Narrative/Literary Approaches To Matthean Theology: the 'Reign of the Heavens' as an Example (Mt. 4.17-5.12)

Abstract

This paper identifies different ways in which narrative or literary approaches might conceive of doing Matthean theology: attention to 'traditional' textual features (plot, character, setting and point/s of view), to the experience, location and agenda of reading and readers, and its praxis consequences. A discussion of the symbol 'the reign of the heavens' (ή βασιλεία των oὐρανων) in Mt. 4.17-5.12 illustrates some of these possibilities with particular attention to imperial and socio-economic realities.