Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness

One of the first characters to appear in the New Testament and the first person to be called "righteous" is Joseph, the husband of Mary. Though he speaks no words and only appears in the earliest stories (Matt 1:18-25; 2:13-23), Joseph becomes a key exemplar of virtue for the Gospel of Mat...

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Main Author: Jonathan Pennington
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc. 2021-06-01
Series:Journal of Moral Theology
Online Access:https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/24526-joseph-the-just-and-matthew-s-matrix-of-mercy-the-redefinition-of-righteousness
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author Jonathan Pennington
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description One of the first characters to appear in the New Testament and the first person to be called "righteous" is Joseph, the husband of Mary. Though he speaks no words and only appears in the earliest stories (Matt 1:18-25; 2:13-23), Joseph becomes a key exemplar of virtue for the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew employs Joseph as a righteous man as an exemplar of Jesus's redefinition of "righteousness" as mercy. Contrary to many contemporary Jewish assumptions, in Matthew Jesus emphasizes that right action before God is largely defined as showing mercy toward others.
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spelling doaj.art-db4fb47eb5b8457bbf568c6fbcd8849f2024-09-12T22:46:30ZengThe Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.Journal of Moral Theology2166-28512166-21182021-06-0110SI1Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of RighteousnessJonathan PenningtonOne of the first characters to appear in the New Testament and the first person to be called "righteous" is Joseph, the husband of Mary. Though he speaks no words and only appears in the earliest stories (Matt 1:18-25; 2:13-23), Joseph becomes a key exemplar of virtue for the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew employs Joseph as a righteous man as an exemplar of Jesus's redefinition of "righteousness" as mercy. Contrary to many contemporary Jewish assumptions, in Matthew Jesus emphasizes that right action before God is largely defined as showing mercy toward others.https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/24526-joseph-the-just-and-matthew-s-matrix-of-mercy-the-redefinition-of-righteousness
spellingShingle Jonathan Pennington
Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness
Journal of Moral Theology
title Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness
title_full Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness
title_fullStr Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness
title_full_unstemmed Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness
title_short Joseph the Just and Matthew’s Matrix of Mercy: The Redefinition of Righteousness
title_sort joseph the just and matthew s matrix of mercy the redefinition of righteousness
url https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/24526-joseph-the-just-and-matthew-s-matrix-of-mercy-the-redefinition-of-righteousness
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