It was the testimony of the Fathers of the Church, dating from as early as the beginning of the second century AD, that St. Matthew was the first to write down an account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Beginning with Jesus' genealogy in chapter one, Matthew presents Jesus of Nazareth as the legitimate descendant of Abraham and the heir of the great King David. St. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah who was promised and announced by the holy prophets of God. He also focuses on the "Kingdom of heaven" that was predicted in the Old Testament, has been made visible in the life of Jesus, and which has found fulfillment in the faithful of Jesus' New Covenant Church. Join us in our study of the proclamation of the "Good News" that Jesus and His Apostles preached orally and which St. Matthew, inspired by God the Holy Spirit, put into writing for Christians of all generations. All references for the course are found in the Course Bibliography.