Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Preparation: birth, John the Baptist, and the temptations -- Jesus's central message: the kingdom of God -- The nature of the kingdom: presence, realm, ethics, Messiah, and the Father -- Jesus's titles: who is Jesus? -- Jesus's teaching and actions: showing who he is -- Jesus's community of the new era: the calling of those who respond -- The vindication to come: warning to Israel, Gentile inclusion, and the Son of Man's return to judge -- Jesus's final week: a dispute over authority.

This clear, compact introduction surveys what the Gospels tell us about who Jesus is by exploring his teachings and actions in their contexts. Darrell Bock, a leading evangelical New Testament scholar who speaks and teaches around the world, and Benjamin Simpson treat the Gospels as reliable sources for a plausible portrait of Jesus. Condensing years of extensive study on the topic, this handy, readable textbook presents fresh ways to understand the Gospels, especially the Synoptics in comparison with John.