"Professor Hengel examines the external historical evidence for the creation of the Gospels by those documenting the early church, like Papias and Irenaeus. He also analyzes the origin of the uniform title "Gospel according to" and the process of dissemination of the gospel." "He concludes that the gospel is both narrative and proclamation, and that, in spite of the different forms in which it has come down to us, this very multiplicity is a source of strength for the church."--Jacket.