Chapter 1


1 Definition


1.1 The Fluid Nature of Genre in Antiquity


1.2 Lives / Vitae / Bioi: a Dynamic and Flexible Genre


1.3 Reconstructing and Evaluating Character: Approaches in Ancient Lives


1.4 The Selective Nature of Ancient Lives


1.5 What Can Be Read as a Life?


2 History of Research: What are the Gospels?


2.1 From the Beginning to 1992


2.2 Continuing Debate: Arguments Against the 'Biographical Hypothesis'


2.3 Reconsidering the Uniqueness of the Gospels


2.4 Ongoing Debate: Alternative Perspectives


2.5 Ongoing Debate: Towards Acceptance of the 'Biographical Hypothesis'


2.6 Further Theories: Genre Mosaic


2.7 Growing Acceptance of the 'Biographical Hypothesis'


3 Conclusion


Chapter 2


1 Life: A Well-Suited Genre


1.1 Prologue


1.2 Mighty Signs (Deeds)


1.3 Words: Encounters, Discourses, and Teaching


1.4 Death


1.5 Post-Death Events


2 Conclusion


Chapter 3


1 Rewriting in Antiquity


1.1 Defining Ancient Practices as Rewriting


1.2 Rewriting and the Composition of Jewish texts


2 Rewriting Characters


2.1 Philo of Alexandria


2.2 Cornelius Nepos


2.3 Plutarch


3 Conclusion


Chapter 4


1 John's Knowledge of Mark: History of Research


1.1 Supplementation / Complementation Theory


1.2 Windisch: Supplanting Theory


1.3 Gardner-Smith: A New Consensus


1.4 Dodd: Confirming the Consensus


1.5 Not All Are in Favour of Independence


1.6 Strengthening of the New Consensus


1.7 Dissolution of the Consensus: Increasing Recognition of John's Use of Mark


1.8 New Avenues


2 Early Followers of Jesus: Communities and Communication


3 John's Rewriting of Mark: Jesus at the Centre of the Narrative


4 Conclusion


Chapter 5


1 Lives, Usefulness, and Persuasion


2. Persuasion in John


3 Conclusion


Chapter 6


1 Summary: Life, Rewriting, and Shaping the Ideal Account


2 Findings: Life, Creative Adaptation, Biographical Impulse


3 Concluding Remarks