Matthew the Apostle: His Proficiency in Hebrew

Matthew the Apostle, traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of Matthew, is often discussed in relation to his linguistic abilities. Was he capable of writing and reading Hebrew? This article explores the evidence and scholarly opinions on Matthew's literary and phonetic skills within the context of his historical and cultural background.

The Languages of First-Century Palestine

First-century Palestine was a multilingual society where various dialects and languages were spoken. Matthew, as a Jew, would most likely have been familiar with Hebrew and Aramaic, the languages spoken by the Jewish population. The primary forms of written communication during this period were in Greek, especially in official and religious contexts.

Historical Context: For Matthew to work as a tax collector for the Romans, he would need to understand and communicate effectively in multiple languages to interact with various populations, including the Greeks and Romans, as well as the local Jewish populace. Being able to read and write in Hebrew would have been advantageous for his work and his spiritual journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Religious and Cultural Significance

Given the religious and cultural importance of the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh) to Jewish life, it is reasonable to assume that Matthew would have had the ability to read and perhaps even write in Hebrew. The Tanakh, containing the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Ketuvim, would have been a central part of his education and daily life, reinforcing his literacy in the language.

Scholarly Debate: However, the extent of Matthew's proficiency in Hebrew, specifically his ability to write it fluently, remains a subject of scholarly debate. Some sources suggest that while Matthew was likely able to read Hebrew, his writing skills in the language might have been limited. This debate highlights the challenges in ascertaining the exact linguistic capabilities of historical figures based on limited historical records.

Historical Evidence

There are some historical indicators that Matthew's Gospel was originally written in Hebrew. Some scholars argue that no extant copies of the original Hebrew version of Matthew's Gospel exist, but there is substantial historical evidence supporting this claim. The axiom 'though no copies are extant, there is good historical evidence that Matthew's Gospel was first written in Hebrew' suggests a strong possibility that the original form of his teachings was in the Hebrew language.

Sources and References: The attribution to Matthew as the author of the Gospel also includes evidence of his background as a scribe. The Gospel shows familiarities with Hebrew scriptures and scribal traditions, indicating that he had training and practice in reading and writing in Hebrew. This indicates that Matthew was not only capable of understanding and teaching from Hebrew texts but also of producing written materials in the same language.

Conclusion

Matthew the Apostle was likely proficient in both reading and writing Hebrew, given his background and the cultural context of his time. While it is reasonable to assume that he had the ability to read Hebrew due to the importance of the Tanakh in his life and work, the evidence for his fluency in writing Hebrew is less conclusive. This ambiguity reflects the challenges in determining the exact literacy level of historical figures based on limited sources and the rich historical and cultural context of first-century Palestine.

Further research and historical analysis can provide more insights into the linguistic abilities of Matthew the Apostle, contributing to our understanding of early Christian literature and the cultural landscape of the ancient world.