cass256

Does anyone know anything about Shem-Tob's Hebrew Gospel of Matthew? I wanted to look into it, but presently know little about it. All I know so far is that it was written in Hebrew. Found in the 14th century in the body of a treatise; Evan bohan? The best manuscript is in the British Library in london. This copy has Matthew 28:18-20It sounds a little chopped to me, but it may be the translation and not the Hebrew text. Just throwing it out there. I havn't had the chance to research it yet.

S.C.Carlson

For more information about the Shem-Tov Hebrew Matthew, you may wish to read: William L. Peterson, Some Observations on a Recent Edition of and Introduction to Shem-Tob's "Hebrew Matthew" and George Howard's Response to William L. Petersen's Review of Hebrew Gospel of Matthew.

cass256

Thanks! I'll check them out.

cass

Chris Weimer

Bringing this back for a minute - Eusebius apparently cites Matthew 28.19 without the trinitarian formula.

Ben C Smith

Thanks for those links. I have finally gotten hold of a copy of Howard (second edition), have read his introduction and commentary, and am now partway through your links.

Quick question. Is there some known academic reason for the condescending tone struck by Petersen against Howard in that first link? Howard might be exaggerating a bit when he calls it personal virulence, but it certainly bangs against the ear.

Ben.

Vorkosigan

Matthew was the most heavily cited of the Gospels in antiquity. If Eusebius' manuscript did not have this, there must be others....here's all the citations from E-Catena

• Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Tertullian Against Marcion Book II
  
  even then, (that state of a) man which He was destined in the end to become.[371]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments
  
  He showed all power given by the Father to the Son,[65]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Cyprian Epistle XXIV
  
  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."[2]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Cyprian Epistle LXII
  
  Go, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."[45]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Cyprian Epistle LXXII
  
  Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[8]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
  
  Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."[291]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian
  
  Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[25]
  
  Matt. 28:18 - NIV, NAB - in Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian
  
  said: God and our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching the apostles with His own mouth, has entirely completed our faith, and the grace of baptism, and the rule of the ecclesiastical law, saying: "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[58]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians
  
  have been fulfilled in the Gospel, [our Lord saying, ] "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[84]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians
  
  Wherefore also the Lord, when He sent forth the apostles to make disciples of all nations, commanded them to "baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,"[21]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III
  
  He said to them," Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[310]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Tertullian An Answer to the Jews
  
  Again, in the Pslams, David says: "Bring to God, ye countries of the nations"-undoubtedly because "unto every land" the preaching of the apostles had to "go out"[76]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Tertullian The Prescription Against Heretics
  
  It is only at the last that He instructs them to "go and teach all nations, and baptize them,"[98]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Tertullian The Prescription Against Heretics
  
  nations, who were to be baptized into the Father, and into the Son, and into the Holy Ghost."[203]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV
  
  Even to the last He taught us (the same truth of His mission), when He sent forth His apostles to preach His gospel "among all nations; "[1705]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Tertullian On Baptism
  
  saith, "teach the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."[139]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments
  
  For the Jews glorified (or gloried in) the Father, but gave Him not thanks, for they did not recognise the Son. The disciples recognised the Son, but not in the Holy Ghost; wherefore they also denied Him.[264]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian
  
  the Catholic Church, brethren, hath always remained and still remains with us, and even especially in the Trinity of baptism, as our Lord says, "Go ye and baptize the nations, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."[32]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian
  
  And in another place: "Go ye and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[72]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in A Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian by an Anonymous Bishop
  
  Whence also the Lord Christ charges upon Peter, and moreover also upon the rest of His disciples, "Go ye and preach the Gospel to the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[14]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer
  
  I Observe that it has been asked among the brethren what course ought specially to be adopted towards the persons of those who, although baptized in heresy, have yet been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,[1]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer
  
  Neither must you esteem what our Lord said as being contrary to this treatment: "Go ye, teach the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[17]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus A Sectional Confession of Faith
  
  Seest thou that all through Scripture the Spirit is preached, and yet nowhere named a creature? And what can the impious have to say if the Lord sends forth His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?[58]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Victorinus Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John
  
  "] The many waters are understood to be many peoples, or the gift of baptism that He sent forth by the apostles, saying: "Go ye, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[15]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Didache
  
  Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,[75]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book II
  
  Let the presbyters be esteemed by you to represent us the apostles, and let them be the teachers of divine knowledge; since our Lord, when He sent us, said, "Go ye, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."[146]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book V
  
  and who received a command from Him to preach the Gospel to all the world, and to make disciples of all nations,[64]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book VI
  
  Be ye likewise contented with one baptism alone, that which is into the death of the Lord; not that which is conferred by wicked heretics, but that which is conferred by unblameable priests, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "[80]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book VII
  
  O bishop, or presbyter, we have already given direction, and we now say, that thou shalt so baptize as the Lord commanded us, saying: "Go ye, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you): "[106]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book VII
  
  e must beforehand purify his heart from all wickedness of disposition, from all spot and wrinkle, and then partake of the holy things; for as the skilfullest husbandman does first purge his ground of the thorns which are grown up therein, and does then sow his wheat, so ought you also to take away all impiety from them, and then to sow the seeds of piety in them, and vouchsafe them baptism. For even our Lord did in this manner exhort us, saying first, "Make disciples of all nations; "[187]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Recognitions of Clement II
  
  In the first place, I shall answer your assertion, that I set forth the words of my Master, and from them resolve matters about which there is still doubt. Our Lord, when He sent us apostles to preach, enjoined us to teach all nations[29]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Clementine Homily XVII
  
  "Knowing therefore that we knew all that was spoken by Him, and that we could supply the proofs, He sent us to the ignorant Gentiles to baptize them for remission of sins, and commanded us to teach them first.[16]
  
  Matt. 28:19 - NIV, NAB - in Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
  
  And the Apostles on this account left Israel and did that which had been enjoined on them by the Saviour, "Make disciples of all the nations,"[123]

Vorkosigan

S.C.Carlson

Well, if you didn't like the tone in Petersen's review of Howard, then you'll probably won't like it in Petersen's review of Shedinger in the journal Hugoye (Jan. 2003). Ouch!

(This leads me to suspect that the mention of Shedinger in P's review of Howard is in no way gratuitous but a clue to what P believes the stakes to be.)

Stephen

Vorkosigan

Thanks for the links Steve. The Gospel of Thomas stuff was especially interesting.

Michael

Ben C Smith

Indeed. The final paragraph of the Shedinger review:

One could go on. Everyone has lapses of judgment; everyone makes mistakes—even Homer nodded. But that is not the issue. Here the errors are so frequent and so fundamental that this volume can contribute nothing to scholarship. What it says that is true has already been said elsewhere, with greater clarity and perspective. What it says that is new is almost always wrong, plagued—as we have shown above—with philological, logical, and methodological errors, and a gross insensitivity to things historical (both within the discipline, as well as the transmission-history of texts). Reading this book fills one with dismay and despair. It is shocking that a work which does not rise to the level of a master's thesis should be approved as a doctoral dissertation; how it found its way into print is unfathomable. One shudders to think of the damage it will do when, in the future, it is cited by the ignorant and the unsuspecting as "demonstrating" what it has not.

Gross insensitivity. Dismay and despair. Shocking. One shudders. I rather liked Petersen in his appendix to Koester, ACG. Guess he had nobody to throw spears at there.

(As a total aside, I note a Vorkosigan favorite in that paragraph: Homer nods. I am no longer able to read those words without hearing the distant echo, but Mark never sleeps.)

Ben.

Vorkosigan

<evil laugh>