Recognizing the Messiah: A Study of Antithetical Anagnorisis in the Gospel of Matthew is a study of recognition type-scenes and motifs in the first Gospel. It demonstrates that anagnorisis (recognition) is constitutive of the first Gospel and as a narrative technique and recurrent motif, it thematizes the messianic identity (“Christ”), the true knowledge (“Son of God”) and the divine presence (“God-with us”) in Jesus. By analyzing various scenes in the narrative overture, corpus and finale, it argues that the recognition moments focus on Jesus’ divine-messianic identity, deeply rooted in the history, scriptures and traditions of Israel. The motif of recognition accompanied by revelation unfolds the presence of a revelatory epistemology and the indispensability of revelation in recognizing Jesus’ true identity. In encounters with story-characters, Jesus becomes the primary object of their recognition who is both the recognized and rejected Messiah – a recurrent pattern which can be described as an antithetical recognition. Finally, it identifies a recognition-based model of discipleship where one’s ethical conduct becomes a decisive criterion for recognizing a true disciple – from who-Jesus-is to who-a-disciple-is. Thus, anagnorisis as a heuristic-communicative tool, employed with a distinctive theological vision stages the identity-discovery moments of Jesus, the messianic protagonist and functions as a conduit for the Matthean revelatory epistemology (Mt 11,27).

Naveen Wilson Rebello, SVD (1981) is a Divine Word Missionary belonging to the India Mumbai Province. He is currently teaching Biblical Languages, Biblical Exegesis and Theology at Jnana Deepa, Pontifical Athenaeum, Pune. He holds a Licentiate (SSL) and Doctorate in Sacred Scripture (SSD) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. He is a visiting lecturer to many regional and national seminaries. Besides being a formator at Divine Word Seminary, Pune, he is also involved in the formation of biblical study groups and laity animation programmes in India and abroad.