Who Was Matthew the Evangelist?
Early Christian writings identify Matthew as one of the Twelve, a former tax collector, and the writer of a Gospel for Jewish readers. Papias gives the earliest direct note about Matthew’s work, and Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian repeat that tradition. The strongest part is Matthew’s identity and Gospel writing; the exact details are more limited. Bible passages about Matthew the apostle and tax collector help fill out the picture.
104 early-church witnesses · 193 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about matthew the Evangelist?
Early Christian writings identify Matthew as one of the Twelve, a former tax collector, and the writer of a Gospel linked to the Jews and written in Hebrew or their dialect. Papias gives the earliest direct note about Matthew’s work, and Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian repeat or expand that tradition. The strongest evidence is about Matthew’s identity and authorship, while the evidence for details like exact order of writing is broader but not equally strong in every witness.
Some other cards only quote Matthew’s Gospel without adding new facts about Matthew himself, so they are helpful as Bible support but not as direct historical claims about the evangelist. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew is remembered as one of the Twelve and a former tax collector.
- Papias says Matthew put together the Lord’s sayings in Hebrew.
- Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian also connect Matthew with a written Gospel.
- Some later cards only quote Matthew’s Gospel and do not add new facts about Matthew himself.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Was Matthew one of the Twelve apostles, and was he a tax collector before following Jesus?
The supplied sources consistently identify Matthew as one of the Twelve and recall his former life as a publican or tax collector. They present his call by Jesus as a genuine turning point into apostolic service.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
For I, Matthew, one of the twelve who speak to you in this teaching, am an apostle. I myself was formerly a tax collector, but now I have obtained mercy through believing. I have repented of my former practices, and I have been granted the honor of being an apostle and preacher of the word. And Zacchaeus, whom the Lord received because of his repentance and his prayers to Him, was also at first a tax collector in the same way. Besides this, even the soldiers and the crowd of tax collectors who came to hear the Lord's word about repentance heard this from the prophet John after he had baptized them: "Do nothing more than what is appointed for you." Luke 3:13 In the same way, life is not denied to the Gentiles if they repent and cast away their unbelief. Therefore, regard everyone who is convicted of any wicked action and has not repented as a tax collector or a Gentile. But if he afterward repents and turns from his error, then, just as we receive the Gentiles, when they wish to repent, into the Church indeed to hear the word, but do not receive them to communion until they have received the seal of baptism and are made complete Christians, so we also permit such people to enter onl
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...onfessed with the confession made by the voice, and departed. Of these are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. And confession by the lip is not universal, but partial. But what He now specifies is universal: that which is by deeds and actions corresponding to faith in Him. This confession is followed by that which is partial, that before the authorities, if necessary, and if reason directs. For he will rightly confess with his voice who has first confessed by his disposition. And with regard to those who confess, he has rightly used the words “in Me,” and for those who deny, the word “Me.” For those, though they confess Him with the voice, yet deny Him, since they do not confess Him in their conduct. But those alone confess “in Him” who live in the confession and conduct according to Him. In them He also confesses, He who is contained in them and held by them. Therefore, “He never can deny Himself.” And those deny Him who are not in Him. For He did not say, “Whoever shall deny in Me,” but, “Me.” For no one who is in Him will ever deny Him. And the words “before men” apply alike to the saved and to the heathen, by conduct before the one, and by voice before the other.
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Matthew 10:3 Direct teaching
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
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Mark 3:18 Supporting witness
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
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Luke 6:15 Supporting witness
and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
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Matthew 10:2 Supporting witness
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Didache, Connection to Matthew 10:2 Supporting witness
Peter and Andrew; James and John, sons of Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus who is surnamed Thaddaeus; and Simon the Canaanite,
Did early Christians say Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew?
Several early writers attribute the Gospel according to Matthew to Matthew himself and describe it as written first, in Hebrew, or for Jewish readers. These sources are the strongest evidence in the set for early Christian views of Matthew’s authorship.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
XXXIX . For I Matthew, one of those twelve which speak to you in this doctrine, am an apostle, having myself been formerly a publican, but now have obtained mercy through believing, and have repented of my former practices, and have been vouchsafed the honour to be an apostle and preacher of the word.
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Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ Supporting witness
There is, first of all, Matthew, that most faithful chronicler of the Gospel, because the companion of the Lord;
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
The publican who was chosen by the Lord, he adduces for a proof that he was chosen as a stranger to the law and uninitiated in Judaism, by one who was an adversary to the law.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
Concerning the four Gospels which alone are uncontroverted in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the Gospel according to Matthew, who was at one time a publican and afterwards an Apostle of Jesus Christ, was written first;
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Matthew 9:9 Direct teaching
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
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Matthew 9:11 Supporting witness
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
How did early Christians use the Gospel of Matthew in teaching and interpretation?
A number of early writers quote Matthew directly to explain repentance, church discipline, apostolic teaching, and the meaning of Jesus’ sayings. These cards show Matthew’s Gospel being treated as authoritative Scripture in early Christian argument and instruction.
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Papias, Fragments Direct teaching
but with regard to Matthew he has made the following statements]: Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
The same authority of the apostolic churches will afford evidence to the other Gospels also, which we possess equally through their means, and according to their usage — I mean the Gospels of John and Matthew — while that which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter's whose interpreter Mark was.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
Wherefore also the genealogy deduced through him will not be made void, which the Evangelist Matthew in his enumeration gives thus: And Jacob begot Joseph.
Did Matthew’s Gospel start in Hebrew or a Jewish dialect?
Yes, that is a strong early tradition. Papias says Matthew put together the sayings in the Hebrew language, and Origen says he composed it in the Hebrew tongue for converts from Judaism. Irenaeus also says Matthew issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
and that he composed it in the Hebrew tongue and published it for the converts from Judaism.
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Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness
The Gospel according to Matthew was written to the Jews.
How did early Christians use Matthew’s Gospel?
Early Christian writers often quoted Matthew’s Gospel as a main teaching text for church order, repentance, and discipleship. Cyprian, Origen, the Apostolic Constitutions, and others use Matthew’s words to explain how the church should correct sinners, seek the lost, and follow Jesus faithfully.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...ch. For it is written: "If he neglects to hear the Church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican." Matthew 18:17 And the blessed apostle not only warns us, but also commands us to withdraw from such people. He says, "We command you, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us." There can be no fellowship between faith and faithlessness. He who is not with Christ, who is an adversary of Christ, who is hostile to His unity and peace, cannot be joined with us. If they come with prayers and atonements, let them be heard. If they heap up curses and threats, let them be rejected. I bid you, dearest brother, a heartfelt farewell always.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...s Gospel and says, "But if he neglects to hear the Church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican." Matthew 18:17 Now if those who despise the Church are counted as heathens and publicans, then much more certainly rebels and enemies should be counted among heathens and publicans, since they set up false altars, unlawful priesthoods, sacrilegious sacrifices, and corrupt names. For those who sin less and are only despisers of the Church are, by the Lord's sentence, judged to be heathens and publicans.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
... a careful feeder of the flock, search out your flock and keep account of it. Seek what is missing. Matthew 18:12 For the Lord God, our gracious Father, sent His own Son, the good Shepherd and Saviour, our Master Jesus, and commanded Him to leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and to go search for the one that was lost. And when He found it, He was to place it on His shoulders and carry it into the flock, rejoicing that He had found what was lost. In the same way, be obedient, O bishop, and seek what was lost. Guide what has wandered out of the right way. Bring back what has gone astray. For you have authority to bring them back and to deliver those who are broken-hearted by remission. For through you our Saviour says to the one discouraged by the sense of his sins, “Your sins are forgiven you; your faith has saved you; go in peace.” But this peace and haven of tranquillity is the Church of Christ. When you have loosed them from their sins, restore them to it, since they are now sound and blameless, full of good hope, diligent, and laborious in good works. Like a skillful and compassionate physician, heal all who have wandered in the ways of sin. For those who are whole have n
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone.” Matthew 18:15 Whoever pays close attention to this statement, as proof of the surpassing kindness of Jesus, will say this: since the words do not suggest any difference among sins, people act in a strange way and against the goodness of Jesus when they add the idea that these words should be understood as limited only to lesser sins. But another person, also paying close attention to the statement, and not wishing to bring in these outside ideas, yet not admitting that it speaks about every sin, will say that the man who commits those great sins is not a brother, even if he is called a brother. As the Apostle says, “If anyone who is named a brother is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater,” and so on, “with such a one, do not even eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11 For no one who is an idolater, or sexually immoral, or covetous, is a brother. For if someone who seems to bear the name of Christ, though he is called a brother, has some of the marks of these sins, he would not rightly be called a brother. So then, the one who says that these words are spoken about every sin, whether the sin is murde
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
But it seems to me that these words are rightly added to the case of the person who, after being warned three times, was judged to be like the Gentile and the tax collector: “Truly I say to you”—that is, to those who have judged someone to be like the Gentile and the tax collector—“whatever things you bind on earth,” Matthew 18:18, and so on. For the one who has given three warnings and has not been heard has justly bound the person who is judged to be like a Gentile and a tax collector. Therefore, when such a person is bound and condemned by someone of this kind, he remains bound, because no one in heaven overturns the judgment of the man who bound him. In the same way, the person who was warned once for all, and then did what was worthy of being gained, having been set free by the warning of the man who gained him, and no longer being bound by the cords of his own sins, Proverbs 5:22, for which he was warned, will be judged by those in heaven to have been set free. It seems that the things which were earlier granted to Peter alone are here given to all who give the three warnings to all who have sinned. So if they are not heard, they will bind on earth the person who is judged to
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
Thirty-eight. If he is persuaded by the words of you three, that is good. But if anyone hardens himself, tell it to the church. But if he refuses to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen man and a tax collector, Matthew 18:17, and no longer receive him into the church as a Christian, but reject him as a heathen. But if he is willing to repent, receive him. For the church does not receive a heathen or a tax collector to communion until each one repents of his former impieties. For our Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, has appointed a place for the acceptance of people upon their repentance.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
Now bring together from the Gospels those who call Him Son of David, like the woman and the blind men in Jericho, Matthew 20:30; and those who call Him Son of God, without the addition of “truly,” like the demon-possessed men who say, “What have we to do with You, Son of God?” Matthew 8:29; and those who call Him this with the addition of “truly,” like those in the boat who worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33 I think bringing these passages together will be useful to you for seeing the difference among those who come to Jesus. Some come to Him as to Him who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, Romans 1:3. But others come to Him who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, Romans 1:4. And of these, some say it with “truly,” and some without it. Further, notice that the Canaanitish woman begged Him not about a son, whom she does not seem to have brought forth at all, but about a daughter who was terribly vexed with a demon. But another mother receives back alive her son who was being carried out dead, Luke 7:12. Again, the ruler of the synagogue makes supplication about a daughter twelve year
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Origen, Commentary on John Background
...tself most significantly to one of them. Thus the Savior says, "Call no man Master upon the earth," Matthew 23:8-9, while the Apostle says that Masters have been appointed in the Church. These latter, therefore, will not be Masters in the strict sense of the saying in the Gospel. In the same way, the Gospel in the Epistles will not extend to every word in them, when it is compared with the narrative of Jesus’ actions and sufferings and discourses. No. The Gospel is the first fruits of all Scripture, and to these first fruits of the Scriptures we devote the first fruits of all our actions, which we trust will turn out as we desire.
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
... all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” These observations are useful because they show how the evangelists are accustomed to shorten the sayings of the prophets. It must also be observed that the words, “Offspring of vipers,” and so on, are said by Matthew to have been spoken to the Pharisees and Sadducees when they came to baptism. They were a different group from those who confessed their sins, and to those others no words of this kind were spoken. In Luke, on the other hand, these words were addressed to the multitudes who came out to be baptized by John, and there were not two groups among those who were baptized, as we found in Matthew. But Matthew, as the careful observer will see, does not speak of the multitudes in a way that praises them, and he probably means the Baptist’s words, “Offspring of vipers,” and so on, to be understood as spoken to them also. Another point is this. To the Pharisees and Sadducees he says, “Bring forth a fruit,” in the singular, “worthy of repentance.” But to the multitudes he uses the plural, “Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.” Perhaps the Pharisees are required to produce the special fruit of repentance, which is no other than th
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
...ht at once to begin their festival joy and gladness. But in what you wrote to me, you showed very clearly, and with an intelligent understanding of the Holy Scriptures, that they do not seem to give any exact statement of the hour when He rose. For the Evangelists describe differently the people who came one after another to the tomb, and all declare that they found the Lord already risen. Matthew says it was at the end of the Sabbath. John writes that it was early, while it was still dark. Luke says it was very early in the morning. Mark tells us it was very early in the morning, at the rising of the sun. So no one has shown us clearly the exact time when He rose. It is admitted, however, that those who came to the tomb at the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, found that He was no longer lying in it. And let us not suppose that the Evangelists disagree or contradict one another. Even if there seems to be some small difficulty in the matter we are asking about, they all agree that the Light of the world, our Lord, rose on that one night, though they differ about the hour. So we may rightly try, with a wise and faithful mind, to bring their
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
For this evangelist also has used the term very early, which is just the same as the very early in the morning employed by the former;
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
Matthew 18:17 And the blessed apostle not only warns, but also commands us to withdraw from such.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Background
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, and teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all the diseases and all the sicknesses, 8 Mark 1:39 and casting out the devils.
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Origen, Commentary on John Background
So far, then, our examination of the statements in the Gospel according to Matthew.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Background
And in the Gospel according to Matthew, the genealogy which begins with Abraham is continued down to Mary the mother of the Lord.
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Methodius, Concerning Free Will Background
And in the Gospel according to Matthew, the Lord said to him who betrayed Him: Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?
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Methodius, Fragments Background
And in the Gospel according to Matthew, the Lord said to him who betrayed Him: Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?
Common Questions
Was Matthew one of Jesus’ twelve apostles?
Yes. Early Christian writings and Bible passages list Matthew among the Twelve.
Did early Christians think Matthew wrote a Gospel?
Yes. Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian all connect Matthew with a written Gospel.
Was Matthew a tax collector before following Jesus?
Yes. Early Christian writings call him a former publican or tax collector, and Matthew 9:9 tells of his call.
Source Index for Matthew the Evangelist
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 193 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 104
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 89
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.