The Gospel of Matthew is a narrative account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

.docx

School

Berea College *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

101

Subject

Religion

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by snacowlove

The Gospel of Matthew is a narrative account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Walter Fisher's narrative paradigm provides a useful framework for analyzing this text, as it emphasizes the role of narrative in constructing and communicating meaning, as well as the importance of narrative coherence and fidelity in evaluating the persuasive power of a story. Narrative coherence is the first component of Fisher's narrative paradigm, which concerns a story's logical structure, external consistency, and the believability of its characters. In the Gospel of Matthew , structural coherence is established through the use of a clear narrative structure, with a focus on Jesus' teachings and actions. The Gospel begins with Jesus' birth and early life, followed by his baptism and subsequent ministry. Throughout the text, Matthew presents a clear and consistent portrait of Jesus as a teacher and healer, who performs miracles and challenges the religious authorities of his time. The Gospel also demonstrates material coherence , as it aligns with prior knowledge and stories about Jesus. For example, the text references Old Testament prophecies and portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of these prophecies. Additionally, the Gospel of Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, and as such, it is accepted by Christians as a reliable account of Jesus' life and teachings. The Gospel's consistency with prior knowledge and accepted beliefs contributes to its coherence and believability. Characterological coherence is also evident in the Gospel of Matthew, as the characters in the story behave consistently with their perceived values and motivations. Jesus, for example, consistently acts with compassion and love, even in the face of opposition and persecution. Similarly, the religious authorities who oppose Jesus are portrayed as hypocritical and corrupt, consistent with their perceived values and motivations.

The second component of Fisher's narrative paradigm is narrative fidelity , which refers to the extent to which a story resonates with the experiences and values of its audience and meets standards of relevance, consistency, consequence, and universal morality. The Gospel of Matthew seeks to persuade its audience to accept the values and teachings of Jesus, which are presented as the ideal basis for human conduct. These values include love, compassion, and humility, among others. The Gospel presents Jesus as a model of these values, and his teachings are intended to guide the behavior of his followers. In terms of relevance, the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus' teachings as pertinent to the lives of his audience. For example, Jesus' emphasis on love and compassion is relevant to people's everyday relationships and interactions. The Gospel also emphasizes consistency, as Jesus' teachings align with the values of his followers and the broader moral framework of Christianity. The consequences of accepting Jesus' teachings are presented as positive, with the promise of eternal life for those who follow his teachings. Finally, the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus' teachings as transcending the immediate context of the narrative. The values that Jesus promotes, such as love and compassion, are presented as universal moral standards that are relevant to all of humanity. The Gospel seeks to persuade its audience that these values are not just relevant to Jesus' time and place, but are enduring and applicable to all people and all times. In conclusion, Walter Fisher's narrative paradigm provides a useful framework for analyzing the Gospel of Matthew. The coherence of the narrative is established through a clear and consistent narrative structure, material coherence with prior knowledge and stories about Jesus, and characterological coherence. The narrative fidelity of the Gospel is demonstrated through its relevance to the lives of its audience, consistency with accepted values and beliefs,

positive consequences for accepting Jesus' teachings, and their alignment with universal moral standards. Through the use of narrative coherence and fidelity, the Gospel seeks to persuade its audience to accept the values and teachings of Jesus as a guide for human conduct. The Gospel of Matthew is a rich example of how narrative can be used to persuade and instill values in its audience. Using Walter Fisher's five elements of good reasons, we can analyze how the Gospel of Matthew communicates its values and engages with its audience. The first element of good reasons is fact , which involves identifying implicit and explicit values within the narrative. In the Gospel of Matthew, this is evident in its portrayal of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. Through Jesus' teachings and miracles, the audience is presented with a vision of the divine that emphasizes love, mercy, and forgiveness. The factual basis of the narrative rests on the historical and cultural context of first-century Judaism and the prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures. The Gospel of Matthew makes a persuasive case for the truth of its message by emphasizing the fulfillment of these prophecies and the validation of Jesus' claims through his teachings and miracles. The second element of good reasons is relevance , which evaluates whether the values presented in the narrative are pertinent to its context. The Gospel of Matthew addresses the concerns and questions of its audience, which were primarily Jewish converts to Christianity. The narrative speaks directly to the Jewish tradition and draws on its teachings and practices. It presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Jewish prophetic tradition and provides a new interpretation of Jewish law that emphasizes love, mercy, and justice. This relevance helps the audience to connect with the narrative and to see how its values apply to their lives. The third element of good reasons is consistency , which evaluates the alignment of the values presented in the narrative with the personally held values of the audience. The Gospel of

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help