Rewriting and the Gospels

Abstract

This article explores the ways in which the New Testament functions as a witness to Jewish literary production, focusing on the concept of rewritten scripture. I argue that Matthew’s relationship to Mark offers insight into critical discussions regarding rewritten scripture as a concept. These early Christian texts lend credibility to the idea that the generic aspects of the rewritten scripture are secondary to its identity as a flexible set of exegetical procedures practised on a scriptural base tradition. I explore this issue by analysing the controversial history of scholarship on rewritten texts and by analysing the ways in which Matthew’s use of Mark constitutes rewrittenness.