This study reconstructs the apocalyptic eschatology in Matthew's gospel so that we may understand Matthew's time and his concerns. Apocalyptic eschatology can be broadly defined as a comprehensive world view which emphasises the final judgement and its aftermath within a dualistic and deterministic framework. This distinctive and often vengeful vision of reality was vigorously adopted by Matthew and dominates his gospel. Sociological analysis of apocalypticism in Judaism and early Christianity has shown that such a world view was adopted by minority or sectarian groups which were undergoing great crises, and Dr Sim looks at the social setting of the Matthean commu- nity, which reveals that after the first Jewish war against Rome, it came into conflict with the Jewish and gentile worlds and the larger Christian church. The gospel of Matthew was held in high regard in the early church but may repel the modern reader with its division of humanity into righteous and wicked, and its emphasis on the fires of hell. But by understanding the social circumstances of the evangelist and his community, we can see that Matthew wrote not simply to condemn but out of an acute need to protect and enhance his community's sense of distinctiveness, and from pastoral concern for his troubled church. Dr Sim offers for the first time in English an extended and comprehensive analysis of Matthew's eschato- logical outlook which interprets his gospel in the light of contemporary literature which shares the same view. SOCIETY FOR NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES MONOGRAPH SERIES General editor: Margaret E. Thrall 88 APOCALYPTIC ESCHATOLOGY IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW Apocalyptic eschatology in the gospel of Matthew DAVID C. SIM Lecturer in New Testament, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521553650 © Cambridge University Press 1996 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1996 This digitally printed first paperback version 2005 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Sim, David C. Apocalyptic eschatology in the Gospel of Matthew / David C. Sim. p. cm. — (Society for New Testament Studies monograph series : 88) Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral)-King's College, London, 1992. Includes bibliographical references ISBN 0 521 55365 2 (hardback) 1. Bible. N.T. Matthew — Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Eschatology — biblical teaching. 3. Eschatology — History of doctrines — Early church, ca. 30-600. 4. Eschatology, Jewish. I. Title. II. Series: Monograph series (Society for New Testament Studies): 88. BS2575.2.S49 1996 226.2'06-dc20 95-17551 CIP ISBN-13 978-0-521-55365-0 hardback ISBN-10 0-521-55365-2 hardback ISBN-13 978-0-521-02063-3 paperback ISBN-10 0-521-02063-8 paperback To Robyn CONTENTS Preface page xii List of abbreviations xv Introduction 1 Part I: Apocalyptic eschatology and apocalypticism 21 1. The major characteristics of apocalyptic eschatology 23 1. The problem of terminology 23 2. The major characteristics of apocalyptic eschatology 31 2. The social setting of apocalypticism and the function of 54 apocalyptic eschatology 1. The social setting of apocalypticism 54 2. The functions of apocalyptic eschatology 62 Summary of Part I 70 Part II: Apocalyptic eschatology in the gospel of Matthew 73 3. Dualism and determinism in Matthew 75 1. Dualism 75 2. Determinism 87 3. Conclusions 91 4. Eschatological woes and the coming of the Son of Man 93 in Matthew 1. Jesus as the Son of Man 94 2. General references to the arrival of the Son of Man 96 3. Matthew's eschatological scenario 99 4. Conclusions 108 IX x Contents 5. The judgement in Matthew 110 1. The resurrection of the dead and the recreation of 110 the cosmos prior to the judgement 2. The judgement of the Son of Man 114 3. Conclusions 127 6. The fate of the wicked and the fate of the righteous in 129 Matthew 1. The fate of the wicked 129 2. The fate of the righteous 140 3. Conclusions 145 7. The imminence of the end in Matthew 148 1. The arguments against an imminent end expectation 149 in Matthew 2. The evidence in favour of an imminent end 155 expectation in Matthew 3. Conclusions 174 Summary of Part II 175 Part III: The social setting of the Matthean community and the 179 function of apocalyptic eschatology in the gospel of Matthew 8. The social setting of the Matthean community 181 1. The Matthean community and the Jewish world 182 2. The Matthean community and the gentile world 198 3. The Matthean community and the wider Christian 210 church 4. Alienation from the world at large 218 5. Conclusions 219 9. The function of apocalyptic eschatology in the gospel of 222 Matthew 1. Identification and legitimation 223 2. Explanation of current circumstances 224 3. Encouragement and hope for the future 225 4. Vengeance and consolation 227 5. Group solidarity and social control 235 6. Conclusions 241