The Invention of the Inspired Text: Philological Windows on the Theopneustia of Scripture (The Library of New Testament Studies Book 640)

John C. Poirier examines the “inspired” nature of the Scripture, as a response to the view that this “inspiration” lies at the heart of most contemporary Christian theology. In contrast to the traditional rendering of theopneustia as “God-inspired” in 2 Tim 3:16, Poirier argues that a close look at first- and second-century uses of theopneustia reveals that the traditional inspirationist understanding of the term did not arise until the time of Origen (early third c. CE), and that in every pre-Origen use of theopneustia the word clearly means “life-giving.” The bulk of this volume consists of a detailed investigation of theopneustia, as it appears in the fifth Sibylline Oracle (2×), the Testament of Abraham, the Anthologies of Vettius Valens, Pseudo-Plutarch’s Placita Philosophorum, the Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides, a fragment of Numenius, and the Corpus Hermeticum, as well as in a pair of inscriptions: one at the Great Sphinx of Giza and one at a nymphaeum at Laodicea on the Lycus. Poirier also shows that a rendering of “life-giving” fits better within the context of 2 Tim 3:16, and that that meaning survived late enough to figure in a fifth-century work by Nonnus of Panopolis. He analyses whether any other biblical passages can bear the weight of the doctrine of scriptural inspiration, and briefly tracing the rise of that doctrine among the Church Fathers; and culminates in addressing the implication of rethinking the traditional understanding of Scripture. John C. Poirier examines the "theopneustic" nature of the Scripture, as a response to the view that "inspiration" lies at the heart of most contemporary Christian theology. In contrast to the traditional rendering of the Greek word theopneustos as "God-inspired" in 2 Tim 3:16, Poirier argues that a close look at first- and second-century uses of theopneustos reveals that the traditional inspirationist understanding of the term did not arise until the time of Origen in the early third century CE, and that in every pre-Origen use of theopneustos the word instead means "life-giving." Poirier thus conducts a detailed investigation of theopneustos as it appears in the fifth Sibylline Oracle , the Testament of Abraham , Vettius Valens, Pseudo-Plutarch ( Placita Philosophorum ), and Pseudo-Phocylides, all of whom understand the word to mean "life-giving." He also studies the use of the cognate term theopnous in Numenius, the Corpus Hermeticum , on an inscription at the Great Sphinx of Giza, and on an inscription at a nymphaeum at Laodicea on the Lycus. Poirier argues that a rendering of "life-giving" also fits better within the context of 2 Tim 3:16, and that this meaning survived late enough to figure in a fifth-century work by Nonnus of Panopolis. He further traces the pre-Origen use of theopneustos among the Church Fathers. Poirier concludes by addressing the implication of rethinking the traditional understanding of Scripture, stressing that the lack of "God-inspired" scripture ultimately does not affect the truth status of the gospel as preached by the apostles. List of Tables Preface Abbreviations -- Chapter 1-Is ?All Scripture ? Inspired?? The Meaning of Theopneustia in 2 Timothy 3:16 -- Chapter 2-Pre-Origen Uses of Theopneustia -- Chapter 3-Pre-Origen Uses of Theopneustia -- Chapter 4-Excursus: Theopneustia in the Physiologus and the Cyranides -- Chapter 5-Inspirationism and the New Testament -- Chapter 6- The Screw Turns: Theopneustia in Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, the De Universo (of Hippolytus?), and Origen -- Chapter 7- Post-Origenist Traces of a Vivificationist Understanding of Qeo&pneustoj in Nonnus of Panopolis -- Chapter 8- In Lieu of a Conclusion: Inspirationism's Waning as a Blessing in Disguise-The Truth of the Gospel versus the ?Truth? of the Scriptures in Evangelical and Postliberal Hermeneutics Bibliography Index Cover 1 Series 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Tables 11 Preface 12 Abbreviations 13 1 Is “All Scripture ... Inspired”? Toward a New Look at Θεόπνευστος in 2 Tim. 3:16 18 2 Pre-Origen Uses of Θεόπνευστος 44 3 Pre-Origen Uses of Θεόπνους 84 4 Excursus on Θεόπνευστος in the Physiologus and the Cyranides 106 5 Inspirationism and the New Testament 118 6 The Screw Turns: Θεόπνευστος in Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, the De Universo (of Hippolytus?), and Origen 132 7 Post-Origenist Traces of a Vivificationist Understanding of Θεόπνευστος in Nonnus of Panopolis 160 8 In Lieu of a Conclusion: Inspirationism’s Waning as a Blessing in Disguise—The Truth of the Gospel vs. the “Truth” of Scriptu 170 Bibliography 180 Index of Modern Authors 236 Index of References 248