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Chapter 4 traces instances where the Synoptic authors self-consciously draw attention to their tradition’s status as written in bids for authority, often in reference to prior Gospels that they consider inferior. An initial section introduces the terms “textual self-consciousness” and “competitive textualization.” Following this section, the chapter addresses moments in each of the Synoptic Gospels where the author or authors draw attention to their status as written tradition. For Mark, the chapter highlights Mark 13:14, though it also shows how Mark is aware of Jewish Scriptures and positions himself with reference to them. For Matthew, the chapter makes an original scholarly contribution by focusing upon Matthew 1:1’s reference to the Gospel as a biblos (“book”), which shows that what Mark considered a “gospel” Matthew considered a “book.” For Luke, the chapter focuses upon the Lukan prologue of Luke 1:1–4, and specifically Luke’s awareness that he is entering a market for Jesus books by writing his Gospel.

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