The Theme of Jewish Persecution of Christians in the Gospel According to St Matthew

by Douglas R. A. Hare

Overview

It has long been recognized that in the Gospel according to St Matthew the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees has been intensified and it has often been suggested that this intensification reflects the continued struggle between the Church and the synagogue. The theme of Jewish persecution of Christians in the Gospel according to St Matthew is examined in this book with two questions in mind: 1. Has Matthew exaggerated the severity of the persecution? 2. How has the persecution influenced Matthew's theology? Professor Hare examines the historical data relating to the suffering imposed upon the Christians and refers to Rabbinic literature and Christian sources other than Matthew in order to evaluate Matthew's portrayal of the persecutions. He concludes that persecution was directed primarily against Christian missionaries, not against rank-and-file Christians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521020459
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/06/2005
Series:	Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series , #6
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.55(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. General remarks on the nature of the conflict between Jews and Christians; 2. Survey of the data of Jewish persecution of Christians in sources other than Matthew; 3. References to Jewish persectuion of Christians in the Gospel according to St Matthew; 4. Matthew's understanding of the causes of persecution; 5. The Christian response to persecution by the Jews as evidenced by Matthew; 6. Summary and conclusions; Appendices; Bibliography; Indices.