In his book Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, Richard Bauckham surprisingly argues that the difference between Matthew on the one hand, and Mark and Luke on the other, over the name of the apostle “Matthew” (Matt. 9:9-13) or “Levi” (Lk. 5:27-32, Mk. 2:13-17) is an irreconcilable contradiction. He believes that, unlike other apparent contradictions in New Testament names, such as the different names given to “Judas, not Iscariot” or “Thaddeus,” Matthew and Levi cannot be thought of as two different names for the same person. This is because, while it’s true that it was not uncommon for people in 1st century Judea to go by several different names, there was always a reason for
It's also possible that Bauckham is correct that Matthew and Levi are 2 different individuals, but rather than Bauckham's conclusion that Matthew's author effectively changes the name from Levi to Matthew, it is the apostle Matthew who is correcting Mark's version, which he wasnt exactly reluctant to do. I could imagine Matthew on reading Mark and when he came to that passage re Levi's calling he exclaims, no that's my story! He thus corrects the record in his own Gospel.
One correction, you state that Matthew and Levi were both uncommon names. Bauckham, however, notes that they are both common names (top of page 109).
Thanks for this post. I suppose this is a possibility. I must admit the idea of Levi and Matthew being separate people doesn't sit well with me, for one because it pretty much eliminates Matthew from being an author of the gospel bearing his name, as Bauckham points out.
Perhaps Levi was a family name, and this is why Mark says "Levi, Son of Alphaeus" to distinguish which Levi he was talking about.
I wonder, do you have any other sources that respond to Bauckham here?
It's also possible that Bauckham is correct that Matthew and Levi are 2 different individuals, but rather than Bauckham's conclusion that Matthew's author effectively changes the name from Levi to Matthew, it is the apostle Matthew who is correcting Mark's version, which he wasnt exactly reluctant to do. I could imagine Matthew on reading Mark and when he came to that passage re Levi's calling he exclaims, no that's my story! He thus corrects the record in his own Gospel.
One correction, you state that Matthew and Levi were both uncommon names. Bauckham, however, notes that they are both common names (top of page 109).
Thanks for this post. I suppose this is a possibility. I must admit the idea of Levi and Matthew being separate people doesn't sit well with me, for one because it pretty much eliminates Matthew from being an author of the gospel bearing his name, as Bauckham points out.
Perhaps Levi was a family name, and this is why Mark says "Levi, Son of Alphaeus" to distinguish which Levi he was talking about.
I wonder, do you have any other sources that respond to Bauckham here?