Matthew and the History of its Interpretation

Abstract

Over the past two decades, scholars have become increasingly interested in the history of the interpretation (Wirkungsgeschichte) of Matthew. Four lessons are already obvious. First, the history of interpretation helps us to evaluate contemporary proposals about intertextuality. Second, some credible interpretations that were once popular have unaccountably fallen out of the modern commentaries and need to be recovered. Third, engagement with earlier interpreters helps us to understand better our own context and to appreciate our limitations. Finally, the post-history of texts can be viewed as belonging to the revelatory process itself.