Hello to you, I will try to post on this very lightly - periodically through out the week. Jesus is the one who is the solution to all problems (that trouble us in our souls), and he is the one who is needed to help allow light to shine in.
The first thing that needs to be addressed first is the introduction.
Introduction: Circumstances of Writing
Author: The author did not identify himself in the text. However, the title that ascribes this Gospel to Matthew appears in the earliest manuscripts and is possibly original. Titles became necessary too distinguish one Gospel from another when the four Gspels began to circulate as a single collection. Many early church fathers (Papias, Irenaeus, Pantaenus, and Origen) acknowledged Matthew as the author. Papias also contented that Matthew first wrote in Hebrew, implying that this Gospel was later translated into Greek.
Many modern scholars dispute these traditional claims, for instance, against Papias they argue this Gospel was not originally written in Hebrew since the Greek of Matthew does not appear to be translation Greek. They further argue that if the early church, following Papia's opinion, was wrong about the original language, they are likely incorrect about the author as well. However, the excellent Greek of Matthew could have been produced by a skilled translator of an original Hebrew text. Furthermore, there are many hints of Hebraic influence in this Gospel. Finally since Hebrew quickly ceased to be the dominant language of the early Christians as the church expanded into Gentile territories, requiring the GOspel to circulate in a Greek translation, the absence of ancient Hebrew texts of Matthew is not surprising. Even if Papias ws wrong about the original langue of the GOspel of Matthew, this does not imply that he and other early church leaders were wrong to identify Matthew as the author of this Gospel. In fact the early church unanimously affirmed that the Gospel of Matthew authored by the apostle Matthew. It would require impressive evidence to overturn this early consensus.
Clues from the GOspel itself support its ascription to Matthew. First, both Mark 2:14, and Luke 5:27 identify the tax collector whom Jesus called to be his disciples as "Levi." This Gospel however, identifies Levi as "Matthew" (Hebrew for "Gift of God") to Levi when He summoned him to be a disciple, but it was not uncommon for Jews at that time to have two names (like Sail and Paul). The use of "Matthew" in this Gospel may be Matthew's personal touch, a self-reference that gives us a clue about authorship.
Background:
Determining the date of composition of Matthew's Gospel depends large on the relationship of the Gospels to one another. Most scholars believe that Matthew utilized Mar's Gospel in wring his own gospel. If this is correct, Matthew's Gospel must postdate Mark's. However, the date of Mar's Gospel is also shrouded in mystery. Irenaeus (ca AD 180) seems to claim that Mark wrote his Gospel after Peter's death in the mid-60s. However, Clement of Alexandria, who wrote only 20 years after Irenaeus, claimed that Mark wrote his Gospel while Peter was still alive. Given the ambiguity of the historical evidence, a decision must be based on other factors.
The date of compassion for Mark is best inferred from the date of Luke and Acts. The abrupt ending of Acts implies that Acts was written before Paul's release. Since one of the major themes of Acts is the legality of Christianity in the Roman Empire, one would have expected Luke to mention Paul's release by the emperor if it had already occurred. This evidence dates Acts to the early 60s. Luke and Acts were two voluments of a single work, as the prologues to these books demonstrate. Luke was written before Acts. Given the amount of research that Luke invested in the book and the travel that eyewitness interviews probably required, a date in the late 50's is reasonable. If Luke used Mark in writing his own Gospel, as seems likely, by implication Mark was written sometime before the late 50s, perhaps the early to mid-50s. Thus, despite Matthew's dependence on Mark, Matthew may have been written anytime beginning in the mid-50s once Mark was completed. The earliest historical evidence is consistent with this opinion since Irenaeus (ca AD 180) claimed that Matthew wrote his gospel while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome (early 60s)
Message and Purpose
Mathew probably wrote his Gospel in order to preserve written eyewitness testimony about the ministry of Jesus. Matthew's Gospel emphasizes certain theological truths. First, Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited King of god's people. Secondly, Jesus is the new Abraham, founder of a new spiritual Israel comprising all people who choose to follow Him. This new Israel will consist of both Jews and Gentiles. Third, Jesus is the new Moses, the delivered and instructor of GOd's people. Fourth, Jesus is the Immanuel, the virgin-born Son of God who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament.
Contributions to the Bible
As the first book in the NT, the GOspel of Matthew serves as a gateway between the two testaments. Of the NT books, and certainly of the four Gospels, Matthew has the strongest connections to the OT. Matthew gave us God's entire plan from Genesis to Revelation. Matthew looked back and referred to Hebrew prophecies about 60 times ("was fulfilled" and "that it might be fulfilled"_. He also looked forward by dealing not only with Messiahs coming, and His ministry, but also HIs future plan fo this church and kingdom.
Structure
Matthew devised his Gospels into three major sections He introduced new major sections with the words "From that time"(Matt 4:17; Matt 16:21). These transitional statements divide the Gospel into the introduction (1:1-4:16), body (4:17-16:20) and conclusion (16:21-28:20). Matthew also divided his Gospel into five major bloods of teaching, each of which concludes a summary statement (8:!; 11:1;13:53; 19:1; 26:1). Some scholars believe these five major discourses were mean tot correspond to the five Books of Moses and to confirm Jesus identity as the New Moses.
Credit to the source: NKJV Large-Print Holman Study Bible, Custom Edition--soft leather-look, brown For @Christophany; Just borrowing for the introduction.
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The first thing that needs to be addressed first is the introduction.
Introduction: Circumstances of Writing
Author: The author did not identify himself in the text. However, the title that ascribes this Gospel to Matthew appears in the earliest manuscripts and is possibly original. Titles became necessary too distinguish one Gospel from another when the four Gspels began to circulate as a single collection. Many early church fathers (Papias, Irenaeus, Pantaenus, and Origen) acknowledged Matthew as the author. Papias also contented that Matthew first wrote in Hebrew, implying that this Gospel was later translated into Greek.
Many modern scholars dispute these traditional claims, for instance, against Papias they argue this Gospel was not originally written in Hebrew since the Greek of Matthew does not appear to be translation Greek. They further argue that if the early church, following Papia's opinion, was wrong about the original language, they are likely incorrect about the author as well. However, the excellent Greek of Matthew could have been produced by a skilled translator of an original Hebrew text. Furthermore, there are many hints of Hebraic influence in this Gospel. Finally since Hebrew quickly ceased to be the dominant language of the early Christians as the church expanded into Gentile territories, requiring the GOspel to circulate in a Greek translation, the absence of ancient Hebrew texts of Matthew is not surprising. Even if Papias ws wrong about the original langue of the GOspel of Matthew, this does not imply that he and other early church leaders were wrong to identify Matthew as the author of this Gospel. In fact the early church unanimously affirmed that the Gospel of Matthew authored by the apostle Matthew. It would require impressive evidence to overturn this early consensus.
Clues from the GOspel itself support its ascription to Matthew. First, both Mark 2:14, and Luke 5:27 identify the tax collector whom Jesus called to be his disciples as "Levi." This Gospel however, identifies Levi as "Matthew" (Hebrew for "Gift of God") to Levi when He summoned him to be a disciple, but it was not uncommon for Jews at that time to have two names (like Sail and Paul). The use of "Matthew" in this Gospel may be Matthew's personal touch, a self-reference that gives us a clue about authorship.
Background:
Determining the date of composition of Matthew's Gospel depends large on the relationship of the Gospels to one another. Most scholars believe that Matthew utilized Mar's Gospel in wring his own gospel. If this is correct, Matthew's Gospel must postdate Mark's. However, the date of Mar's Gospel is also shrouded in mystery. Irenaeus (ca AD 180) seems to claim that Mark wrote his Gospel after Peter's death in the mid-60s. However, Clement of Alexandria, who wrote only 20 years after Irenaeus, claimed that Mark wrote his Gospel while Peter was still alive. Given the ambiguity of the historical evidence, a decision must be based on other factors.
The date of compassion for Mark is best inferred from the date of Luke and Acts. The abrupt ending of Acts implies that Acts was written before Paul's release. Since one of the major themes of Acts is the legality of Christianity in the Roman Empire, one would have expected Luke to mention Paul's release by the emperor if it had already occurred. This evidence dates Acts to the early 60s. Luke and Acts were two voluments of a single work, as the prologues to these books demonstrate. Luke was written before Acts. Given the amount of research that Luke invested in the book and the travel that eyewitness interviews probably required, a date in the late 50's is reasonable. If Luke used Mark in writing his own Gospel, as seems likely, by implication Mark was written sometime before the late 50s, perhaps the early to mid-50s. Thus, despite Matthew's dependence on Mark, Matthew may have been written anytime beginning in the mid-50s once Mark was completed. The earliest historical evidence is consistent with this opinion since Irenaeus (ca AD 180) claimed that Matthew wrote his gospel while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome (early 60s)
Message and Purpose
Mathew probably wrote his Gospel in order to preserve written eyewitness testimony about the ministry of Jesus. Matthew's Gospel emphasizes certain theological truths. First, Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited King of god's people. Secondly, Jesus is the new Abraham, founder of a new spiritual Israel comprising all people who choose to follow Him. This new Israel will consist of both Jews and Gentiles. Third, Jesus is the new Moses, the delivered and instructor of GOd's people. Fourth, Jesus is the Immanuel, the virgin-born Son of God who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament.
Contributions to the Bible
As the first book in the NT, the GOspel of Matthew serves as a gateway between the two testaments. Of the NT books, and certainly of the four Gospels, Matthew has the strongest connections to the OT. Matthew gave us God's entire plan from Genesis to Revelation. Matthew looked back and referred to Hebrew prophecies about 60 times ("was fulfilled" and "that it might be fulfilled"_. He also looked forward by dealing not only with Messiahs coming, and His ministry, but also HIs future plan fo this church and kingdom.
Structure
Matthew devised his Gospels into three major sections He introduced new major sections with the words "From that time"(Matt 4:17; Matt 16:21). These transitional statements divide the Gospel into the introduction (1:1-4:16), body (4:17-16:20) and conclusion (16:21-28:20). Matthew also divided his Gospel into five major bloods of teaching, each of which concludes a summary statement (8:!; 11:1;13:53; 19:1; 26:1). Some scholars believe these five major discourses were mean tot correspond to the five Books of Moses and to confirm Jesus identity as the New Moses.
Credit to the source: NKJV Large-Print Holman Study Bible, Custom Edition--soft leather-look, brown For @Christophany; Just borrowing for the introduction.
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