First-Century Gospel Storytellers and Audiences

“Every great artist eventually puts together a collection of their greatest hits. The essays in this volume are no different. This ‘best of Boomershine’ includes recent reflections on the state of performance and several of the influential studies that have marked Boomershine’s trailblazing career.”


—Kelly R. Iverson, editor of From Text to Performance





“To read these essays is to be escorted on a journey of discovering a whole new world: the sounds of the biblical text when . . . experienced through computer and screen and earbud. These essays are a clarion call to the church to continue to gather scholars and storytellers and audiences in the adventure of exploring together this new world of communication as the medium for arousing . . . our passion for the healing reign of God.”


—Adam Bartholomew, co-author of Healing All Creation





“Boomershine has been instrumental in awakening us all to the importance of media for interpretation. His first chapter is an excellent introduction to the different characteristics of oral, manuscript, print, and electronic media. The other chapters bring alive texts as performed orally and experienced aurally. What a difference performance makes!”


—Joanna Dewey, author of Oral Ethos of the Early Church





“For some time now, the question is being asked what difference it makes whether the Gospels are orally performed or privately apprehended in silent readings. Boomershine offers deeply insightful observations about the Gospels’ auditory data and performative function. This highly accessible book demonstrates how the Gospels of Mark and John are appropriately being processed through the sensory gateways of the ears. This is performative criticism at its very best.”


—Werner H. Kelber, author of The Oral and the Written Gospel