Gospel Of Matthew Research Paper

Matthew, considered a Gospel based on the premise that it describes the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Gospel translated into narrative form means ‘good news’ and the preferred standard to communicate the mystery of Christ. It is the committing to write of a narrative born of the faith-filled vision, theological perspective and pastoral concerns of the evangelist (Mullins 2007, VI). Rudolf Bultmann saw the gospel as an original Christian creation that centered on faith; cult and pastoral concerns arising from and illustrating the Christian Kerygma (Mullins 2007, IV). Kerygma is a fancy Greek word that is the very heart of the gospel, the core message of the Christian faith that all believers call to proclaim. There

Comparisons made between a Gospel and the stylistic writings of the Roman Bios which captures the essential idea of the character and teaching of Jesus in an almost biographical framework. A gospel is not just an interesting story about a great person of the past. Neither is it an academic theological treatise.

Date, Authorship and Influence

Scholars and theologians widely believe that the Gospel of Matthew dates back to around the early eighties of the first century. Most likely Matthew originated near Syria due to the contention it sought a larger, more urban audience and that after the death of Stephen there was a large influx of Hellenistic Jewish Christians making their way to the areas of Antioch (Mullins 2007, IV). There are three main sources for

Galilee can interpreted under the metaphor of “circular” so those believers from Galilee are like wheels rolling against the pits of destruction (Simonetti 1971, 74). Galilee was considered farming and fishing as the main source of industry. The place of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee was Capernaum on the northwestern shore of the sea of Galilee (Harrington 1991, 74) Decapolis is a Greek word meaning the “country of ten towns” signifying those breaking the Ten Commandments (Aquinas 1995, 144). These ten towns were mostly Hellenistic in culture and resided east of Galilee. The towns named by Pliny the elder as Damascus, Philadelphia, Raphana, Scythopolis, Gadara, Hippos, Dion, Pella, Gerasa and Canatha (Harrington 1991, 71). From beyond the Jordan: They who were first planted in paganism passed the waters of Baptism and came to Christ (Aquinas 1995, 144). Bethabara beyond the Jordan is professedly where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. 9:35 In all the cities and villages: Seen in the passages of Matthew 4:3 and in Mark "and he went about the villages teaching" (Mark 6:6). The Pharisees looked for every reason to vilify Jesus and put a negative spin on his deeds and deny him. Jesus himself hurried to them, bearing them a twofold blessing: the gospel of