book of matthew

[Dr. Waite]

Was the book or gospel according to Matthew originally written in Hebrew? If Matthew originally wrote the book of Matthew in Hebrew, was the textus receptus translated from the book of Matthew which was originally written in Hebrew?

[Gerr]

Language experts claim that Matthew does not sound like a translation. We only have the word of the 3rd century church father Papias who thought that Matthew originally wrote in Hebrew. Others claim he may have written in both Hebrew & Greek, much like Calvin was able to write just as fluently in both Latin & French.

[Dr. Waite]

It may have been earlier than the 3rd century:

"In search of what language was used during the time of Christ, we find some interesting clues. Scholar George Howard, in his book "The Gospel of Matthew According to the Primitive Hebrew Text," quotes an early second century writing by Papias (ca. 60-130 A.D.), bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor, as stating that "Matthew collected the oracles in the Hebrew language."

[Dr. Waite]

Historical quotations:

Papias (150-170 CE) - Matthew composed the words in the Hebrew dialect, and each translated as he was able. [A quote by Eusebius; Eccl. Hist. 3:39]

Ireneus (170 CE) - Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect. [Against Heresies 3:1]

Origen (210 CE) - The first [Gospel] is written according to Matthew, the same that was once a tax collector, but afterwards an apoltle of Jesus Christ who having published it for the Jewish believers, wrote it in Hebrew. [A quote by Eusebius; Eccl. Hist. 6:25]

Eusebius (315 CE) - Matthew also, having first proclaimed the Gospel in Hebrew, when on the point of going also to the other nations, committed it to writing in his native tongue, and thus supplied the want of his presence to them by his writings. [Eccl. Hist. 3:24]

Epiphanius (370 CE) - They [The Nazarenes] have the Gospel according to Matthew quite complete in Hebrew, for this Gospel is certainly still preserved among them as it was first written, in Hebrew letters. [Panarion 29:9:4]

[Ron Amnsn]

Acts 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. (ESV)

What was the difference between the Hellenist Jews and the Hebrew Jews. Which were the minority?

Since the time of the Maccabees the Hellenist Jews had been viewed as traitors who had compromised with the Greek enemy.

Why wouldn't Hebrew Jews speak Hebrew and write the Gospels in Hebrew?

Act 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek? (ESV)

If Greek was the language commonly spoken in Jerusalem in the first century, why would the tribune ask Paul if he knows Greek?

Paul then addressed the mob in Hebrew:

Act 21:40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

It appears that Hebrew was the language used in Jerusalem during the time of the apostles.

[B Humble]

The original text was Aramaic. That is why the direct reading if mt.16:16-18 is "And I say to you, that you are Kepha and upon this Kepha, O will build my church...". Jesus Christ also spoke the Aramaic language,

[John317]

Was the book or gospel according to Matthew originally written in Hebrew? If Matthew originally wrote the book of Matthew in Hebrew, was the textus receptus translated from the book of Matthew which was originally written in Hebrew?

It's possible but there's no way to know for sure, and all of the oldest manuscripts of Matthew are in the Greek language. There's no compelling evidence to believe Matthew was originally written in Hebrew, nor that the Textus Receptus was translated from a Hebrew text of Matthew.

[John317]

It's referring to the Aramaic in the book of Acts. Aramaic was the main language of Jesus' day in Jerusalem.

[B Humble]

Yes, what Jesus spoke in the Aramaic was, " I say unto You, Simon Barjona, you ARE Kepha, and upon this Kepha, I will Build my church..." The apostle Paul in Galatians, 2:9, calls Peter, by his Christ given title and name, "Kepha ". Or Cephas in the Greek.

[John317]

The original text was Aramaic. That is why the direct reading if mt.16:16-18 is "And I say to you, that you are Kepha and upon this Kepha, O will build my church..."

There's no proof that Matthew originally wrote his Gospel in Aramaic. The vast majority of Bible scholars do not believe it was. All we have are the ancient Greek texts, and these are what we must base our Bible study and translations on, not on some supposed Aramaic text.

Even assuming that such a text once existed, it would be conjecture to believe we can know today exactly what that Aramaic text said.

[B Humble]

We know what Christ said, because the the scripture itself tells us. The apostle Paul called Peter by his Christ given name, "Kepha"

[B Humble]

We know what Christ said, because the the scripture itself tells us. The apostle Paul called Peter by his Christ given name, "Kepha"

Matthew composed the words in the Hebrew dialect, and each translated as he was able. (Papias, 150-170 CE, quoted by Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 3:39)

Matthew also issued a written gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect. (Ireneus, 170 CE, Against Heresies 3:1)

The first is written according to Matthew, the same that was once a tax collector, but afterwards an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah, who having published it for the Jewish believers, wrote it in Hebrew. (Origen circa 210 CE, quoted by Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 6:25)

The epistle to the Hebrews he asserts was written by Paul, to the Hebrews, in the Hebrew tongue; but that it was carefully translated by Luke, and published among the Greeks. (Clement of Alexandria, Hypotyposes, referred to by Eusebius in Eccl. Hist.6:14:2)

He (Shaul) being a Hebrew wrote in Hebrew, that is, his own tongue and most fluently; while things which were eloquently written in Hebrew were more eloquently turned into Greek. (Jerome, 382 CE, ‘Lives of Illustrious Men,' Book V)

Very few peoplle in Christ's time spoke or read Hebrew. The general Hebrew public spoke and read Aramaic. A gospel written in Hebrew would have been of read by very few because, it was not the common language of the day.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt what Christ said and named Simon when he renamed him , KEPHA, the very name and title, the apostle Paul calls Him in Galatians

[B Humble]

Gelatins 2:9.  9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.