Matthew's Gospel and Formative Judaism: The Social World of the Matthean Community

by J. Andrew Overman

Book by Overman, J. Andrew

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 1990

Reviews

[Laura Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The million dollar question, of course, is the Boyarin issue -- is there such a thing as "the dominant form of Judaism" at the time that Matthew was written. (And I guess also the Bauckham "Is there such a thing as a Matthean community" question, but, eh). Still an interesting look at what makes Matthew distinct as a Gospel, what he is concerned about, and what specific social issues he is writing about. I enjoyed it.

[Justin Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, this is one of the best books in biblical studies I've ever read. Side stepping the issue of the Matthean community, this book shows how important it is to understand and know about the community of the author. Overman shows over and over again how stories and literary devices within the gospel are clues to struggles within the authors community. Especially in regards to Formative Judaism, he shows how the authors intent is to argue against the up and coming Jewish sect that is competing for followers. The argument and problem of "the law" within this gospel has clearly been laid to rest and is well understood. Matthew's intent on the topic was not that Jesus came to abolish, but that the Matthean community fulfills the law properly, and Formative Judaism does not. By "fulfill", it's meant that they follow the Torah laws correctly.

There is no getting around it for Christians. This is a thoroughly a text from a Jewish community, yet shows the losing battle it's facing with Formative Judaism. From the disputes of Jesus with the Pharisees, to the ending with the "great commission", the Matthean community appears to give up on the battle and tries to win the Gentiles instead. My conclusion may be wrong, but I feel it's the correct inference to be made from reading the text from beginning to end.