Introduction. The Elixir Of Life And Death -- The Book As Artifact -- Sociologies Of The Book In The Study Of Second Temple Judaism And Early Christianity -- The Textualization Of Mark's Gospel -- The Competitive Textualization Of The Synoptic Tradition -- The Competitive Textualization Of Johannine And Thomasine Tradition -- The Public Reading Of The Jesus Tradition In The First Three Centuries -- The Public Reading Of The Jesus Tradition And The Emergence Of Christian Identity -- Conclusion. The Gospel As Manuscript. Chris Keith. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Electronic Reproduction. Oxford Available Via World Wide Web.