HEBREW MATTHEW and MATTHEAN COMMUNITIES By
HEBREW MATTHEW AND MATTHEAN COMMUNITIES by DEBRA SCOGGINS (Under the Direction of David S. Williams) ABSTRACT Shem-Tob’s Even Bohan contains a version of the Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew. By comparing canonical Matthew to Hebrew Matthew, the present study shows that Hebrew Matthew displays tendencies to uphold the law, support the election of Israel, exalt John the Baptist, and identify Jesus as the Messiah during his ministry. These tendencies suggest that Hebrew Matthew reflects a less redacted Matthean tradition than does canonical Matthew. The conservative tendencies of Hebrew Matthew reflect a Jewish-Christian community with characteristics in common with other early Jewish Christianities. The significance of studying such communities lies in their importance for “the partings of the ways” between early Judaisms and early Christianities. INDEX WORDS: Hebrew Matthew, Shem-Tob, Even Bohan, Jewish-Christian Community, Jewish Christianity, Matthean Communities HEBREW MATTHEW AND MATTHEAN COMMUNITIES by DEBRA SCOGGINS B.S., The University of Georgia, 2001 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS ATHENS, GEORGIA 2003 © 2003 Debra Scoggins All Rights Reserved HEBREW MATTHEW AND MATTHEAN COMMUNITIES by DEBRA SCOGGINS Major Professor: David S. Williams Committee: Will Power Caroline Medine Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2003 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you, my family, my friends and colleagues, and, my teachers. Family, thank you for your patience and unending support. Lukas, you are a great teammate, we are a great team. Among my friends and colleagues, I give special thanks to Jonathan Vinson and Christi Bamford.
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