Early church fathers were unanimous on the writer being Matthew, the disciple
Later scholars question Matthew as the writer because the book quotes Mark (Book of) so much.
General conscenses is it was written during the early church timeframe, possibibly around 50 -60 AD. A few date it as late as 110 AD
Most timelines put the Ascension of Jesus at about 30 AD (Bible Timeline). Matthew would have most likely been written between 20 and 30 years later.
Some say Matthew was written in Greek.
There aren’t any surviving Hebrew manuscripts.
It is believed he used Mark’s writing as a source because of the direct parallels.
Some say it was written in Hebrew.
The earliest witness is a second centrury bishop names Papias, “Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could.”
Later in the second centruy Irenaeus wrote, “Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church.”
Generally believed to be written to Jews who had converted to Christianity.
