Forgiveness as a Hermeneutical Key to the Gospel of Matthew

Beschreibung

Mathew Bomki Laghai argues that forgiveness is a hermeneutical key to Matthew's Gospel, linking soteriology, Christology, ecclesiology, and eschatology. He shows that Matthew uniquely conditions divine forgiveness on human forgiveness (Matt 6:14-15).
Mathew Bomki Laghai explores the concept of forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on the verb ἀφίημι, and argues that it should not be understood as a uniform theme but rather as a complex and multi-faceted concept. The author contends that forgiveness serves as a theological model through which other central themes of Jesus' mission are illuminated, including sin, revelation, judgment, Christology, and eschatology. Forgiveness thus acts as a hermeneutical key, offering deeper insight into the central message of the gospel. A central aspect of this study is the close relationship between divine and interpersonal forgiveness, particularly in Matthew 6:12 and 18:35. Although these two forms of forgiveness can be distinguished, they cannot be separated; they are dialectically intertwined. This represents a departure from dominant perspectives of first-century Judaism, where forgiveness was closely associated with ritual acts conducted within the Temple. In contrast, the Gospel of Matthew presents a radical reconfiguration, where divine forgiveness is possible without the Temple yet contingent upon human forgiveness (Matt 6:14-15). The author employs a multi-faceted methodology that integrates synchronic and diachronic approaches, and incorporates textual, intra-textual, inter-textual, linguistic, semantic, grammatical, structural, redactional, literary, and theological methods to analyze the ἀφίημι logia. Key passages examined include Matthew 1:21; 6:9-13; 6:14-15; 9:1-8; 12:22-32; 18:15-35.

Autor*in

Mathew Bomki Laghai
2011-15 Licentiate in Biblical Studies (SSL), Pontifical Biblical Institute (Italy); 2020-21 MLit in Biblical Languages and Literature, University of St Andrews (Scotland); 2025 PhD, University of Edinburgh; 2025 Awarded the Status of Associate Fellow of the British Higher Education Academy (AFHEA); Lecturer of New Testament at Hekima University College.

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christology diachronic exegesis eschatology forgiveness forgiveness of sins gospel of Matthew intertextuality judgment linguistic analysis Matthean community redaction criticism revelation synchronic exegesis textual semantics

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