Open AccessReview article: The mountain motif in the plot of Matthew
Author(s) -
G.J. Volschenk
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
hts teologiese studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.282
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2072-8050
pISSN - 0259-9422
DOI - 10.4102/hts.v66i1.326
Subject(s) - motif (music) , gospel , theology , christology , narrative , ecclesiology , plot (graphics) , philosophy , christian ministry , history , literature , art , aesthetics , statistics , mathematics
This article reviewed T.L. Donaldson’s book, Jesus on the mountain: A study in Matthean theology, published in 1985 by JSOT Press, Sheffield, and focused on the mountain motif in the structure and plot of the Gospel of Matthew, in addition to the work of Donaldson on the mountain motif as a literary motif and as theological symbol. The mountain is a primary theological setting for Jesus’ ministry and thus is an important setting, serving as one of the literary devices by which Matthew structured and progressed his narrative. The Zion theological and eschatological significance and Second Temple Judaism serve as the historical and theological background for the mountain motif. The last mountain setting (Mt 28:16–20) is the culmination of the three theological themes in the plot of Matthew, namely Christology, ecclesiology and salvation history