Thomas Townson’s arguments for an early Matthew

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 Lower Mediety of Malpas, in Cheshire.¹ His Discourses on the Four Gospels began as a series of sermons first preached in Blithfield; these sermons were subsequently re-preached at Magdalen, in 1771.² Following the publication of the Discourses in 1778, he was awarded an honorary Doctor in Divinity by the College.³ I take this honor as a general affirmation of the positions which Townson argued, on behalf of the luminaries of the College. More on his life can be found in the preface to The Works of the Reverend Thomas Townson, published in 1810.

In his introduction to the Discourses, Townson declares his conviction that the “Gospels were composed in the order in which they stand; [or] at least that St. Matthew’s was the first and St. John’s the last; that St. Matthew wrote early in Jerusalem or Judea,” and that Matthew was “compiled within a few years of our Lord’s ascension, while the church consisted wholly of the circumcision, that is, of Jewish and Samaritan believers, but principally Jewish believers; to whose use it was admirably suited.”⁴ In his first discourse, he proceeds to give an “account of the peculiar design of each Gospel and [to] show to what state of the church it was adapted.”⁵ The second discourse explores the writings of the early church fathers, concerning the origin of the Gospels. This is followed, in the third discourse, with comparisons between the Gospels to demonstrate that each writer had seen the prior Gospels. The subsequent discourses assess the design, date, place of origin, audience, sequence, etc. of each of the four Gospels.

I want to encourage the present reader to seek out Townson’s Discourses and to explore his many arguments for an early Matthew. As an enticement, here are several arguments which I find particularly compelling from his third discourse. These concern his belief that “a Gospel should be first and early published at Jerusalem.”⁶ [I will apologize that this first item is a bit difficult to read, but you can get the sense of it.]

1. It had been repeatedly promised to the house of Israel, that out of Zion should go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2]. Which Divine Promise received a more complete accomplishment, and the house of Israel had the preeminence in every thing relating to the kingdom of God; if the law or word, written as well as preached, first went forth from Zion to all other churches, as from a mother to the daughters.
2. At the giving of the law from mount Sinai there was an oral promulgation of the commandments, and they were written in two tablets of stone.
3. The method of joining oral and written notifications of the same things appears to have been judged by the Apostles the surest method: for thus they acted, when they issued their decree concerning rites to be observed by the converted Gentiles. It was sent to Antioch by message and in writing. And if they were so careful, that their own decree should be justly evidenced and published, we cannot suppose them less solicitous, that the life and doctrine of their blessed Lord should be proposed to believers in an ample and satisfactory a manner.
4. Myriads of Jews who had embraced the faith were yet zealous of the law. And it is well if expectations of a temporal kingdom, and an inveterate confidence in rites and ceremonies did not still operate on the minds of the multitude, and require line on line, precept on precept, to teach them the spiritual nature of Christ’s kingdom, and that it demanded internal and universal obedience. These truths were indeed inculcated by the preaching of the Apostles; but if their followers were to read Moses and the prophets in their houses, it was fit that they should have opportunity of studying the law of Christ in the same manner.
5. But a great number of them could seldom hear the instructions of the Apostles, who according to ancient and constant tradition resided wholly in Judea for several years after the ascension. And though the Gospel was at first preached only to the Jews, it was not limited to Judea, but spread beyond it. Many converts were made of those who came to Jerusalem only on solemn occasions, and for the rest of the year lived in other countries far distant from it. These converts must naturally desire to carry home with them a written Gospel for their own sake and for the promotion of the faith.⁷

Free scans of the book are available for download at archive.org.

1. Ralph Churton, “Account of the Author,” in The Works of the Reverend Thomas Townson, vol. 1 (London: John Nichols and Son, 1810), vii, x, xvi–xvii. ↩︎
2. Ibid., xxxi–xxxii. ↩︎
3. Ibid., xxxv. ↩︎
4. Thomas Townson, Discourses on the Four Gospels, Chiefly with Regard to the Peculiar Design of Each, and the Order and Places in Which They Were Written (Oxford: Clarendon, 1778), 3–4. ↩︎
5. Ibid., 3. ↩︎
6. Ibid., 75. ↩︎
7. Ibid., 75–76. ↩︎

NOTE: Comments and dialog are welcome. The “Leave a Reply” field will be accessible below for 10 days after this post was published. Afterwards, please feel free to continue to comment via the contact page. (This is my attempt to manage the spam bots.)