An Overview of the GospelBy Timothy Thiem

Date Written: 80-90 (give or take a decade)

Locale: Antioch region Author

Traditional: Matthew, a tax-collector, wrote either the Gospel

or a collection of the Lord’s sayings in Aramaic.

Author Detectable from Contents A Greek-speaker, who knew Aramaic and/or

Hebrew and was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry, drew on Mark and a collection of the sayings of the Lord (Q), as well as other available traditions, oral or written. Probably a Jewish Christian.

Purpose: To instruct and encourage members of his

community To provide liturgical reading and sermon

material To offer a missionary address to outsiders of

good will As well as attacks on hostile critics and rivals

Compared to Mark, restores dignity of Apostles

1. The Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7)2. The Missionary Discourse (10)3. The Parable Discourse (13)4. The Community Discourse (18)5. The Apocalyptic Judgment Discourse (23-

25)

Primary Intention: To write a handbook for church leaders to

assist them in preaching, teaching, worship, mission, and argument.

a) Introductionb) The Kingdomc) The Churchd) Use of the Old Testament

Focus: Jesus as the Christ The coming of the kingdom of God

Son of God-key occurrences The Baptism Peter’s Confession The Transfiguration The Trial The Cross

Kingdom of Heaven Object of

Hope Prayer Proclamation

Unifies entire Gospel The Five Discourses Provides eschatological goal

Kingdom of Heaven God’s Promise of Salvation

Redeem humanity Earth & Heaven In Time & Eternity Socially & Politically Personally

Entails Justice Peace Joy

Apostles Peter at head Share the authority of Christ himself

Prophets Scribes Sages

Humility is emphasized as a necessity for leadership “Anyone can fall”

Prophets may be false Church is mixture of saint and sinner until the

end

Worldwide mission Apostolic Life Missionary Life

God united with us through Jesus Christ The new people of God

Outcasts of old Israel Gentile converts

10-12 Old Testament quotations Formulated:

“This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet”

Half occur in infancy story Others relate to Jesus’

Public ministry Entry into Jerusalem Passion Death

Old Testament quotations Reflect Matthew’s conviction that Jesus came

“not to destroy but to fulfill” the promises of the past

Suggest Matthew’s conviction that one could find explanations of the puzzling or shocking aspects of Jesus’ story through the Old Testament Death on cross Rejection of his mission by Jewish leaders and

their followers

Brown, Raymond E., An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: DoubleDay, 1997).

Brown, R., eds, The New Jerome Bible Handbook (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1992).