Stevens dates Matthew as being published in AD 31–38 and Mark as AD 38–44. Again, this is on the premise that the resurrection was in AD 30. Stevens notes the parallels between Matthew 24 (the Olivet Discourse) and Paul's letters to the Thessalonians as a basis for arguing that Matthew…
In Against Heresies 3.1.1, Irenaeus correlates Matthew's publication with when Peter and Paul began preaching in Rome, which I argue refers to Rome, the empire. This article reviews a similar usage of Rome, as the empire, found in 1 Maccabees 8.
In 1792, John Eveleigh delivered the annual Bampton Lectures at Oxford. At the time, Eveleigh was the provost of Oriel College, one of the colleges of Oxford, and prebendary of Rochester Cathedral. The lectures were published under the title: A View of Our Religion: With Regard to its Substance, With…
In a prior article it was observed that Oliver Buswell acknowledged that his interpretation of the Olivet Discourse was impacted by his assumptions regarding the date of Matthew’s Gospel. I suggest that publication assumptions can likewise impact one’s interpretation and application of the Sermon on the Mount. Specifically, I suggest…
As I have searched out those who affirmed an early publication of Matthew, I have particularly appreciated the writings of Thomas Townson. Born in Essex, Townson (1715–1792) was educated at Oxford’s Magdalen College, was ordained in 1742, ministered in Blithfield, and for an extended period was the Rector of the…
Read my article over at Sharper Iron. Pastor, at some point this year you will be providing background context for the NT passage which you are about to preach, guiding your flock in properly visualizing the world of Jesus and the apostles, so that your people might better connect with…
How do assumptions regarding the publication date of Matthew’s Gospel and Matthean priority affect our interpretation of the book? Previously, we looked at how J. Oliver Buswell’s belief that Matthew was published after Paul’s writings impacted his identification of the elect in the Olivet Discourse. Today, we consider the identity…
Who are the elect in the Olivet discourse? For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for…
I have asserted that the writings of the apostles were immediately recognized as Scripture (e.g., 1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15–16; 2 Tim. 3:16). And further, that Galatians refers to something like Matthew’s Gospel, which was “previously written” prior to Paul’s first visit to Galatia. Here is my translation of…
Tillemont was born in Paris in 1637 and became a priest in 1676. Shortly thereafter he retired to an abbey near Paris, but subsequently moved to his family estate (Tillemont) near Paris, where he completed two masterful works, one on ecclesiastical history and the other on the history of the…