Christology, Torah, and Ethics in the Gospel of Matthew - (Baylor-Mohr Siebeck Studies in Early Christianity) by Matthias Konradt (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Christology, Torah, and Ethics in the Gospel of Matthew, the tenth and final volume in the Baylor-Mohr Siebeck Studies in Early Christianity series, brings together seven of Matthias Konradt's most important essays on the Gospel of Matthew. Together they highlight key themes of this major early Christian text and demonstrate its formative role in shaping both the identity and theology of the growing Christian movement. The first chapter on the context of Matthew is foundational. It presents the main points of controversy in recent scholarship on the relationship of the Matthean community to Judaism, identifies the interpretive problems that underlie the disagreements, and sketches out perspectives for subsequent scholarship. The next two chapters deal with central aspects of Matthean Christology: chapter 2 with the Davidic-messianic aspects of Matthean Christology and chapter 3 with the character of the Son of God concept in Matthew alongside the controversial question of the meaning of righteousness in Matthew. With chapters 4 and 5, Konradt works out his sophisticated understanding of Matthew's Torah hermeneutic, giving special attention to the interpretation of the antitheses in the Sermon on the Mount and to Matthew's reception and interpretation of the decalogue. Finally, with the analysis of mercy in chapter 6 and the detailed interpretation of the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 in chapter 7, the last two chapters show that Matthean ethics are not exhausted in the interpretation of the Torah. Rather, in the way the Gospel of Matthew brings together Old Testament and early Jewish heritage with an orientation toward the ethical potential of the Christ event, it proves to be one of the main testimonies of New Testament ethics." --

Book Synopsis

Christology, Torah, and Ethics in the Gospel of Matthew, the tenth and final volume in the Baylor-Mohr Siebeck Studies in Early Christianity series, brings together seven of Matthias Konradt's most important essays on the Gospel of Matthew. Together they highlight key themes of this major early Christian text and demonstrate its formative role in shaping both the identity and theology of the growing Christian movement.

The first chapter on the context of Matthew is foundational. It presents the main points of controversy in recent scholarship on the relationship of the Matthean community to Judaism, identifies the interpretive problems that underlie the disagreements, and sketches out perspectives for subsequent scholarship. The next two chapters deal with central aspects of Matthean Christology: chapter 2 with the Davidic-messianic aspects of Matthean Christology and chapter 3 with the character of the Son of God concept in Matthew alongside the controversial question of the meaning of righteousness in Matthew. With chapters 4 and 5, Konradt works out his sophisticated understanding of Matthew's Torah hermeneutic, giving special attention to the interpretation of the antitheses in the Sermon on the Mount and to Matthew's reception and interpretation of the decalogue.

Finally, with the analysis of mercy in chapter 6 and the detailed interpretation of the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 in chapter 7, the last two chapters show that Matthean ethics are not exhausted in the interpretation of the Torah. Rather, in the way the Gospel of Matthew brings together Old Testament and early Jewish heritage with an orientation toward the ethical potential of the Christ event, it proves to be one of the main testimonies of New Testament ethics.

Review Quotes

Konradt's intensive study of the Gospel of Matthew for over a decade has equipped him with keeninsights into the Christology, hermeneutics, and ethics of the Gospel of Matthew. His applicationof redaction criticism and narrative criticism and his appeals to lexicography, Greek syntax, andintertextuality consistently lead to persuasive exegetical conclusions. More important, this book has the potential to advance understanding of the historical context, theology, and ethics of the Gospel of Matthew in significant ways and even to settle long-standingdebates about the relationship of the Matthean community to Judaism and Matthew's view of thetorah.

--Charles L. Quarles, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary "Society of Biblical Literature"

This book provides an excellent introduction to the major debates in recent Matthean scholarship. More important, this book has the potential to advance understanding of the historical context, theology, and ethics of the Gospel of Matthew in significant ways and even to settle long-standing debates about the relationship of the Matthean community to Judaism and Matthew's view of the torah. All future work on these issues must engage the arguments detailed in this important volume.

--Charles L. Quarles "Review of Biblical Literature"

About the Author

Matthias Konradt is Professor of New Testament at the Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg. His works translated into English include Israel, Church, and the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew and The Gospel according to Matthew: A Commentary.

Wayne Coppins is Professor of Religion at The University of Georgia.

Simon Gathercole is Reader in New Testament Studies at the University of Cambridge.