Aform of ancient biography, the gospel of Matthew proclaims the “good news” of God’s salvation of the world manifested in Jesus. The gospel does not identify its author. Second- century Christian writers associate it with the name “Matthew,” but their reason is unclear. Twice the gospel identifies a Matthew as one of Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 9:9; 10:3); however, he is probably not the author since the gospel was likely written after his death. One theory proposes that the name symbolically evokes the similar Greek word for “disciple” or “learner” (mathetes) to suggest that the gospel’s ideal reader is a disciple learning to follow the ways of Jesus. Another theory argues that indeed the name honors the disciple Matthew, who played an important role in teaching and leading the community of followers from which and for whom the gospel was written after Jesus’ death. Similarly the gospel does not identify its place of writing. Most scholars locate its origins in Antioch, capital of the Roman province of Syria, though some suggest Galilee. Support for Antioch comes from references the gospel itself makes to Syria in Matthew 4:24; the prominence it gives to the disciple Peter, who was influential in the Antioch church (Galatians 1-2); and the gospel’s influence on later Christian writings from Syria.
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