Matthew 1–14: A Handbook on the Greek Text
in Baylor Handbook on the Greek New Testament
Pages
306
Publisher
Baylor University Press
Published
3/15/2019
ISBN-13
9781602581449
In Matthew 1–14: A Handbook on the Greek Text Wesley Olmstead provides a foundational analysis of the Greek text of Matthew 1–14. The analysis is distinguished by the detailed yet comprehensive attention paid to the text. Olmstead’s analysis is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, engages important text-critical debates, and addresses questions relating to the Greek text that are frequently overlooked or ignored by standard commentaries. Beyond serving as a succinct and accessible analytic key, Matthew 1–14 also reflects the most up-to-date advances in scholarship on Greek grammar and linguistics. This handbook proves itself an indispensable tool for anyone committed to a deep reading of the biblical text.
Reviews
DavidH
August 11, 2026
August 11, 2026
Olmstead’s two-volume handbook is perhaps the most useful specialist companion for sustained work on the Greek of Matthew. It deliberately does not attempt to replace a conventional commentary or provide extended theological interpretation; instead it works through the text clause by clause, identifying syntactical relationships, verbal aspect, voice, participial constructions, word order, lexical issues, textual questions and discourse features. Especially helpful is the refusal to equate unusual word order mechanically with emphasis: fronting may establish a topical frame, while final position may sometimes carry greater prominence. His treatment of Matthew 28:19 likewise clarifies the relationship between the participle “going” and the controlling imperative “make disciples.” For anyone writing detailed exegesis from the Greek text, Olmstead is an exceptionally efficient and reliable tool.