Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels

When readers are separated from the social world of the author, miscommunication occurs. Historical methods of Biblical interpretation have been helpful in narrowing the gap between the modern reader and ancient authors but have concentrated only on distinctive events and ideas. The social-scientific approach employed in this commentary focuses on social phenomena that have persisted for centuries.

Bruce J. Malina is Professor of Theology at Creighton University (Omaha, Nebraska) and the author and co-author of numerous books including: The New Testament World (2001), Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John (Fortress Press, 1998), and On the Genre and Message of Revelation (1995). He is co-editor of The Social Setting of Jesus and the Gospels (Fortress Press, 2002).

Richard L. Rohrbaugh is Paul S. Wright Professor of Christian Studies at Lewis and Clark College (Portland, Oregon). He is co-author, with Malina, of Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John (Fortress Press, 1998).