Apocalyptic Eschatology in the Gospel of Matthew - Hardcover

by David C. Sim (Author)

This study reconstructs the apocalyptic eschatology in Matthew's Gospel so that we may understand his time and concerns. Sociological analysis of apocalypticism in Judaism and early Christianity shows that such a comprehensive world view, which emphasized the final judgement and its aftermath within a dualistic and deterministic framework, was adopted by minority or sectarian groups undergoing a situation of great crisis. The Matthean community, after the first Jewish war against Rome, came into conflict with Judaism, gentiles and the larger Christian movement. Matthew's distinctive vision must be set against both his acute need to enhance his community's sense of itself and his pastoral concern.

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This study reconstructs the apocalyptic eschatology in Matthew's gospel so that we may understand Matthew's time and his concerns. Apocalyptic eschatology can be broadly defined as a comprehensive world view which emphasises the final judgement and its aftermath within a dualistic and deterministic framework. This distinctive and often vengeful vision of reality was vigorously adopted by Matthew and dominates his gospel. Sociological analysis of apocalypticism in Judaism and early Christianity has shown that such a world view was adopted by minority or sectarian groups which were undergoing great crises, and Dr Sim looks at the social setting of the Matthean community which reveals that after the first Jewish war against Rome it came into conflict with the Jewish and Gentile worlds and the larger Christian church. Dr Sim offers for the first time in English an extended and comprehensive discussion of Matthew's eschatological outlook which interprets his gospel in the light of contemporary literature which shares the same view.