Definition

Proper noun One of the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, traditionally ascribed to Matthew, a former tax collector who became one of Jesus's twelve apostles. It is the first book of the New Testament and emphasizes Jesus's role as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and as a teacher, notably containing the Sermon on the Mount.

Usage

This term is used to refer specifically to this biblical book, often in theological, academic, or comparative religious contexts. - Scholars often compare the Gospel According to Matthew with the other synoptic gospels. - The Gospel According to Matthew provides a detailed account of Jesus's genealogy and birth. - Her thesis focuses on the portrayal of discipleship in the Gospel According to Matthew.

Advanced Usage

• "The Matthean Gospel": A scholarly or formal alternative way to refer to the Gospel According to Matthew.
  • The theme of the kingdom of heaven is central to the Matthean Gospel.

Variants and Related Words

• Matthew (n): The common shortened form of the title.
  • The parable is found in the book of Matthew.
• Gospel of Matthew (n): A synonymous phrasing for the title.
  • The Gospel of Matthew was likely written for a Jewish-Christian audience.

Synonyms

• The Book of Matthew
• The First Gospel

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "The Gospel truth": While not exclusive to this book, this idiom meaning "the complete truth" derives from the general concept of gospel as absolute truth, which is a central theme in the Gospel According to Matthew.
  • I swear, that's the gospel truth.

Noun

1. one of the Gospels in the New Testament; includes the Sermon on the Mount