✝️ New Testament
Medium
How does the concept of 'fulfillment' relate to the Old Testament prophecies as presented in the Gospel of Matthew, and what does this emphasis reveal about Matthew's intended audience and theological agenda?
A
Matthew uses fulfillment primarily to demonstrate the superiority of Christianity over Judaism, emphasizing the failure of the Jewish people to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
B
Fulfillment in Matthew is a literary device to add dramatic tension to the narrative, without necessarily implying a direct causal relationship between prophecy and event.
C
Matthew highlights fulfillment to persuade a Jewish audience that Jesus is the promised Messiah, demonstrating continuity between the Old Testament and the New Covenant through Jesus.
D
Matthew's use of fulfillment focuses solely on literal interpretations of Old Testament prophecies, ignoring any metaphorical or symbolic readings.
Reference: Matthew 1:22-23, 2:15, 4:14-16