Matthew the Apostle
* Date marked with an asterisk is a placeholder estimate (lifespan heuristic), not a sourced claim. Hover for the derivation.
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 20*, Galilee
- Died
- c. 80
- Region
- palestine
- Era
- apostle
- Significance
- Major Father(3/4)
- Also known as
- Levi · Matthew the Evangelist
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Matthew stands at the point where Jesus' story is read through Israel's scriptures.
- Primary source
- Gospel of Matthew 9:9
Tax collector called by Jesus, one of the Twelve, traditionally the author of the Gospel of Matthew (originally in 'the Hebrew dialect' per Papias).
Why Matthew the Apostle matters
Matthew stands at the point where Jesus' story is read through Israel's scriptures. The apostle was a tax collector when Jesus called him, and early Christian tradition associated him with the Gospel that bears his name. That Gospel became one of the church's main teaching texts because it gathers Jesus' words into great discourses and presents him as the fulfilment of law, prophets, kingdom, and covenant. Whether one is asking about discipleship, mercy, judgement, or the church, Matthew gave later Christians a primary map.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Matthew the Apostle?
- Matthew the Apostle (?–80) — Tax collector called by Jesus, one of the Twelve, traditionally the author of the Gospel of Matthew (originally in 'the Hebrew dialect' per Papias).
- Who taught Matthew the Apostle?
- Jesus of Nazareth.
Sources for biography
- Gospel of Matthew 9:9 primary
- Papias, Fragment in Eusebius HE 3.39.16 primary
documented connections(2)
- taught by Jesus of NazarethGospel of Matthew 9:9
- knew of (incoming) Papias of HierapolisPapias in Eusebius HE 3.39.16