Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor Publishes Sixth Book

WORCESTER, Mass. – Holden resident Frederick J. Murphy of the religious studies department at the College of the Holy Cross has just published his sixth book An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels (Abingdon Press).

An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels introduces readers to the four Gospels by discussing the variety of ways in which the Gosepls are studied, describing their historical, cultural and literary contexts, and analyzing each biblical gospel in depth. In addition, the book goes beyond biblical sources by surveying gospels outside the Bible. All gospels were written a generation or more after the death of Jesus, so the book also explains how historians attempt to study the historical Jesus. Also, there is a chapter on why Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were chosen for inclusion in the Bible, to the exclusion of others.

A member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1983, Murphy served as the Joseph Visiting Professor at Boston College, a one-year endowed chair, during the 2004-2005 academic year. He is an adjunct professor at Anna Maria College and has taught at Harvard Divinity School and Assumption College. He is a frequent lecturer in parishes throughout the Worcester Diocese.

Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, a master’s degree in religion and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian origins from Harvard University. He also studied at the Weston School of Theology and the University of London.

He is the recipient of the 2001 Distinguished Teaching Award, in recognition of his dedication to teaching at Holy Cross.