Challenging the conventional account of how, when, and why the four gospels were written, Watson (biblical interpretation, Durham U., England) argues that a single yet diverse reception process unites initial responses to Jesus by his first followers with the articulation of the fourfold canonical gospel, by way of a transmission of tradition in which gospel writing plays a central role. His topics include Augustine's ambiguous legacy, Luke the interpreter, Thomas versus Q, limiting plurality in the East, and canonical hermeneutics. Annotation 2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)