The Catholic Encyclopedia is always a good resource for time-travelling cats on matters Cat’lick. Like St. Matthew, the Evangelist, for example. Here’s something the Cat’lick Encyclopedia tells us about St. Matthew’s name:
The name Matthew is derived from the Hebrew Mattija, being shortened to Mattai in post-Biblical Hebrew. In Greek it is sometimes spelled Maththaios, and sometimes Matthaios, but grammarians do not agree as to which of the two spellings is the original.
Matthew is spoken of five times in the New Testament:
- in Matthew 9:9, when called by Jesus to follow Him;
- four times in the list of the Apostles
- twice, he is mentioned in the seventh (Luke 6:15, and Mark 3:18) place; and,
- twice, in the eighth place (Matthew 10:3, and Acts 1:13).
Matthew was not the evangelist’s only name. We know that by comparing the stories of Matthew’s vocation.
(Matthew 9:1-13) 1 And, entering into a boat, he passed over the water and came into his own city. 2 And behold they brought to him one sick of the palsy lying in a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy: Be of good heart, son, your sins are forgiven you. 3 And behold some of the scribes said within themselves: He blasphemes. 4 And Jesus seeing their thoughts, said: Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 Whether is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you: or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the man sick of the palsy), Arise, take up your bed, and go into your house. 7 And he arose, and went into his house. 8 And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men. 9 And when Jesus passed on from thence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he said to him: Follow me. And he arose up and followed him. 10 And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why does your master eat with publicans and sinners? 12 But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. 13 Go then and learn what this means, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
(Mark 2:1-17) 1 And again he entered into Capharnaum after some days. 2 And it was heard that he was in the house. And many came together, so that there was no room: no, not even at the door. And he spoke to them the word. 3 And they came to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was carried by four. 4 And when they could not offer him unto him for the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was: and opening it, they let down the bed wherein the man sick of the palsy lay. 5 And when Jesus had seen their faith, he says to the sick of the palsy: Son, your sins are forgiven you. 6 And there were some of the scribes sitting there and thinking in their hearts: 7 Why does this man speak thus? He blasphemes. Who can forgive sins, but God only? 8 Which Jesus presently knowing in his spirit that they so thought within themselves, says to them: Why think you these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy: Your sins are forgiven you; or to say: Arise, take up your bed and walk? 10 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins (he says to the sick of the palsy): 11 I say to you: Arise. Take up your bed and go into your house. 12 And immediately he arose and, taking up his bed, went his way in the sight of all: so that all wondered and glorified God, saying: We never saw the like. 13 And he went forth again to the sea side: and all the multitude came to him. And he taught them. 14 And when he was passing by, he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom; and he said to him: Follow me. And rising up, he followed him. 15 And it came to pass as he sat at meat in his house, many Publicans and sinners sat down together with Jesus and his disciples. For they were many, who also followed him. 16 And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples: Why does your master eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 17 Jesus hearing this, says to them: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. For I came not to call the just, but sinners.
(Luke 5: 17-32) 17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he sat teaching, that there were also Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, that had come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was to heal them. 18 And behold, men brought in a bed a man who had the palsy: and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof and let him down through the tiles with his bed into the midst before Jesus. 20 Whose faith when he saw, he said: Man, your sins are forgiven you. 21 And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 And when Jesus knew their thoughts, answering he said to them: What is it you think in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven you; or to say: Arise and walk? 24 But that you may know that the Son of man has the power on earth to forgive sins (he says to the sick of the palsy), I say to you: Arise, take up your bed and go into your house. 25 And immediately rising up before them, he took up the bed on which he lay: and he went away to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And all were astonished: and they glorified God. And they were filled with fear, saying: We have seen wonderful things today. 27 And after these things, he went forth and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him: Follow me. 28 And leaving all things, he rose up and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: And there was a great company of publicans and of others that were at table with them. 30 But the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying to his disciples: Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 And Jesus answering, said to them: They that are whole need not the physician: but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.
It’s remarkable to see the same story told in three different ways. This is why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called “Synoptic” Gospels. “Synoptic” comes from the Greek sun-optike, meaning something like “seeing-together.” The man described in Matthew 9:9, as “sitting in the custom house”, and “named Matthew” is the described as “Levi,” and “sitting at the receipt of custom” at Mark 2:14, and Luke 5:27. All three accounts describe the vocation of Matthew-Levi.
“Levi” was most likely the original name, and “Matthew” was what he came to be called. This is suggested at Matthew 9:9, where the Greek words are “Maththaios legomenos.” Though this is translated above as “named Matthew,” the Greek legomenos can be taken to mean that “Maththaios” was what people called him, while leaving open the possibility that it wasn’t his original name.
I know, I know, the Luke text also said that Jesus saw someone “named Levi.” But the Greek here is onomati Leuin, which suggests that that was his official name.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia:
It is probable that Mattija, “gift of Iaveh”, was the name conferred upon the tax-gatherer by Jesus Christ when He called him to the Apostolate, and by it he was thenceforth known among his Christian brethren, Levi being his original name.
Let’s leave it at that, for now. Here is a parting image of St. Matthew, by Caravaggio. As is often the case in paintings of the evangelist, he is writing diligently, studiously, and reverently, helped by an angel. Its title, appropriately enough, is “St. Matthew and the Angel.”
Pangur the Historian 