Jesus's Social Network and the Four Gospels: Exploring the Relational Dynamics of the Gospels Using Social Network Analysis

Building on recent studies of Jesus's social network, this article seeks to explore how the relational dynamics surrounding Jesus's life and ministry are depicted differently in the canonical Gospels. Using different perspectives and methods than those usually employed by biblical scholars, the network analyses provide rich illustrations and descriptions of structural dynamics that have not traditionally been the focus of Gospel scholarship. Analyses examine the extent to which the Gospels' social networks overlap, as well as differences in levels of relational prominence and in relational structures across the Gospels. The results provide a unique window into the relational dynamics portrayed by the Gospels, producing a variety of insights, some which may not surprise biblical scholars but others which hopefully will inspire further consideration.