Matthew and Psalms of Solomon's Messianism: A Comparative Study in First-Century Messianology

The idea that Matthew's messiamsm is significantly different from the one found in Pss Sol. 17 is commonplace. Most often, one will find it stated in almost an axiomatic fashion with a waving of the hand toward the militaristic perspective of Psalms of Solomon as sufficient evidence to make the point. While there can he no doubt that Matthew's messiamsm evinces differences from that of Psalms of Solomon's, such an overly simplistic assessment appreciates neither the number and depth of similarities of perspective between the two messianologies nor their implications. This article will show that Matthew's messiamsm stands in close affinity with much in the other expressly. Davidic conception of messiamsm in first-century Judaism, namely, Psalms of Solomon, although representing a new, creative moment in the reception history of biblical expectations related to the Messiah.