Textual and Historic Evidence Point toward Hebrew Originals

Early church fathers consistently reported that The Gospel According to Matthew was first written in the “Hebrew dialect.” Ancient writers such as Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, and Jerome all testify to Matthew’s Hebrew authorship.

References

• Papias (c. 60–130 CE) — “Matthew composed the sayings in the Hebrew dialect, and each one interpreted them as best he could.” (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.39.16)
  
• Irenaeus (c. 180 CE) — “Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome.” (Against Heresies 3.1.1)
  
• Origen (c. 184–253 CE) — “The first Gospel written was that according to Matthew… who composed it in Hebrew for the Hebrews who had believed.” (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 6.25.4)
  
• Jerome (c. 347–420 CE) — “Matthew… composed a Gospel of Christ in Hebrew letters and words, for the benefit of those of the circumcision who believed… I myself was allowed to copy it from the library at Caesarea.” (Lives of Illustrious Men 3; also Commentary on Matthew 12)

The phrase “Hebrew dialect” may refer either to classical Hebrew or to Aramaic, a related Semitic language often called “Hebrew” in that time period. While the earliest surviving manuscripts of Matthew are in Greek, the repeated testimony of the early church fathers provides strong historical support for a Hebrew-language origin or early Hebrew version of Matthew’s Gospel.

Eusebius’ references to a “Hebrew dialect” (likely Hebrew or Aramaic) for Matthew’s Gospel (Books 3.39.16, 6.25.4) are directly relevant to MRI’s mission. They suggest early Semitic texts, which MRI may be able to link to later manuscripts such as Du Tillet or Cochin Hebrew Gospels, and others.

This evidence strengthens the case for investigating Hebrew manuscripts of the New Testament and gives weight to the possibility that at least some portions of the B’rit Chadashah were first recorded in Hebrew.