Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society

The role of the Torah is the subject of a full-scale discussion in the first Gospel. This article investigates the socio-historical setting that produced this text with such an emphasis on Torah observance. To address these issues, the Matthean text is read against its socio-historical setting to di...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Francois P. Viljoen
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: AOSIS 2015-06-01
Series:In die Skriflig
Subjects:
Online Access:https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/1946
_version_ 1811302403405774848
author Francois P. Viljoen
author_facet Francois P. Viljoen
author_sort Francois P. Viljoen
collection DOAJ
description The role of the Torah is the subject of a full-scale discussion in the first Gospel. This article investigates the socio-historical setting that produced this text with such an emphasis on Torah observance. To address these issues, the Matthean text is read against its socio-historical setting to discover issues that were prevalent in the community where the text was produced and read. The Matthean community is plotted within the Jewish religious society, focussing on therole of the Torah within this society. It is argued that the crisis of 70 CE led to a reconsideration of the correct interpretation of the Torah. The Jewish society was fragmented and this led to an urge to consolidate. During these developments the Torah was used by newly formed communities to define their norms of existence against others. In the first Gospel, the author defines his and his community’s position on the terms of specific Torah observance. The narrator assures his community of the correctness of their conviction to follow the teachings of Jesus. Matteus en die Torah in die Joodse samelewing. Die betekenis van die Torah is die onderwerp van ’n grootskaalse bespreking in die eerste Evangelie. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die sosio-historiese situasie wat aanleiding gegee het tot die ontstaan van hierdie teks wat soveel klem op die onderhouding van die Torah plaas. Om hierdie vraagstuk te ondersoek, word die Matteusteks in sy sosio-historiese konteks gelees ten einde die heersende vraagstukke in die gemeenskap waarbinne die teks ontstaan het, te identifiseer. Die Matteusgemeenskap word binne die Joodse godsdienstige gemeenskap gesitueer met die fokus op die Torah in daardie gemeenskap. Die artikel voer aan dat die krisis van 70 AE tot die herbesinning vandie korrekte interpretasie van die Torah gelei het. Die Joodse gemeenskap was gefragmenteer en dit tot ’n strewe na konsolidasie gelei. Te midde van hierdie ontwikkelings, is die Torah deur nuut-gevormde gemeenskappe gebruik om hulle eie norme van bestaan teenoor dié vanander te definieer. In die eerste Evangelie definieer die outeur sy en sy gemeenskap se posisie in terme van spesifieke Torah-onderhouding. Die verteller verseker sy gemeenskap van die korrektheid van hulle oortuigings om die leringe van Jesus na te volg.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T07:27:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f7a06f301e4b4467b59bd9d98fcd3705
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1018-6441
2305-0853
language Afrikaans
last_indexed 2024-04-13T07:27:28Z
publishDate 2015-06-01
publisher AOSIS
record_format Article
series In die Skriflig
spelling doaj.art-f7a06f301e4b4467b59bd9d98fcd37052022-12-22T02:56:26ZafrAOSISIn die Skriflig1018-64412305-08532015-06-01492e1e610.4102/ids.v49i2.19461927Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish societyFrancois P. Viljoen0Faculty of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe role of the Torah is the subject of a full-scale discussion in the first Gospel. This article investigates the socio-historical setting that produced this text with such an emphasis on Torah observance. To address these issues, the Matthean text is read against its socio-historical setting to discover issues that were prevalent in the community where the text was produced and read. The Matthean community is plotted within the Jewish religious society, focussing on therole of the Torah within this society. It is argued that the crisis of 70 CE led to a reconsideration of the correct interpretation of the Torah. The Jewish society was fragmented and this led to an urge to consolidate. During these developments the Torah was used by newly formed communities to define their norms of existence against others. In the first Gospel, the author defines his and his community’s position on the terms of specific Torah observance. The narrator assures his community of the correctness of their conviction to follow the teachings of Jesus. Matteus en die Torah in die Joodse samelewing. Die betekenis van die Torah is die onderwerp van ’n grootskaalse bespreking in die eerste Evangelie. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die sosio-historiese situasie wat aanleiding gegee het tot die ontstaan van hierdie teks wat soveel klem op die onderhouding van die Torah plaas. Om hierdie vraagstuk te ondersoek, word die Matteusteks in sy sosio-historiese konteks gelees ten einde die heersende vraagstukke in die gemeenskap waarbinne die teks ontstaan het, te identifiseer. Die Matteusgemeenskap word binne die Joodse godsdienstige gemeenskap gesitueer met die fokus op die Torah in daardie gemeenskap. Die artikel voer aan dat die krisis van 70 AE tot die herbesinning vandie korrekte interpretasie van die Torah gelei het. Die Joodse gemeenskap was gefragmenteer en dit tot ’n strewe na konsolidasie gelei. Te midde van hierdie ontwikkelings, is die Torah deur nuut-gevormde gemeenskappe gebruik om hulle eie norme van bestaan teenoor dié vanander te definieer. In die eerste Evangelie definieer die outeur sy en sy gemeenskap se posisie in terme van spesifieke Torah-onderhouding. Die verteller verseker sy gemeenskap van die korrektheid van hulle oortuigings om die leringe van Jesus na te volg.https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/1946TorahMatthewidentityMatthean communityJewish society
spellingShingle Francois P. Viljoen
Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society
In die Skriflig
Torah
Matthew
identity
Matthean community
Jewish society
title Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society
title_full Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society
title_fullStr Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society
title_full_unstemmed Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society
title_short Matthew and the <i>Torah</i> in Jewish society
title_sort matthew and the i torah i in jewish society
topic Torah
Matthew
identity
Matthean community
Jewish society
url https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/1946
work_keys_str_mv AT francoispviljoen matthewandtheitorahiinjewishsociety