The Gospels in early Christian literature

This chapter examines the important-but complicated-role played by gospel traditions in early Christian literature down to the beginning of the third century. Section A offers a survey of the historical processes by which gospel traditions were transmitted in the early church, and thereby delineates the forms in which "the gospel" was known to early Christian writers. Section B then explores some of the ways in which early Christian authors used the gospel materials available to them, and offers a case study in the Apostolic Fathers.28 page(s