In literary works, endings are critical; an author’s conclusion to a story or an argument is intended to shape our understanding of the whole.

In this engaging and deceptively simple study, a companion volume to her much-praised Beginnings, Morna D. Hooker explores the final pages of each of the four Gospels and the book of Acts, and attempts to uncover the specific messages that the Evangelists hoped to convey to their readers.

Nearly all of the Old Testament books have forward-looking conclusions. What, then, is the significance of the way in which these New Testament documents end?

“This enticing book by well-know British biblical scholar Morna Hooker uses an interesting a+S5pproach. She studies the distinctive ending of each of the four gospel narratives as an illustration of their theological diversity and their characteristic portrayal of Christian discipleship. How, in other words, is the Christian directed as the gospel story concludes? This book on ‘endings’ is the sequel to an earlier work by the same author entitled Beginnings (London: SCM Press, 1997) which explored how each of the Gospels began its story of Jesus and how such beginnings were a preview of each Gospel’s theological perspective.”

"Hooker’s work is well worth reading, and its brevity makes it an attractive option for the busy pastor or teacher who wants to take a fresh look at the Gospels. One might not agree with some or all of Hooker’s contentions, but her book provides a convenient reason to revisit the Gospels’ inspired endings."

Morna D. Hooker is is Lady Margaret’s Professor Emerita in the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Robinson College. Her recent books include: From Adam to Christ: Essays on St Paul (1990); A Commentary on The Gospel According to St Mark (1992), Not Ashamed of the Gospel (1994), The Signs of a Prophet (1997), and Paul: A Short Introduction (2003). She is editor of Black’s New Testament Commentaries, and has been joint editor of the Journal of Theological Studies since 1985