Book Summary
The Gospel of Matthew and Its Readers is a biblical commentary with adifference. Howard Clarke first establishes contemporary scholarship's mainstreamview of Matthew's Gospel, and then presents a sampling of the ways this text hasbeen read, understood, and applied through two millennia. By referring forward toMatthew's readers (rather than back to the text's composers), the book exploits thetensions between what contemporary scholars understand to be the intent of theauthor of Matthew and the quite different, indeed often eccentric and bizarre waysthis text has been understood, assimilated, and applied over the years. Thecommentary is a testament to the ambiguities and elasticity of the text and a cogentreminder that interpretations are not fixed, nor texts immutably relevant. Andunlike other commentaries, this one gives space to those who have questioned, rejected, or even ridiculed Matthew's messages, since Bible-bashing, likeBible-thumping, is a historically significant part of the experience of reading theBible.
Book Details
| Book Name | The Gospel Of Matthew And Its Readers: A Historical Introduction To The First Gospel |
| Author | Howard W. Clarke |
| Publisher | Indiana University Press (Aug 2003) |
| ISBN | 9780253342355 |
| Pages | 328 |
| Language | English |
| Price | 3981 |