The Spirit Says: Inspiration and Interpretation in Israelite, Jewish, and Early Christian Texts by Ronald Herms, John R. Levison, and Archie T. Wright

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Spirit Says: Inspiration and Interpretation in Israelite, Jewish, and Early Christian Texts by Ronald Herms, John R. Levison, and Archie T. Wright Timothy Wiarda ronald herms, john r. levison, and archie t. wright, The Spirit Says: Inspiration and Interpretation in Israelite, Jewish, and Early Christian Texts (Ekstasis: Religious Experience from Antiquity to the Middle Ages 8; Berlin: de Gruyter, 2021). Pp. xv + 427. $130.99. This volume contains twenty articles, with an introduction by John Levison (pp. 1–8) and an epilogue by the three editors (pp. 367–72). The contents include Andrew T. Lincoln, "Spiritual Interpretation of Scripture, the Spirit, and the Gospel of John" (pp. 9–20); Blaine Charette, "Insight as a Characteristic of S/spirit in the Gospel of Mark: Spirit and Suffering as the Way of Insight in Mark's Gospel" (pp. 21–38); Beth M. Stovell, "Spirit, Kingship, and Inner-Biblical Allusion in the Book of the Twelve and the New Testament" (pp. 39–60); Anthony C. Thiselton, "The Holy Spirit, Reason, and the Interpretation of Scripture" (pp. 61–72); Mark L. Strauss, "Epistemology and the Spirit in Biblical and Philosophical Perspective" (pp. 73–89); Jonathan D. Parker, "Spirit and Mosaic Authority in Numbers 11" (pp. 91–112); Richard S. Briggs, "Discerning the Ways of God beyond Israel: Joseph, Daniel, and the Spirit in Dream Interpretation" (pp. 113–30); Mark J. Boda, "Knowledge from Above: Revelatory Hermeneutics within Wisdom Literature" (pp. 131–48); Benjamin G. Wright III, '"With a Spirit of Understanding' (Sir 39:6): Spirit and Inspiration in the Wisdom of Ben Sira' (149–68); Cornelis Bennema, "The Hermeneutical Role of the Spirit in the Johannine Writings" (pp. 169–88); Craig G. Bartholomew, "The Spirit of Truth in John's Gospel and Biblical Hermeneutics" (pp. 189–200); Marianne Meye Thompson, "'The Paraclete Will Teach You All Things': Spirit-Inspired Interpretation in the Gospel and Epistles of John" (pp. 201–18); Loren T. Stuckenbruck, "The Spirit and Imitatio Christi in 1 John" (pp. 219–30); Holly Beers, "Who Carries the Mission Forward? The Unnamed and Overlooked Characters in Acts" (pp. 231–50); Ben C. Blackwell, "The Spirit and Justification in the Pauline Corpus" (pp. 251–70); John R. Levison, "The Inspired Interpretation of Scripture in 2 Corinthians 3, the Writings of Philo Judaeus, and the Letter to the Hebrews" (pp. 271–92); Blaine Charette, "Circumcision and Worship in the Spirit of God (Phil. 3:3): [End Page 369] The Realization of an Old Testament Covenantal Hope" (pp. 293–10); Lisa Bowens, "Paul's Spirit Speech: Invasion and Disruption in Romans 8:19–23" (pp. 311–30); Robert Wall, "'Every Scripture Is God-breathed'" (pp. 331–50); and J. Gordon McConville, "'Return to the Heart': The Self and Scripture in the Confessions of Augustine" (pp. 351–66). According to the introduction, the central theme of this volume is the inspired interpretation of Scripture. Not all the articles are directly related to that topic, however, so I will focus here on those that are. Five of the contributors who speak directly about the Spirit's role in Scripture interpretation treat the Johannine writings. While all five hold that the Spirit's reminding and teaching work described in John 14:26; 16:12–15; and 1 John 2:27 applies to Christian Scripture readers today, there are differing nuances and emphases in how they view that hermeneutical activity. Lincoln suggests that this approach will involve contextualization, discernment of fuller meaning, and even elements of suspicion and critique. Strauss highlights an inner testimony that confirms the apostolic message. Bennema presents a comprehensive model showing the Spirit's role as encoder and decoder in a chain of communication from God to Jesus and then through John to today's readers. Bartholomew critiques postmodern pluralism by highlighting the theme of Jesus as the truth and the Spirit as the one who gives understanding. Thompson emphasizes the Spirit's role in giving correct understanding of Scripture's testimony to Jesus. Thiselton offers a general discussion of the Spirit's role in interpretation, especially in relation to human reason and exegetical scholarship. Wright argues that Sir 39:6 refers to a kind of prophetic inspiration given to certain scribes who...