Excavating Q: The History and Setting of the Sayings Gospel [Paperback]

John S. Kloppenborg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

In this tour de force, the author offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of Q, the collection of Jesus' sayings long hypothesized as the source for the canonical gospels of Matthew and Luke. Part I deals with the methods for studying Q, their presuppositions, and a survey of current research. Part II addresses more theological and theoretical issues relevant to the Synoptic Problem, Q as a document, its redaction, and its social setting.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...comprehensive account of the textual construction and ideological interpretation of the documents which form the basis of the NT." -- International Review of Biblical Studies vol. 47: 2000/2001

About the Author

John S. Kloppenborg Verbin is Associate Professor of New Testament at the University of St. Michael's College, and Toronto School of Theology. He is a leading authority on Q. His other works include The Shape of Q: Signal Essays on the Sayings Gospel (Fortress Press, 1994), The Formation of Q: Trajectories in Ancient Wisdom Collections (Fortress Press, 1990) and Q Parallels: Synopsis, Critical Notes, and Concordance (1988).

Product Details

• Paperback: 558 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Press (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080062601X
• ISBN-13: 978-0800626013
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,175,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One for the serious student only, February 10, 2001

By 

peculiar "andrew_eccentric" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Excavating Q: The History and Setting of the Sayings Gospel (Paperback)

If there were a contest to find the top scholar on Q today (however we might configure that contest), then John S Kloppenborg Verbin might well come out the champion. His thesis on Q is often found to be the thesis of choice for many scholars (particular those of North American or Jesus Seminar hue). Here we are presented with a prodigious book split into two parts, broadly historical and broadly ideological, about Q, the hypothetical (and so far completely non-material) source behind the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. I imagine that if you aren't prepared to make that scholarly jump to believe in Q then you won't be too interested in reading this book.

I basically liked this book - but then I am a graduate student in biblical studies and so already committed to being interested in technical studies about obscure "data" which fit into the narrow specialisms of today's biblical academy. What I'm saying is that this book will not have broad appeal since its VERY technical. That said, the discussions, particularly the ones on "The Q document and the Q people" and "Reading Q in the Galilee" I found to be stimulating explorations into the possible as regards Q and the sources for the sayings of Jesus. Perhaps that's all that such discussions can hope to be. Certainly any taking of this book's contents for the final word on the subject should be shelved: tomorrow will bring newer conclusions.

One point I really liked from this book was its emphasis and concentration on the social location of both Q's interpreters and also the writers/collaters and readers of the Q document itself. This "social" criticism of the Bible has been going on for a while now and this book continues that tradition admirably in exploring the links between Q and the Greco-Roman Cynics hypothesized of Galilee. Such questions are worthy of study and essential to an understanding of Q (should the hypothesis ever become so genuinely held that such theories attain more than their current provisional status).

In his introduction to the book the author writes that his offering is to be about Q "and the difference its existence makes". I think the offering of hypotheses like the ones this book offers about Q are valuable talking points and this book is another valuable addition to debates about Q.

PoSTmodERnFoOL