Matthew’s Gospel
Intro. to Matthew
• Jesus’ Identity:
– Matthew 1:1-25
• Genealogy of Jesus (1:1-17)
• Not clear how this is formed,
– What is the point of the Genealogy?
• Importance of the women; relationship to the O.T.; Are they Israelites?; Connection between Mary/Joseph?
• Joseph: What is his response to Mary's pregnancy?
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Angels & Demons: [This is NOT in your text]
-Birth of Jesus
• Matthew 1:18ff:
• “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:”
• Order of Creation in relation to Angels
Functions of Angels
Messengers:
• Gabriel:
– First seen in Daniel
– What does Gabriel also announce?
Hierarchical Organization
• St. Thomas Aquinas & St. Denis:
• Divide angels up into three hierarchies each of which contains three orders
“Evil Angels / Demons”
New Testament Demons:
• During the N.T. Era: the idea of 2 spiritual kingdoms has been clearly established.
• Jesus: References to Satan as “the Prince of this world” [John 12:31]; Other mentions?
Angels in Babylonian Literature
Angels in the New Testament
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Historical Background to Matthew:
Authorship, Date, Audience, and Outline of Matthew
• When does he write? What does he rely on?; What three places are suggested as locations for his authorship?
Historical Context II:
• Christian Jews were driven out of synagogues in the 80s
– Jesus's Family Map into Egypt
Audience:
5 Themes in Matthew
[Discourses]
Structure of the Gospel
[structural elements]
Discourse & Narrative: How the two are connected?
Chiastic Structure
• Matthew - doesn’t write in a linear fashion
• Chiasms = name for the literary pattern in which elements are related to each other in a certain way…
• One large example of a Chiasm can be seen in Matthew 28:18-20
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- O.T. Necessity:
1. Pelagius
2. Faustus (the Manichean) -- what does he say? What does this have to do with Matthew & the Christian community?
- 7 Responsibilities for the Church which Matthew outlines within his text...
- Parable of the Sower: What is the importance of this? What does the parable tell us?
- Jesus' Mission and Minstry: What is the main point of Jesus' lectures/discourses throughout the text of Matthew's Gospel?
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You'll also have to answer questions based on 2 of the following 5 passages:
1. Mt. 10:5-23
2. Mt. 7:1-5
3. Mt. 13:54-58
4. Mt. 21:1-7
