# James R. Edwards

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American theologian and New Testament scholar

James R. Edwards Theologian James Edwards Born 1945 (age 80–81) Occupations Theologian and New Testament scholar Title Professor Emeritus of Theology Awards Templeton Grant in Science and Religion (1996); recipient of Deutsche Akademische Austausch Dienst Award (1993) Academic background Education Whitworth University, Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Zürich, University of Tübingen Alma mater Fuller Theological Seminary (PhD) Academic work Discipline Biblical studies Sub-discipline NT studies Institutions Whitworth University Notable works The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition (2009)

**James R. Edwards** (born 1945) is an American theologian and New Testament scholar.[1] His primary research interests include [Biblical studies](/source/Biblical_studies) and the history of the [early church](/source/History_of_Christianity#Early_Christianity_(c._27_–_fourth_century)), with secondary interests in the [Reformation](/source/Reformation) and history of the twentieth-century German Church struggle. After earning degrees from [Whitworth University](/source/Whitworth_University), [Princeton Theological Seminary](/source/Princeton_Theological_Seminary), and [Fuller Theological Seminary](/source/Fuller_Theological_Seminary), and pursuing additional study at the [University of Zürich](/source/University_of_Z%C3%BCrich) and the [University of Tübingen](/source/University_of_T%C3%BCbingen), Edwards taught at [Jamestown College](/source/Jamestown_College) for nearly 20 years. He joined Whitworth's faculty in 1997, later holding the Bruner-Welch Endowed Chair of Theology. He continues to serve as professor emeritus of Theology.[2][3]

## The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition

In 2009, Edwards advanced a controversial theory that the [synoptic Gospels](/source/Synoptic_Gospels) are partly dependent on the "Hebrew Gospel", which includes the [Gospel of the Hebrews](/source/Gospel_of_the_Hebrews), a syncretistic Jewish–Christian text believed by most scholars to have been composed in [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek), the [Hebrew Gospel hypothesis](/source/Hebrew_Gospel_hypothesis) of Lessing and others, and traditions of a writing of Matthew's supposed to have been written by him “in the [Hebrew language](/source/Hebrew_language)” (Papias) and [Hebrew Gospel of Matthew](/source/Hebrew_Gospel_of_Matthew), 1385, a rabbinical translation of Matthew's gospel.[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*][4][5][6] Edwards argues that patristic citations from "the Hebrew Gospel" correlate more distinctly and repeatedly with sections called "Special Luke" in the [Gospel of Luke](/source/Gospel_of_Luke) than with either the [Gospel of Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew) or the [Gospel of Mark](/source/Gospel_of_Mark).[7]

Two separate reviews were published by the [Society of Biblical Literature](/source/Society_of_Biblical_Literature) in which the reviewers were not convinced of Edwards' thesis.[8][9] [John S. Kloppenborg](/source/John_S._Kloppenborg) also reviewed Edwards' thesis negatively.[10]

Edwards also rejects the modern division, by [Schneemelcher](/source/Schneemelcher) and others, of the [Jewish-Christian Gospels](/source/Jewish-Christian_Gospels)' fragments into three or more separate lost Gospels.

## Works

### Commentaries

- Edwards, James R. (1992). *Romans*. NIBC. Vol. 6. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-943-57534-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-943-57534-6). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [24546901](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/24546901).

- ——— (2001). *The Gospel According to Mark*. [PNTC](/source/PNTC). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8028-3734-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8028-3734-9).

- ——— (2003). *Romans*. New Interpreter's Study Bible. Abingdon.

- ——— (2005). *Hebrews*. Renovare Study Bible. Harper.

- ——— (2015). *The Gospel According to Luke*. [PNTC](/source/PNTC). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8028-3735-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8028-3735-6).

- ——— (2012). *Romans*. Understanding the Bible (Reissue of the 1992 Hendrickson title ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0801046155](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0801046155).

### Other books

- ———; [Knight, George W.](/source/George_W._Knight), eds. (1987). [*The Layman's Overview of the Bible*](https://archive.org/details/laymansoverviewo00knig). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-840-77560-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-840-77560-3). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [15164774](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/15164774).

- ——— (1989). *A response to A theological understanding of the relationship between Christians and Jews*. Colorado Springs, CO: First Presbyterian Church. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780802862341](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780802862341). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [892924623](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/892924623).

- ——— (2000). *The Divine Intruder*. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-576-83201-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-576-83201-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [43296776](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/43296776).

- ———; [Knight, George W.](/source/George_W._Knight), eds. (2004). [*Compact Bible Handbook*](https://archive.org/details/nelsonscompactse00geor). Nelson's Compact Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-785-25246-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-785-25246-7). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [276406036](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/276406036).

- ——— (2005). *Is Jesus the Only Savior?*. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-802-80981-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-802-80981-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [57531370](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/57531370).

- ——— (2009). *The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition*. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-802-86234-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-802-86234-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [368048433](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/368048433).

- ——— (2019). *Between the Swastika and the Sickle: The Life, Disappearance, and Execution of Ernst Lohmeyer*. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0802876188](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0802876188).

- ——— (2021). *From Christ to Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the Church in Less than a Generation*. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1540961686](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1540961686).

- ——— (2026). *In the Beginning*. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0802879394](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0802879394).

### Articles

- ——— (1994). "The Authority of Jesus in The Gospel of Mark". *[Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society](/source/Journal_of_the_Evangelical_Theological_Society)*. **37** (2): 217–233.

- ——— (Autumn 2004). "The Servant of the Lord and the Gospel of Mark". *[Southern Baptist Journal of Theology](/source/Southern_Baptist_Journal_of_Theology)*. **8** (3): 36–49.

- ——— (2011). "Galatians 5:12: circumcision, the Mother Goddess, and the scandal of the cross". *[Novum Testamentum](/source/Novum_Testamentum)*. **53** (4): 319–337. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1163/156853611X578275](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F156853611X578275).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-EerdmansAuthor_1-0)** ["James R. Edwards"](https://www.eerdmans.com/author/james-r-edwards/). *Eerdmans Publishing Co*. Retrieved 2026-04-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Whitworth professor of theology releases groundbreaking new book about the gospels"](https://news.whitworth.edu/2010/04/whitworth-professor-of-theology.html). *Whitworth University News*. [Whitworth University](/source/Whitworth_University). Retrieved 15 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Emeriti Faculty"](https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/academics/emeriti-faculty/). *[Whitworth University](/source/Whitworth_University)*. Retrieved 15 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** The Whitworthian Monday, November 23, 2009 "Professor's book 'controversial' - News "Edwards said the Hebrew Gospel has remained largely unstudied in the theological world and, in his opinion, has been scandalously overlooked. "Most scholars don't know much about the Hebrew gospel and many deny that it existed," he said. Throughout history, Edwards said, Christians have been hesitant to accept a Hebrew ancestor to the gospels. The theory of the Hebrew Gospel is still unpopular with many in the theological world. Though no copies of the Hebrew Gospel are known to exist, Edwards' research and study of ancient manuscripts has convinced him to believe unwaveringly that it once did. "We know [the Hebrew Gospel] did exist because it was referred to about 100 times in the first nine centuries of Christianity," he said."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** The Whitworthian FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2010 [Whitworth professor of theology releases groundbreaking new book about the gospels - James Edwards challenges long-held "Q hypothesis," asserts existence of a Hebrew gospel](http://news.whitworth.edu/2010/04/whitworth-professor-of-theology.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Dallas Theological Seminary review](http://www.dts.edu/reviews/james-r-edwards-the-hebrew-gospel-and-the-development-of-the)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** James R. Edwards - The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition 2009 "In Chapters Two and Three I attempt to show that when the fathers actually quote from the Hebrew Gospel the quotations correlate more distinctly and repeatedly with Special Luke than with either Matthew or Mark. The fourth chapter shifts from a survey of the patristic tradition to a detailed discussion of Lukan Semitisms in which the above thesis is argued on the dual basis of philological evidence in Luke and the testimony of the prologue."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Friedrichsen, Timothy A. (2010). ["Book review: The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193749/http://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/7382_8043.pdf) (PDF). *Review of Biblical Literature*. Archived from [the original](https://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/7382_8043.pdf) (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2020-08-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sweeney, James P. (2010). ["Book review: The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201027050954/https://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/7382_8044.pdf) (PDF). *Review of Biblical Literature*. Archived from [the original](http://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/7382_8044.pdf) (PDF) on 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2014-02-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Kloppenborg, John S. (2011-04-14). ["The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition (review)"](https://muse.jhu.edu/article/422277). *Toronto Journal of Theology*. **27** (1): 109–111. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1353/tjt.2011.0000](https://doi.org/10.1353%2Ftjt.2011.0000). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1918-6371](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1918-6371). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [144873030](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:144873030).

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