Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

INTRODUCTION. 143
ture of tlie case, sucli arguments have a very uncertain charac-
ter ; much, if not every thing, depends on the feeling, and es-
pecially on the doctrinal views of the critic. Hence the opinions
of the learned dififer greatly from each other ; where one sees a
proof against the apostolical authorship of Matthew, another sees a
testimony in its favour. We cannot, therefore, ascribe any importance
to the results of internal criticism, as long as they are unsup-
ported by historical proofs. (For further information on this sub-
ject consult the Programmes mentioned in the note.)
Lastly, in reference to the place and time of the composition of
the Gospel by Matthew, but little can be said. Doubtless it was
•written in Palestine, and even in Jerusalem itself, since the tradi-
tion of Matthew's labours points thither. The circumstance, that
the Hebrew recension of the Gospel, under the title of evayye?uov
KaO' 'EiSpaiovg [Gospel according to the Hebrews], was in use prin-
cipally among the Jewish Christians in Palestine, also implies that
it was composed in that country, and for its inhabitants. The
Greek recension may certainly have had its origin in another
country ; yet there are no data to enable us to decide accurately
upon the point, and it is just as possible that Matthew, in
consequence of the very general use of the Greek tongue in Pales-
tine, in the time of the apostles, may have prepared a Greek edition
of his Gospel for the benefit of the Hellenistic Jews who dwelt
there. The supposition of the Greek Gospel originating in any
other country is liable to this objection, that there are no remarks
added illustrative of the localities and customs of Palestine,
such as we find in Mark and Luke, and which, in that case, would
have been equally necessary in Matthew. Eespecting the time of
the composition we are totally destitute of express authority. The
statement oi Irenceus (adv. hcer. iii. 1), however, that it was written
while Peter and Paul were preaching at Eome, comes, probably,
very near the truth. According to Matth. xxiv., the Gospel was cer-
tainly written before the destruction of Jerusalem, since this event,
though near at hand, appears as still future. We can hardly, therefore,
be wrong in placing the composition of Matthew somewhere
between A. d. 60-70.
And, in conclusion, to say something on the distinctive charac-
ter of Matthew, it is clearly seen, as was before observed, to be this,
that Matthew labours to prove for Jewish readers that Jesus is the
Messiah foretold by the prophets. The special regard for Jeveish
readers shows itself at the very commencement, in that the gene-
alogy of Jesus is traced up to Abraham only ; it appears also in
langeu Easter Programme for the year 1835, and the Christmas Programme for 1836.
On Sioflert'a "Work see the Author's Review in Tholuck's Liter. Anz. Jahrg. 1833. No.
14, fif.