The New Testament: Matthew

Abstract

Chapter 11 explores the revolution in human thought that took place with the birth of Christianity. The chapter begins with a general account of the New Testament and its modern critics. A general introduction is also given to The Gospel of Matthew specifically, which is examined in order to outline the key elements in Jesus’ teachings. Jesus’ doctrine of love is contrasted to the Greco-Roman warrior ethic that has been discussed in connection with Homer and Virgil. It is argued that the Christian value system in effect inverts the previous value system of the pagan world by arguing that what is valuable in the world is in fact worthless. By contrast, Jesus points to the inner sphere of the individual. This also marks a shift in the Jewish tradition, which was focused on the obedience to external law. This can be seen most clearly in Jesus’ ethical teachings when he claims that the locus of sin is not in the act in the external world but rather in the heart of the individual. This is the beginning of an important change in thinking about the nature of responsibility. Christianity contributed in an important way to the development of subjectivity and inwardness. The chapter ends with a consideration of certain elements of Christianity in the thought of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche.