Synopses & Reviews
Matthew's community, contrary to what many scholars believe, was a cosmopolitan, wealthy Jewish Christian community located in Galilee. Gale concludes that Matthew's community was a conservative Christian community located in Galilee that still believed the laws of the Torah were valid and required strict adherence. Gale's argument contrasts with many scholars who argue that the Matthean church was in the process of, or had already abolished, the Torah. Gale uses material evidence to indicate that Matthew's community was cosmopolitan and wealthy, and he argues that the community was also highly learned, comprised of many scribes. Gale concludes that the Matthean church was located near Sepphoris and was a wealthy, urban, and learned community. >
Synopsis
Matthew's community, contrary to what many scholars believe, was a cosmopolitan, wealthy Jewish Christian community located in Galilee. Gale concludes that Matthew's community was a conservative Christian community located in Galilee that still believed the laws of the Torah were valid and required strict adherence. Gale's argument contrasts with many scholars who argue that the Matthean church was in the process of, or had already abolished, the Torah. Gale uses material evidence to indicate that Matthew's community was cosmopolitan and wealthy, and he argues that the community was also highly learned, comprised of many scribes. Gale concludes that the Matthean church was located near Sepphoris and was a wealthy, urban, and learned community. >
Table of Contents
PREFACE8INTRODUCTION10Research Topics and Presuppositions10A Final Note: The Case for Utilizing Rabbinic Sources in New Testament Study17CHAPTER 1: THE MATTHEAN COMMUNITY AND FORMATIVE JUDAISM27The State of Judaism following 70 C.E.27The State of Judaism in Galilee33The State of Christianity following the Jewish War41Struggles between Judaism and Jewish Christianity43Evidence of Tension in the Matthean Gospel49The Matthean Gospel as a Jewish Text51CHAPTER 2: TRADITION IN TRANSITION, OR ANTIOCH VS. SEPPHORIS:63RETHINKING THE MATTHEAN COMMUNITY'S LOCATION63Preliminary Observations: Matthew's Community as a City Church63The Matthean Community's Location: Antioch vs. Sepphoris70Sepphoris: The Home to the Matthean Community87CHAPTER 3: THE WEALTH OF THE MATTHEAN COMMUNITY96Galilean Economics: A First-Century View96Matthew as a Wealthy Galilean Community105The Matthean Community in the Context of the Roman Economy113Texts and Economics: The Existence of the Book Trade118CHAPTER 4: SCRIBES AND CONFLICTS: LEADERSHIP IN THE MATTHEAN COMMUNITY129The Role of the Scribe in the First Century129Jewish Education, the Scribe, and the Roman Empire137Matthew's View and Usage of the Term "Scribe"145Matthew the Scribe: The Transfiguration as Evidence156CHAPTER 5: EVIDENCE OF A LEARNED COMMUNITY163Matthew's Utilization of the Old Testament and Targums163Matthew's Jewish Exegetical Techniques178Matthew's Continued Use of Jewish Exegetical Techniques: The Kal Vehomer194The Matthean Gospel and Additional Literary Techniques207Unity, Irony, Allusion, Allegory, and Multiple Levels of Meaning217The Audience of Matthew: A Learned Group229Chapter Conclusions230CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS234Matthew: A Jewish Christian Community234The Location of the Matthean Community235The Wealth of the Matthean Community237The Crux of the Debate: Matthew as a Learned Community238WORKS CITED241Index