After a helpful “Introduction” written by the editor of the volume (Ahearne-Kroll), it is perhaps most helpful in a brief review of a large volume in the venerable “Oxford Handbook” series to quickly indicate the topics that are covered in this volume focused on “The Synoptic Gospels”.

In Part 1, “The Problem and Nature of the Synoptic Gospels”, the essays are as follows: (1) The History and Prospects of the Synoptic Problem (John Kloppenborg); (2) The Minor Sources and Their Role in the Synoptic Problem (Paul Foster); (3) The Use of Sources in Ancient Composition (James Barker); (4) Ancient Rhetoric as an Evaluative Tool for Literary Dependence (Alex Damm); (5) Paul's Possible Influence on the Synoptics; (Cameron Ferguson); (6) Oral Tradition, Writing, and the Synoptic Problem, (Alan Kirk); (7) Oral Performance of the Synoptics (Lee Johnson); (8) Narrative Design of the Synoptics (Michal Beth Dinkler); (9) Manuscripts: The Problem with the Synoptic Problem (Brent Nongbri); (10) The Publication of the Synoptics and the Problems of Dating (Matthew Larsen); (11) The Synoptic Gospels and Apocryphal Narratives (Janet Spittler); (12) The Gospel of Thomas and the Synoptics (Melissa Harl Sellew)

In Part 2, there is a particularly interesting series of articles on “Particular Features in Comparison”. This section represents a variety of “current issues”, which will not be of equal interest to all readers, but does represent a good survey of contemporary issues. This section begins with (13) Suffering and Sacrifice (Candida Moss); (14) Violent Imaginaries (Sarah Rollens); (15) Kingdom, Authority, and Power (Michael Peppard); (16) Wealth, Poverty, Economy (Thomas Blanton); (17) Travel and Itinerancy (Timothy Luckritz Marquis); (18) Food and Meals (Soham Al-Suadi); (19) Healing and Exorcism (Meghan Henning); (20) Sacred Space (Karen Wenell); (21) History (Eve-Marie Becker); (22) Apocalyptic Eschatology (Robyn Whitaker); (23) Resurrection and the Afterlife (Alexey Somov); (24) Gospel (Joshua Garroway); (25) Jewish Sectarianism (John Kampen); (26) Gentiles and Their Relations to Jews (Magnus Zetterholm); (27) Israel's Scriptures (Susan Docherty); (28) Portraits of Women (Susan Myers); (29) Gender (Joshua M. Reno and Stephen P. Ahearne-Kroll); and (30) Body (Stephen D. Moore).

There is no secret to the success of the Oxford Handbook series. Patient dedication of some hours of study will result in an excellent and current overview of the field in question. While nobody would claim (including for the current volume under review) that there are not some inevitable biases in the selection of authors (who quite naturally have their own views on the matter!), there is a clear attempt to be fair about the range of opinions in these essays, especially in the articles in the first section. It is the nature of these topics, however, that the second section represents the stronger perspectives of the writers themselves who are often advocating particular arguments or topics of concern – especially when they themselves are among the strongest voices working in those topic areas. This contributes to the usefulness of the volume, of course, rather than representing a critique. Finally, for this volume, as others, there is a nice variety of both established scholars, and younger scholars beginning to make their mark, but who are already respected voices in their topics – especially evident in the second section.

For graduate students just getting started for MA level studies, and particularly for advanced lay readers wanting a detailed overview of a topic, these survey volumes are very helpful. Finally, for the curious who find themselves wondering, “What is all the fuss about…?” with regard to the studies of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this collection of essays can be exceptionally useful, although at $165.00 for hardback editions (paperback editions, when available for selected titles, range between $50-$70) some readers will need to be rather selective in their decisions to purchase their own copies on topics of particular interest.