Matthew's Gospel is the first document in the New Testament - a suitable
location considering some scholars' opinions (for example, Theodor Zahn
and Ernest Renan) that it is the pre-eminent piece of literature in
antiquity. What sort of book is it? Who is its author, and why did he
write it? What historical, literary and theological contexts influence
it? Matthew's Gospel also tells a story of Jesus, the son of David the
son of Abraham - accordingly it gives attention to characters, plot
lines, conflicts and resolution - but the extra dimension is that it
also has an effect upon its reader to direct them to the Saviour of the
world.