Synoptic Gospels and Acts

Director: Fr. Randy Soto

Johnson Lopez

April 5, 2008

The Gospel According to Matthew: NJBC.

Introduction

Authorship: Date and Place of Composition: the authorship of the Gospel as an eyewitness has been questioned because some variations made by the translator from Aramaic to Greek language. It is uncertain to know who wrote the whole Gospel of Matthew on Greek from the Aramaic language. What can be found in the Gospel itself is that the evangelist was an earlier Christian teacher and Church leader. The text could also be a work made by a biblical school and accepted by a major local church.  The write contained some internal puzzles which could be understood as representing different current of opinion within the same community. Other explanation could be the existence of an earlier and later tradition. While some authors say that these differences could be the result of a peculiar work of literary art but from the same author.

The character of the Gospel:   From the beginning this Gospel had been seen from the Jewish-Christian point of view. Other perspective holds that the final stage of the Gospel is Gentiles-Christians and that the contact with Judaism has been broken. The Gospel, however, represents a predominantly Jewish-Christian outlook, though open to the Gentiles mission.

Date and Composition: Matt had been composed after Mark circa A.D. 64-69. Some authors talk about Judea as the place of composition. Other modern theories have suggested Antioch, Tyre or Sidon, southern Syria, even Alexandria and Edessa.

Literary Structure and Content: the evangelist is faithful to the tradition that had received but also he made a new shape with emphasis in his writing’s style. The purpose in writing is variety; to instruct and exhort members of his community, also to offer a missionary address to outsiders of good will, as well as apologetic work directed to some opponents. He employed in his Gospel narrative and discourse.

Matthean Theology:  His theology has two focuses: first, Jesus as the Christ, and second, the Kingdom of God with Jesus proclamation. Important themes around this two focuses are: Baptism, Peter’s Confessions, and the confession of faith of the Church, the transfiguration, the trial and the cross. The kingdom of God is the great object of hope, prayer and proclamation that unify the whole Gospel. The Moral content leads the Gospel to the law and justice. Justices to Matt is the prompt human response with obedience to God’s will. The Pharisaic development of the law is rejected in favor of Jesus’ interpretation of the law.  Jesus speaks about the Ten Commandments, the love for the neighbor insofar as they have an ethical aspect.

Other characteristics of Matt are his concern for the Church, the lost sheep, the little ones, forgiveness, and humility. Matt does not have the ministry hierarchy such bishop, priest, and deacon but he speaks about the educated leaders or scribes. There are apostles like Peter who share the authority of Jesus. After the apostles, the prophets, scribes, and sages came.