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Matthew and the Gentiles: Individual Conversion and/or Systemic Transformation?

Saint Paul School of Theology, 5123 Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64127, wcarter{at}spst.edu

Matthew’s relationship to the Gentile world has been a somewhat neglected dimension of recent discussion. When the topic has been examined, two issues have been to the fore, namely whether Matthew’s largely Jewish community engages in mission to convert Gentiles, and if so, on what terms do converted Gentiles belong to the community. It is argued here that the individualistic and religious focus of the discussion ignores Matthew’s macro-theological and socio-political framing of, and systemic engagement with, the Gentile (Roman imperial) world. Discussion of seven aspects of the Gospel (1.1; evoking Isaiah in 1.23 and 4.15; Satan’s role; representative Gentiles; Pilate; parousia; discipleship in the meantime) sustains the argument that Matthew engages the Gentile world systemically with a much broader focus on God’s just and transforming reign.

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