Matthew for the Defense: Identifying the Rhetorical Purpose of Matthew's Heptadic Γέγραπται Passages

Heptadic formulations are common throughout ancient Near Eastern, Second Temple, and biblical literature. Frequently, heptadic formulations are debated due to the lack of consistent identification criteria. This study identifies a heptadic formulation of γέγραπται passages in Matthew’s Gospel and seeks to evaluate the legitimacy of that heptadic formulation through applying strict identification criteria. Through those criteria, it was discovered that the Gospel of Matthew invites the reader to take notice of numerological data through the genealogy and continues to employ numerology throughout the Gospel. That fact being established, Matthew then employed the γέγραπται formula a total of nine times with a distinct rhetorical effect to advance his central theme of divine sonship. Those nine occurrences break down into a heptadic grouping of dominical formulations and a group of two occurrences employed by Jesus’ primary antagonists. A literary analysis of numerical symbolism of heptadic formulations and dual formulations, when read against Matthew’s broader narrative leads to the conclusion that Matthew composed his Gospel, in part, as an apologetic document which challenged the sham trial of the passion and meant to vindicate Jesus before Matthew’s audience by offering a perfect self–defense of Jesus’ divine sonship from the Old Testament, validated by two witnesses as required by Jewish law.