THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Transcription

1 Class 2 THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW Tonight s Goals expose the tension between Paul and Matthew, gospel and law identify the features of Matthew s gospel structure and the themes it reveals pastoral context and resulting themes Matthew s Christology define redaction and see how Matthew edits Mark A DEVELOPING TRADITION: THE REDACTION OF THE GOSPELS 1

2 Recall the Timeline of Composition 6 BCE 29 CE JESUS Paul Mark Matthew Luke Acts Earlier traditions some opposed to Paul John Tension between Paul & Matthew An early debate in the Church Paul For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles,for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircum cised through faith. Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law. Romans 3:28-31 Matthew Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19 Recall the Timeline of Composition 6 BCE 29 CE JESUS Paul Mark Matthew Luke Acts Earlier traditions some opposed to Paul John some shared with Luke = Q some brand new and unique material 2

3 MATTHEW S UNIQUE MATERIAL: INFANCY STORY, GOSPEL STRUCTURE The Gospel of Matthew Your Observations The Gospel of Matthew An Outline Prologue Infancy Narrative 1:1 2:23 Book 1 Proclamation of the Kingdom 3:1 7:29 Book 2 Ministry & Mission in Galilee 8:1 10:42 Book 3 Questioning of/opposition to Jesus 11:1 13:52 Book 4 Christology & Ecclesiology 13:53 18:35 Book 5 Proclamation of the Kingdom 19:1 25:46 Climax Passion / Resurrection Narrative 26:1 28:20 3

4 The Gospel of Matthew The Genealogy Genealogy 1:1-17 Groupings Abraham to David David to the Exile Exile to Messiah What do all these groups share in common? Jesus is the fulfillment of Jewish history and of God s promises to the Jews What do these numbers signify? Jesus is the promised heir of David 14 = DVD in Hebrew Numbers d w d The Gospel of Matthew The Infancy Narrative as a Whole Genealogy 1:1-17 Joseph s dream 1:18-25 Isaiah 7:14 (1:22-23) The magoi and the king 2:1-12 Micah 5:1 (2:5-6) Flight into exile 2:13-15 Hosea 11:1 (2:15) Slaughter of infants 2:16-18 Jeremiah 31:15 (2:17-18) Exodus from Egypt 2:19-23 Unknown prophecy (2:23) The Gospel of Matthew Foreshadowing the Passion/Resurrection Infancy Narrative (1:1 2:23) a b c d e Emmanuel: God with us (1:24) Birth of ruler prophesied for Israel (2:1-6) Escape from death (2:1-15) Massacre of infants (2:16-18) Return to Israel (2:19-23) e' d' c' b' a' Journey to Jerusalem (21 25) Betrayal, arrest, execution (26 27) Escape from death via resurrection (28:1-8) Jesus assumes all authority on heaven and earth (28:16-20) I am with you always (28:20) Passion / Resurrection Narrative (21:1 28:20) 4

5 The Gospel of Matthew Carter s Outline: Kernels and Satellites slaughter/exodus 2:13-23 baptism 3:1-17 birth of king of Jews 2:1-12 genealogy 1:1-17 Conception & Commission of Jesus 1:18-25 kernel temptation 4:1-11 ministry begins 4:12-17 disciples, crowds 4:18-25 The Gospel of Matthew The Catechist s Gospel Five Sections Five Discourses Book 1 Proclamation of the Kingdom 3:1 7:29 Sermon on the Mount 5:1 7:29 Book 2 Ministry & Mission in Galilee 8:1 10:42 Mission discourse 10:1-42 Book 3 Questioning of/opposition to Jesus 11:1 13:52 Parable discourse 13:1-52 Book 4 Christology & Ecclesiology 13:53 18:35 Discourse on the church 18:1-35 Book 5 Proclamation of the Kingdom 19:1 25:46 Eschatological discourse 24:1 25:46 The Gospel of Matthew Pastoral Context & Resulting Themes Growing tensions with other synagogues A Jewish audience A consolidating εκκλησια Openness to Gentiles, but Jewish tradition remains the criterion THEMES Increasing blame on Jewish leaders for Jesus death But (intensified) law is still binding Christology focuses on Jewish hopes Disciples do better than in Mark; Peter as rock overtures to nations, but they too will be judged 5

6 The Gospel of Matthew Christology: The Fulfillment of Jewish Hopes Son of God virginal conception begotten by the Holy Spirit unique authority (superseding Moses) Emmanuel = God with us Son of David the true King of the Jews and messiah healing activity Prophet and lawgiver a prophet like Moses, but greater fulfillment of Jewish history Son of Man end-time judge of all nations REDACTION: HOW MATTHEW EDITS MARK Defining Synoptic a seeing together it refers to the three gospels that tell the story of Jesus in largely the same way 4 BCE 29 CE JESUS Paul Mark Matthew Luke Acts John 6

7 Defining Synoptic Matthew, Mark and Luke see the story together While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in saying, Matthew 9:18-19 [ and] knelt before him, My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. Mark 5:22-24 And one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus comes and seeing him falls at his feet and implores him repeatedly, My little daughter is at the point of death. Come so that you might lay the hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. And he went away with him. And behold, a man came named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at the feet of Jesus he implored him to come into his house, that he had an only daughter, about twelve years, and she was dying. went, Luke 8:41-42 As he the people choked round him. So What s the Problem? The Synoptic Problem Matthew-Mark-Luke are SO similar that they must share some sources in common But they are also different from each other So how do we explain their literary relationship? This question is called the synoptic problem Answering the Problem The Evidence Case 1 Some material is shared by Mark, Matthew and Luke. This is called the Triple Tradition. While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in saying, Matthew 9:18-19 [ and] knelt before him, My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. Mark 5:22-24 And one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus comes and seeing him falls at his feet and implores him repeatedly, My little daughter is at the point of death. Come so that you might lay the hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. And he went away with him. And behold, a man came named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at the feet of Jesus he implored him to come into his house, that he had an only daughter, about twelve years, and she was dying. went, Luke 8:41-42 As he the people choked round him. 7

8 Answering the Problem The Evidence Case 2 Some material is not in Mark at all, but is identical in Matthew and Luke. This is called the Double Tradition. Matthew 10:37-38 Mark Luke 14:25-26 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Great crowds accompanied him; and turning around he said to them, If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he is unable to be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, is not able to be my disciple. Answering the Problem The Evidence Case 3 Some material is only in Matthew, and some material is only in Luke. Matthew Mark Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Answering the Problem The Two-Source Solution Matthew and Luke used two shared sources for their gospels, Q (a list of sayings of Jesus) and the Gospel of Mark, in addition to their own unique material, to compose their gospels. 8

9 Matthew s Sources Two Shared Sources, Several Unique Ones 4 BCE 29 CE JESUS Q Paul Mark Matthew Luke Acts John Some unique material Proofs for the Two-Source Solution 1. Markan Priority The style and theology of Mark s gospel is rough. It s easier to explain how later authors cleaned up Mark than to argue that Mark abbreviated the other gospels and created an inferior narrative. While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in saying, Matthew 9:18-19 [ and] knelt before him, My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. Mark 5:22-24 And one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus comes and seeing him falls at his feet and implores him repeatedly, My little daughter is at the point of death. Come so that you might lay the hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. And he went away with him. And behold, a man came named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at the feet of Jesus he implored him to come into his house, that he had an only daughter, about twelve years, and she was dying. went, Luke 8:41-42 As he the people choked round him. Proofs for the Two-Source Solution 1. Markan Priority The style and theology of Mark s gospel is rough. It s easier to explain how later authors cleaned up Mark than to argue that Mark abbreviated the other gospels and created an inferior narrative. Matthew and Luke have all of Mark except 3 passages, and largely follow Mark s order. Meanwhile, there s a lot in Matthew and Luke that doesn t appear in the other or in Mark. 2. Q (Q stands for Quelle, the German word for source) It s reasonable to imagine that a list of Jesus sayings would have circulated. We ve never found it, but the Gospel of Thomas is like it. 9

10 Proofs for the Two-Source Solution Matthew 10:37-38 Mark Luke 14:25-26 Thomas 55 Great crowds accompanied him; and turning around he said Jesus said, He who loves to them, If any one comes to me and does not hate his own Whoever does not hate father or mother more than father and mother father and mother me is not worthy of me; and and cannot be my disciple, and he who loves son or daughter wife and children and whoever does not hate more than me is brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he is brothers and sisters, not worthy of me; and unable to be my disciple. he who does not take his cross and follow after me is Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, is and carry the cross as I do, will not worthy of me. not able to be my disciple. not be worthy of me. 2. Q (Q stands for Quelle, the German word for source) It s reasonable to imagine that a list of Jesus sayings would have circulated. We ve never found it, but the Gospel of Thomas is like it. Are Matthew and Luke Mere Copiers? It s important to both of them to preserve tradition It s equally important to edit it Are Matthew and Luke Mere Copiers? It s important to both of them to preserve tradition It s equally important to edit it Redaction is the activity of collecting, arranging, editing, and modifying sources to adapt their message to new circumstances and to the redactor s own theological perspective. 10

11 Identifying Matthew s Themes through his redaction of Mark Synopsis 1 (Workbook p. 30) The baptism of Jesus Synopsis 2 (Workbook p. 31) Sick healed at evening Gospel of Matthew Lectionary Coverage, Sundays & Feasts 11

12 Gospel of Matthew Manuscript Evidence There are 1,812 manuscripts of Matthew; 27 of these date to the first 600 years of Christian history Matthew 21:34-37 P104 / poxy 4404 Century Manuscript Extent 100s P104 8 verses in chapter s 3 papyri parts of chapters 3, 5, 13, 14, s 5 papyri parts of chapters 1 4, 20 21, s 3 papyri parts of chapters 4, 10, s 6 papyri parts of chapters 5, 10 11, 18 19, all 03 all 058, 0231, 0242 parts of chapters 8 9, 13, 18, c most 400s 02 only 25:7 on 04 most 500s 032 all D. C. Parker, An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and Their Texts (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008)