What was the purpose of Matthew’s Gospel?
The writer of the gospel of Matthew wanted to show that Jesus was the Messiah the Jews had been expecting and that his coming fulfilled Old Testament prophecies . Thus, the Christian faith came directly from Judaism. Here are some examples that show evidence of this purpose of Matthew’s gospel.
Who wrote the Gospel of Matthew and why?
It has traditionally been attributed to St. Matthew the Evangelist, one of the 12 Apostles, described in the text as a tax collector (10:3). The Gospel According to Matthew was composed in Greek, probably sometime after 70 ce, with evident dependence on the earlier Gospel According to Mark.
How did Matthew write his Gospel?
Writing in a polished Semitic “synagogue Greek”, he drew on the Gospel of Mark as a source, plus the hypothetical collection of sayings known as the Q source (material shared with Luke but not with Mark) and material unique to his own community, called the M source or “Special Matthew”.
What are the main themes of Matthew’s Gospel?
Every page of Matthew’s Gospel is steeped in this theme of promise and fulfillment. The Gospel begins with the announcement that, “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” followed by a detailed genealogy of 41 generations!
What is unique about the Gospel of Matthew?
The Gospel of Matthew mainly differs from the other gospels due to its heavily Jewish perspective. He also quotes the Old Testament far more than any of the other gospels. He spends a great deal of time pointing out references from the Torah present in Jesus’ teachings.
When was Matthew’s Gospel written?
About 15 years after Mark, in about the year 85 CE, the author known as Matthew composed his work, drawing on a variety of sources, including Mark and from a collection of sayings that scholars later called “Q”, for Quelle, meaning source. The Gospel of Luke was written about fifteen years later, between 85 and 95.
What is Matthew’s theology?
Thus, Matthew’s gospel is Christocentric, and any responsible treatment of the theology of his gospel must emphasize Matthew’s Christology… Matthew’s primary concern is to reveal Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of God, and Immanuel, to his readers…