Like Borrowed Money: Plato and the Theft of Divine Knowledge in Eusebius's Praeparatio Evangelica

Abstract

Eusebius of Caesarea's enumeration of Platonic parallels with scripture in Books 11–13 of the Praeparatio evangelica has traditionally been regarded in modern scholarship as an attempt to extol the virtues of Platonic thought and portray Greek philosophy as a preparation for Christian theology. Such conclusions, however, not only overlook the stated aims and pervasive polemical elements of the text but also disregard the apologist's explicit declarations that Greek philosophy has been (and must be) abandoned by Christians. Studies of the dependency theme in the Praeparatio have suitably problematized the prevailing opinion, showing instead that the purpose of the narrative is to illustrate the superiority of Hebrew wisdom by providing evidence that Plato's greatest ideas were plagiarized from Hebrew scripture. Although closer to the mark, there is an additional element essential to Eusebius's argument that requires consideration. Eusebius himself acknowledges that the impression of parity created by his demonstration of Plato's harmony with scripture potentially complicates his justification for Gentile Christians' apostasy and preference for Hebrew beliefs. As I argue in this article, he addresses this by emphasizing the role of the divine mind in the creation of scripture and—in keeping with the Praeparatio's focus on the deconstruction of Mediterranean identities—by identifying divine inspiration as a distinctly Hebrew characteristic.