Restoring Presence

Book excerpt: Matthew's theology of the spirit has received little scholarly attention, which is regrettable since the evangelist is careful to note that the eschatological redemption described in his gospel is the direct result of the activity of God's Spirit. Matthew's narrative of God's restoring work, which begins with Jesus and continues through his followers, is both informed by and extends the larger biblical narrative of God's creative, redemptive and restoring work, at the centre of which stands his Spirit, his active presence. Charette's study elaborates on the broad sweep of Matthew's interest in the Spirit and examines the operation of the Spirit in relation to the three theological categories of Christology, soteriology and ecclesiology.