Heavenly Imagery and Symbolism in Matthew’s Gospel
Ebook
The present study explores the role of heavenly imagery and symbolism in the Gospel of Matthew. Historical background and narrative criticism are my main methods because the Old Testament and Second Temple Jewish texts form the historical backgrounds for the understanding of Matthew's heaven and Matthew uses heavenly imagery and symbolism to highlight his main themes in the gospel as a whole. This study investigates Matthew's distinctive materials and important texts having to do with heaven, exploring their meanings and establishing their roles in each narrative section. Matthew describes heaven as the space where certain events reveal God's plan of salvation. Heaven is associated with such key matters as revelation and judgment. Each major discourse of Matthew focuses on heavenly imagery with judgment at its end, culminating in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt 25:31-46).
“This wonderful book helps us to see a familiar text with fresh eyes. It shows how heaven plays a vital role in Matthew’s story of Jesus and that his confrontation with the High Priest is about which of them has truly entered the divine realm and so bears legitimate authority. The insights found here deserve to be widely read.”
—Stephen Finamore, principal emeritus, Bristol Baptist College
“Daehoon Kang is not the first to draw attention to the importance of heaven imagery for Matthew’s project, but going on from the work of others, he brings many fresh insights and develops and clarifies what has gone before. The role of the heavenly imagery is yet more important than others have realized.”
—John Nolland, lecturer in New Testament, Trinity College Bristol
- Title: Heavenly Imagery and Symbolism in Matthew’s Gospel
- Author: Daehoon Kang
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666783933, 9781666783926, 1666783927, 9781666783919, 1666783919, 1666783935
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666783933
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-12-05T22:37:36Z
Daehoon Kang is assistant professor of New Testament at Chongshin University and Seminary in South Korea. He is the coauthor of Sola Scriptura in Asia (2018).