Scripture and Gospel: Intertextuality in Irenaeus

The intertextuality of Scripture is a fundamental aspect of the Christian theological tradition. That its sacred texts refer to and are shaped by other sacred texts is inscribed within the canonical texts themselves and that theological reflection proceeds largely, though importantly not exclusively, by reflecting on these texts is self-evident, given their sacred status. However, although often used to refer to what was previously called “allusion,” the term “intertextuality” as coined in 1966 by Julia Kristeva and as frequently deployed in contemporary critical theory contains other often unspoken commitments.