Wisdom Lecture #10 Diane Jacobson

Wisdom of Solomon: Wisdom Encounters Hellenism

Sources:

Collins, John J. Jewish Wisdom in the Hellenistic Age. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1997.

Di Lella, Alexander A. "Conservative and Progressive Theology: Sirach and Wisdom." Studies in Ancient

Israelite Wisdom, ed James Crenshaw, 401-16. New York: KTAV, 1976.

Harrington, Daniel J. Wisdom Texts from Qumran. New York: Routledge, 1996.

Kloppenborg, John S. "Isis and Sophia in the Book of Wisdom." HarTheoReview 75, 1 (1982): 57-84.

Nickelsburg, G. W. E. Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah: A Historical and

Literary Introduction. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981.

Winston, David. The Wisdom of Solomon. Garden City: Doubleday, 1979.

I. Date (200 BC to 50 AD), Place (Alexandria), and Author (Hellenized Jew)

II. Relation of Wisdom of Solomon to Hellenism

A. Purpose of the book (Di Lella - Wisdom of Solomon as Progressive)

B. Use of Hellenized language and forms - 6:17-21; 7:15-22, 24; 13:1-9

C. Hellenized ideas - see below

III. Structure of Wisdom of Solomon

A. Book of Eschatology: Wisdom's Gift of Immortality --1:1-6:21

B. Book of Wisdom: Nature & Power of Wisdom and

Solomon's Quest for Her -- 6:22-9:18

C. Chapter 10 is a pivot chapter pointing both directions

D. Book of History: Divine Wisdom or Justice in the Exodus – 10:1-19:22

[Two Excurses on Divine Mercy (11:15-12:22) and Idolatry (13-15)]

IV. Attitudes toward the Soul - 1:4

A. Pre‑existence - 8:19-20; 9:15; 15:8

B. Immortality – - 1:12-15; 3:1-5; 5:14ff; (8:13-17); 15:3

[athanasia occurs 5 times (3:4; 4:1; 8:13,17; 15:3) and as adjective once (1:15)]

C. Incorruption - 2:23-24; 12:1

[aphtharsia occurs 3 times (2:23; 6:17-20; 8:13 ) and as an adjective twice (12:1; 18:4)]

V. Ethics - 1:1-2 and 6:9-10 (see also Pseudo-Phocyclides)

A. Four Cardinal Virtues – 8:7

B. Attitudes toward sexuality, women, progeny, and age – 3:13-4:1; 4:7-15

C. Basic sin of idolatry – 14:22-28

VI. Hokmah become Sophia; Wisdom is Spirit:

Wisdom of Solomon 1:4-7; 6:12ff; 7:21ff; 8:4-13; 9:1,10,11,17

A. Where we have been in Proverbs, Job, Psalms, and Sirach

B. Texts from Baruch and Dead Sea Scrolls (see back)

C. Indwelling of Wisdom – Wisdom 1:4-7

D. Gift of immortality that leads to a kingdom - Wisdom 6:17-20

E. Cosmic Principle and Mediator - Wisdom 8:4-8

F. Acts in Israel’s history to save - Wisdom 10:1-11:14

G. Superior to light - Wisdom 7:25-30

H. Spirit - Wisdom 1:6; 7:22; 9:17

Excursus: Relationship to Isis

V. Status and Influence

A. Augustine - quotes Wisdom @800 times

B. Paul - 5:17ff; 7:22; 9:16-17; 12:23ff; 15:1ff; etc.

Historical Period	Historical Events	Writings
Hellenistic Period: 333-165 B.C.	Alexander the Great captures Jerusalem: 332 B.C. Simon II, High Priest: 219-196 B.C.	Sirach: 180 B.C. (translated by grandson into Greek: 132 B.C.)
Maccabean Period: 165-63 B.C.	Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes: 175-164 B.C. The Maccabees rededicate the temple: 164 B.C.	Daniel: 166-165 B.C. Dead Sea Scrolls: 134 B.C. - 68 A.D.
Roman Period: 63 B.C. onward	Romans take control of Palestine: 63 B.C. The Birth of Jesus: 5 B.C. Jesus' death and resurrection: 30 A.D. The Romans destroy the Jerusalem temple: 70 A.D.	Wisdom of Solomon: 30 B.C.-30 A.D. Philo: 20 B.C.-50 A.D. Paul: 50-57 A.D. Josephus: 38-100 A.D. Beginning of the Mishnah

BARUCH 3:35 This is our God; no other can be compared to him! 3:36 He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to Jacob his servant and to Israel whom he loved. 3:37 Afterward she appeared upon earth and lived among humanity. 4:1 She is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures for ever. All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die. 4:2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her; walk toward the shining of her light. 4:3 Do not give your glory to another, or your advantages to an alien people. 4:4 Happy are we, O Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.

4Q525 1[Blessed is the one who speaks the truth] with a pure heart,and does not slander with his tongue, Blessed are those who adhere to his laws, 2 and do not adhere to perverted paths. Blessed are those who rejoice in her, and do not explore insane paths. 3 Blessed are those who search for her with pure hands, and do not importune her with a treacherous heart. Blessed is the man who attains wisdom 4 and walks in the law of the most high, and dedicates his heart to her ways, and is constrained by her discipline and always takes pleasure in her punishments; 5 and does not forsake her in the hardship of [his] wrongs, and in the time of anguish does not discard her, and does not forget her [in the days of] terror, 6 and in the distress of his soul does not loath her. For he always thinks of her, and in his distress he meditates on [the law,]…..

Dead Sea Scrolls Psalm 154 --11QPsalms, Col.XVIII 1[Unite] your souls with the good ones and with the perfect ones to glorify the Most High. 2 Join together to make his salvation known, and do not hesitate to proclaim his power 3 and his glory to all ordinary people. For, wisdom has been granted so that YHWH’s glory can be proclaimed 4 and so that his many deeds can be recounted has she been taught to man.... 12 Her voice is heard in the gates of just men and in the assembly of devout men, her song; 13 they speak about it when they eat to bursting, when they drink, all meeting together; 14 their meditation is on the Law of the Most High, their words, to proclaim his power.

4Q185 3...Listen to me, my sons, and do not defy the words of Yahweh 6 Blessed is the man to whom she has been given... 9The wicked person should not brag, saying: She has not been given to me. 10 and I [shall not look for her.] [God has given her] to Israel, and like a good gift, gives her. He has saved all his people, 11 but has destroyed... Whoever glories in her will say: he shall take possession of her 12 and she will find him... With her there are long days, and greasy bones, and a happy heart.