What Are They Saying About Matthew? Revised and Expanded Edition

by Donald Senior CP

A Revised and Expanded Edition of What Are They Saying About Matthew? The sheer volume of scholarship on Matthew has grown even larger recently because of renewed interest in the Jewish background of Jesus and the New Testament. Donald Senior, distinguished biblical scholar, writer, and teacher, surveys a list of nearly one hundred new articles and books published in North America and internationally within the last decade. In a clear and readable fashion, Senior investigates and then explains the major issues that dominate the study of Matthew the background of the evangelist and his community, the structure and the purpose of the gospel, the relationship of the gospel to Judaism, and the gospel's portrayal of Jesus, discipleship, and church. What Are They Saying About Matthew? is a welcome resource for those who wish to benefit from this most comprehensive and reliable exploration of modern biblical scholarship. †

Genres: Theology

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1983

Reviews

[Laura Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series. So user friendly.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers an easy-to-read summary of recent scholarship on the Gospel of Matthew. I wouldn't recommend it for those just getting started with Bible study, but if you want to go a bit deeper, this book and (according to my New Testament professor) anything in the "What Are They Saying?" series from Paulist Press, is a great way to familiarize yourself with the latest academic chatter on a range of topics relating to Scripture. What Are They Saying about Matthew surveys areas of study like the setting and structure of the Gospel, Matthew's attitude toward the Law, Matthew's use of the Old Testament, Christology, and Matthew's view of discipleship and the Church. The chapter on the last topic provides a balanced summary of the perennially hot debate between Catholics and Protestants about Peter's role in the Church.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to its title (and the series), Senior gives a great overview of scholarly discussions about Matthew. However, this book is about 30 years old (older, in its first edition), and therefore has not tracked where scholarly discussions have moved since (Matthaen Posterity, Post-Colonial and Empire Critical Readings, etc.). Still, there are a number of things here that are useful. Senior discusses Matthew's Setting, Sources, Structure, his view of Salvation history, and use of the Old Testament, his attitude toward the law, Christology, and views on Discipleship and the Church.

There are points of disagreement for me, but nothing serious. This is a worthwhile book in orienting oneself to the contours of the debate.

[Dilshod Haydarov]

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