Reading Dreams: An Audience-Critical Approach to the Dreams in the Gospel of Matthew

Dodson reads the dreams in the Gospel of Matthew as the authorial audience, understanding the social and literary character of dreams in the Greco-Roman world. He demonstrates the literary dimensions of dreams in Greco-Roman literature, considering the literary form, dreams in the rhetorical tradition, inventiveness, and literary function. The dreams in Matthew are analyzed in this context, showing correspondence with other Greco-Roman narratives. An appendix considers the Matthean transfiguration as a dream-vision report.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Dodson delves into the interpretation of dreams in the Gospel of Matthew, considering them as the authorial audience's intended message. To understand this, it is essential to comprehend the social and literary context of dreams in the Greco-Roman world. Dodson explores the social role of dreams, recognizing their significance as a form of divination in ancient times. He examines the theories and classifications of dreams that emerged during that era. Furthermore, he demonstrates the literary dimensions of dreams in Greco-Roman literature, taking into account various aspects such as the literary form of dreams, their presence in the Greco-Roman rhetorical tradition, the innovative nature of literary dreams, and their literary functions.

In analyzing the dreams in the Gospel of Matthew, Dodson contextualizes them within the social and literary framework of Greco-Roman narratives. He observes that Matthew's use of dreams aligns with the script of dreams found in other Greco-Roman stories. This correspondence includes elements such as the form of the Matthean dreams, their association with the birth topos (1:18b-25), their connection to prophecy (1:22-23; 2:15, 23), the use of the double-dream report (2:12 and 2:13-15), and their portrayal as an ominous sign associated with an individual's death (27:19). Additionally, an appendix explores the Matthean transfiguration as a dream-vision report.

Through his comprehensive analysis, Dodson sheds light on the multifaceted nature of dreams in the Gospel of Matthew and their significance within the Greco-Roman world. His work contributes to our understanding of the literary and social dimensions of dreams and their role in conveying messages and narratives.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780567689696