The Original Gospel of Matthew

Standford Rives seeks to provide the best approximation of the original Gospel of Matthew based upon Hebrew sources. There is no disputing Matthew wrote his gospel in Matthew. In about 400 AD, Jerome translated it from a copy at the Library of Caesarea. It was quoted dozens of times by the earliest church commentators. Jerome explained that our Greek version of Matthew came from this Hebrew version. Jerome noted a score of variants that were interesting. The Shem-Tob version of Matthew is the best candidate to reflect the original Hebrew Matthew. Standford Rives, a Christian and attorney, tries to meticulously assemble what likely was the original Matthew from all these sources. It is hoped that this will be edifying to the faithful. This second volume collects important scholarly material on the validity of the early variants and the significance of the changes to the traditional text. Topics covered include whether the virgin birth was originally present, whether Yahweh's name was originally used, whether Mark's Gospel was earlier than Matthew's, Christ's prophecies potentially addressing Paul, and on the aid to apologetics which the original Matthew variants provides.