The three main divisions in this well constructed book are distinguished in the present translation by headings:
1.) Wisdom and Man's Destiny - Chapter 1 to 5 -
2.) The Origin, Nature and Effects of Wisdom - Chapter 6 to 9 -
3.) Wisdom and God in History - Chapter 10 to 19 -
The last section concentrates attention on the Exodus from Egypt as the supreme work of God's provident wisdom and it includes a long digression on idolatry.
The author is writing for his fellow Jews whose faith is shaken by the attraction of the cultural life of Alexandria, its imposing philosophical systems, its advance in the physical sciences, its fascinating mystery religions, astrology, Hermetic doctrines, its seductive popular cults. Nevertheless, he has the pagans in mind too, hoping to lead them to God the lover of all men.
The author is neither a philosopher nor a theologian; he is a typical sage of Israel. Like the wisdom writers before him he commends wisdom, born of God, obtained by prayer, mainspring of all the virtues, source of every good. But he outstrips his predecessors, adding to the sum of this wisdom the most recent achievements of human knowledge - 7:17-21; 8:8 - The problem of retribution for so long the study of the sages, cf, Introduction to Wisdom Books, finds its solution in this book.
The author makes use of the Platonic distinction of body from soul, cf, - 9:15 - and of the doctrine of the immortality of the soul to proclaim that God has made man imperishable - 2:23 - and that incorruption is the reward of wisdom and the way to God, - 6:18-19 - This life is only a preparation for another in which the virtuous live with God and the wicked are punished.
His doctrine of God's attribute, Wisdom, is tradition. Wisdom was active in the whole work of creation and Wisdom carries history to its goal. The qualities assigned to Wisdom are from chapter 11 onward attributed to God himself but this because Wisdom and God in his function of world ruler are the same thing. Wisdom, however, is 'an emanation' of the glory of the Almighty...a reflection of the eternal light... an image of his goodness - 7:25-26 - and is therefore distinguished from God.
The author it seems, goes no further than the other wisdom writers here, cf, Introduction to Wisdom Books; it does not appear that he gives Wisdom an existence of its own but the whole passage on the nature of Wisdom, - 7:22-28 - is a step forward in the expression of the traditional ideas and a deeper perception of them. It is not surprising that the New Testament draws upon this passage for its theology of the Word - Col. 1:15-16 - Heb. 1:3 - and especially Saint John - John chapter 1; 3:16-17; 5:20 -
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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