| dc.description.abstract | In this dissertation I argue that Matthew portrays the fundamental mark of thedisciple of Jesus as righteousness, which serves as his overall category of virtue and is comprised of two primary virtues—faith and mercy. Matthew’s portrayal of the relationship between these three key concepts in his narrative—righteousness, faith, and mercy—clarifies for the reader what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. For Matthew, the disciple of Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets by pursuing wholistic alignment—both inward and outward—with God’s will (i.e., greater righteousness) through trusting in God and showing mercy toward others as expressions of love for God and love for neighbor. As the reader encounters Matthew’s narrative—Jesus’s own direct teaching and lived example, along with characters who offer a wide range of positive, negative, and mixed examples—he is encouraged toward the formation of virtue that defines true discipleship. In chapter 1, I introduce my thesis and its significance, articulate my methodology, and outline my argument. In chapter 2, I argue that J. de Waal Dryden’s three-part taxonomy of narrative’s communication of values, when combined with a careful analysis of the virtue-formation intended in Greco-Roman biographies, provides a sound methodology for analyzing Matthew’s Gospel. In chapter 3, I argue that Matthew utilizes his narrative for the purpose of virtue-formation within the lives of his readers as disciples of Jesus. In chapter 4, I argue that Matthew portrays righteousness as his overall moral category—virtue itself—and the fundamental mark of the disciple of Jesus. In chapter 5 I argue that, Matthew portrays faith as the individual virtue of discipleship directed toward God—that in trusting Jesus, motivated by one’s love for God, the disciple himself becomes righteous. In chapter 6, I argue that Matthew portrays mercy as the individual virtue of discipleship directed toward others—that in embodying mercy toward others, motivated by one’s love for neighbor, the disciple himself becomes righteous. In chapter 7, I conclude by reviewing my argument, re-articulating my thesis and discussing its implications, and offering opportunities for further research. | en_US |
