Matthew's community, contrary to what many scholars believe, was a cosmopolitan, wealthy Jewish Christian community located in Galilee. Using material evidence, this book concludes that Matthew's community was a conservative Christian community located in Galilee that still believed the laws of Torah were valid and required strict adherence.
Gale examines older theories about the location of Matthew's community in rural areas, and finds them wanting.
In this revision of his doctoral thesis, Aaron M. Gale uses literary, social, political, and economic data to argue for a redefinition of both the provenance of the Gospel according to Matthew and the borders between formative Judaism and the first-century Jesus movement, especially the strand that gave rise to this most Jewish of gospels. Previous scholars such as Vermes, Neusner, Meier, and Saldarini have been chipping away at the notion of a monolithic Judaism in opposition to an idealized, universal Christianity of the first century CE. G's argument contributes what one hopes may be the last nail in the coffin of this anachronistic and overly-simplistic view of Christian history. His argument for a Galilean provenance of GMatt-with Sepphoris as a key contender-is allusive and wide-ranging, drawing from the most recent archaeological, economic, and social-historical studies. That case alone would make the book worthy of attention. The careful argument for the scribal nature of GMatt, based on detailed comparisons with Mishnaic texts and forms of argumentation, makes this volume even more valuable. G's analysis of the ruling on divorce in Matt 5:31-32 (cf. 19:9) as an example of the binyan av is a particularly strong case for understanding GMatt as a product of an educated, Jewish scribal culture. Whether considering the geographical or religio-cultural provenance, Redefining Ancient Borders contributes important insights to the contemporary discussion of GMatt. G's work is a worthwhile read for academic and lay audiences alike. --Shelia McGinn, Professor of Biblical Studies and Early Christianity, John Caroll University
