The Reader with Eyes of Faith: Pusey’s Biblical Scholarship and the Formation of His Theology

Abstract Pusey is perhaps best known for his sacramental doctrine and his emphasis on the early Church fathers. His appointment as Regius Professor of Hebrew, therefore, may well seem an oddity given this reputation: it is easy to assume that, at most, his work as a biblical scholar was parallel, and unrelated to, his more familiar work. But in fact, Pusey’s biblical scholarship is intrinsically involved with the better-known aspects of his thought. This article examines Pusey’s engagement, as a biblical scholar, with three sets of questions: hermeneutics (which led to his engagement with the Fathers), philology and the nature of language (which informed his sacramental theology) and the centrality of the reader in interpreting Scripture (which is linked to his concern with Christian spirituality and sanctification). Appreciating Pusey’s perspective as a biblical scholar is therefore essential to understanding his theological project.