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(Gr. Ματθαῖος/ Matthaîos or Μαθθαῖος/ Maththaîos), the Evangelist. According to church tradition - probably based on Mt 9,9 (tax collector M. instead of Levi in Mk 2,13) - M. was the author of the anonymously passed down first gospel (= Mt), by and large the most influential book in the history of European thought. The author's name M. follows the principle that Christian canonical writings ( Canon V.) must have an apostle as author. [German version] A. Composition and contents Mt begins with a programmatic introduction (1,1-4,22) as well as the teachings and healings of Je…