Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Gospel of Matthew

Unit Code: 
BN456
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit is a detailed exegetical study of the Gospel of Matthew, with a particular focus upon the community responsible for the Gospel in relation to the Jewish world of its time and other varieties of the early Christian movement. Special emphasis will be given to the following themes: Christology (Jesus as Son of God and authoritative Interpreter of the Torah); the function of scripture; ecclesiology; parable interpretation; ethics; eschatology; the Passion; mission to the nations.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate a knowledge of the likely circumstances in early Christianity that gave rise to the Gospel of Matthew
  2. demonstrate an appreciation of the literary characteristics and distinctive themes of the Gospel
  3. appreciate the distinctive contribution of the Gospel to the construction of Christian ethics and spirituality
  4. provide an informed interpretation of the Gospel that is ethically responsible in regard to Jews and Judaism.
Lecturer/s: 
Dorothy Lee
Timetabling
Semester: 
Semester 1
Day: 
Thursday
Time: 
2:15 - 5:15
Location: 
Trinity College Theological School
Unit Frequency: 
Biennial
Years Offered: 
2011
Years Offered: 
2013
Unit Fields
Courses: 
Master of Arts (Theology)
Courses: 
Master of Theological Studies
Courses: 
Postgraduate
Field: 
Field B Biblical Studies
Disciplines: 
Biblical Studies
Disciplines: 
New Testament
Department Name: 
Department of Biblical Studies
Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

Lectures and tutorials

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours per week: 
12
Total workload hours for unit: 
144
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

1 x 6000 word essay

Weighting: 
100%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3, 4
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

Boring, M. Eugene. ‘The Gospel of Matthew,’ in L. E. Keck ed. The New Interpreter’s Bible. Vol. 8. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995. 87-505.

Bornkamm, G., Barth, G & Held, H. J. Tradition and interpretation in Matthew. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982.

Byrne, B. Lifting the burden: reading Matthew’s Gospel in the church today.  Strathfield: St Pauls Publications, 2004.

Davies, W. D. & Allison, D.C. The Gospel according to Saint Matthew (ICC). 3 Vols. Edinburgh: 1988-97.

Harrington, Daniel J.  The Gospel of Matthew (Sacra Pagina 1). Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1991.

Kingsbury, J. D. Matthew as story. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.

Luz, U. Matthew 1-7: A commentary (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1989.

Luz, U. Matthew 8-20: A commentary (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2001.

Meier, J. P. Matthew. Wilmington: Glazier, 1980.

Overman, J. Andrew. Matthew’s Gospel and formative Judaism: the social world of the Matthean Community. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990.

Senior, Donald.  What are they saying about Matthew? 2nd ed. New York: Paulist, 1996.

Stanton, G. (ed.) The interpretation of Matthew. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.