, and John for people today

The words of the gospels were meant to be heard. While we can still appreciate the construction and grasp some understanding when we read, we miss much of the message because we're working in the wrong medium. In Written to Be Heard Paul Borgman and Kelly James Clark offer the keys to recovering the radical, relevant messages of each gospel as they were first heard.

The shaping of the gospels for oral performances, which would have been obvious to ancient (mostly preliterate) listeners, is lost on even the best contemporary reader. With careful analysis of the gospel writers' particular voices within their own ancient literary context, Borgman and Clark equip readers to read as if hearing, focusing on overlapping patterns of hearing cues that shape each text and embed theological perspective.

Author: Paul Borgman, Kelly James Clark
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Published: 03/14/2019
Pages: 389
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.90w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780802877048

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/28/2019

About the Author

Paul Borgman is professor emeritus of English at Gordon College and the author of The Way according to Luke: Hearing the Whole Story of Luke-Acts.

Kelly James Clark is senior research fellow at the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley State University; his many other books include When Faith Is Not Enough.