Synopses & Reviews
Israel, Church, and the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew addresses one of the central theological problems of Matthew's Gospel: what are the relationships between Israel and the Church and between the mission to Israel and the mission to the Gentiles? To answer these questions, Matthias Konradt traces the surprising transition from the Israel-centered words and deeds of Jesus (and his disciples) before Easter to the universal mission of Jesus' earliest followers after his resurrection.
Through careful historical and narrative analysis, Konradt rejects the interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew that the Church replaced Israel in God's purposes--that is, the interpretation that because Israel rejected Jesus as Israel's Messiah, the Church replaced Israel in the role of God's chosen people. Konradt instead discovers in Matthew that the Israel- and universally-centered dimensions of God's saving purposes are far more positively connected. Matthew develops a narrative that features Jesus' identity as both the messianic Son of David
and the universal Son of God. What developed into a mainly Gentile Church should never think of itself as the "new" or "true" Israel; rather, according to Matthew's Gospel, the Church represents an extension of the promises first made to Israel and now inclusive of the Gentiles.
Review
"Israel, Church, and the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew is full of original observations and fresh arguments. Konradt has built a new foundation for all future work on the crucial topic of Israel and the Church in Matthew's Gospel."
—Dale C. Allison, Jr., Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary
Review
"This is a major synthetic work on Matthean ecclesiology that captures a strong trend in current Matthean studies…Through his meticulously argued and heavily documented thesis, Konradt has presented a view of Matthews ecclesiology that is compelling and comprehensive.”
—Donald Senior, Catholic Theological Union, in Review of Biblical Literature (April 23, 2013) for the German edition
About the Author
Matthias Konradt is Professor of New Testament at Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg.
Wayne Coppins is Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Georgia.
Kathleen Ess is a doctoral student in New Testament Studies at Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Focus on Israel in the Ministry of Jesus and His Disciples
3. Reactions to Jesus' Ministry in Israel
4. Consequences of Negative Reactions to Jesus' Ministry
5. Israel and the Gentiles
6. Israel and the Church
7. Considerations on the Situation of the Matthean Community
8. Summary