After two millennia, Jesus remains as fascinating and compelling a figure as ever, not only for Christian communities but also for countless others in diverse contemporary cultures. In this fresh introduction to Jesus and the Gospels, prominent scholar John T. Carroll offers a thoughtful reading of the four Gospels, paying close attention to narrative structure and key themes, with an appreciation of the contexts that shaped and continue to shape their interpretation. Informed by the best recent scholarship, this engaging volume will introduce Jesus and the Gospels to a whole new generation of readers in the culturally and religiously plural world of today. - from publisher.