Reviewed by: Introducing Jesus: A Short Guide to the Gospels' History and Message by Mark I. Strauss Anthony O. Ewherido mark i. strauss, Introducing Jesus: A Short Guide to the Gospels' History and Message (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018). Pp. 185. $16.99. I always look out for simply written introductions to Scripture, for my personal edification and for the needs of my students. Mark I. Strauss's Introducing Jesus is by far one of the most reader-and-study-friendly volumes that I have found. This volume takes up the challenges of introducing Jesus and introducing the Gospels as well as the task of explaining the methods that aid our understanding of the Gospel narratives simultaneously, a feat that is difficult to accomplish in a book that is so simply written, without being simplistic in the presentation of the subject matter. The volume is well arranged, going through five main issues regarding Jesus and the Gospels in its twenty chapters and two appendixes. Based on his premise that "to understand Jesus, we have to understand the New Testament Gospels . . . the primary source documents for his life and ministry," the author offers his response to the question, "What Are the Gospels?" (chap. 1), with very insightful and understandable introductory materials regarding the sociohistorical and religious background of the Gospels (chaps. 2 and 3). This is followed by a two-part treatment of each of the Gospels that deals with the introduction to the Gospel, and the themes and theology of each Gospel (chaps. 4‒11). He continues with a treatment of the historical reliability of the Gospels (chap. 12) as the foundation for the presentation of the life, teachings, and works of Jesus (chaps. 13‒19). He concludes with two appendixes that focus on the transmission and reading of the Gospels, with an exposé on historical and narrative critical methodologies for studying the text. Strauss's work comprehensively covers the different aspects that should be considered [End Page 557] in any study of the Gospels as narratives about Jesus, with wonderful résumés that help the reader understand who Jesus is and how the Gospel narratives work, either together or individually, to paint his portrait. Each chapter is properly introduced with the right connectives and links to what came before and what follows. At the end of each chapter, the author gives an apt summary of the chapter, review questions as study guides, and a simple bibliography of about three or four books. There are no footnotes or endnotes. While at first sight, this seems to shortchange the academic quality of the work, the reader finds out very quickly that the author has turned out a well-researched work that is presented in a readerfriendly and inviting manner—easy to read and understand because S. writes with the main purpose of creatively communicating Jesus to the reader, using the same tools of biblical scholarship that are employed by others but in a different way. His use of real-life stories as introductions and illustrations in many areas functions as an effective attention-catching and pedagogic device. The same is true of his use of questions as preamble to his treatment of themes and topics (almost an FAQ format). He definitely answers the questions satisfactorily in what follows. Convinced that the Gospels validly function as foundations for people's faith, S. makes bold statements that assert the "unitive and distinctive character of the gospels and the evangelist," while describing them as "historical narratives motivated by theological concerns" (p. 13), writings that are at the same time inspired (p. 14). His writing is devoid of burdensome and unnecessary details as he presents chapters and subsections in a concise and relevant manner. He habitually explains technical words to facilitate and encourage the reader, while throwing in exegetical illuminations as often as they are needed. He also engages the other NT books and the OT fruitfully as corroborative evidence in his portrait of Jesus. More importantly, he reads the Gospels not just as historical documents about past events but also as a living message for today's world. One special contribution of S.'s work is the emphasis on the grace element in the...