Help! Aren't there Messianic prophecies in the Book of Wisdom?

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Hi all,

I’m in a discussion on the canon with some Evangelicals and need some help. My point was that the Jewish council of Jamnia in 90 A.D. threw out the 7 deutero-canonical books because one or some of them contained Messianic prophecies that were plainly fulfilled by our Lord. Am I right or wrong? If there are prophecies, where are they?

Thanks,
Gene
 
Hello Gene,

NAB WIS 10:20

Therefore the just despoiled the wicked; and they sang, O LORD, your holy name and praised in unison your conquering hand– Because Wisdom opened the mouths of the dumb, and gave ready speech to infants.

**NAB MAT 21:15 **

“Hosanna to the Son of David!” Do you hear what they are saying?" they asked him. Jesus said to them, “Of course I do! Did you never read this: 'From the speech of infants and children you have framed a hymn of praise’?” **NAB MAT 9:32 **

As they were leaving, suddenly some people brought him a mute who was possessed by a demon. Once the demon was expelled the mute began to speak, to the great surprise of the crowds. “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” they exclaimed.
​
Please visit Wisdom
 
I don’t know about your hypothesis where the Jews at Jamnia threw out books because they contained clear Messianic prophecies. If that were the case, it seems like Isaiah would have been the first to go.

For more on Jamnia, here’s a good article by Steve Ray from the Catholic Answers magazine, This Rock:

catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0409fea4.asp

The issue of Jamnia aside, here’s a pretty clearly Messianic reference to Jesus’ Passion from the Book of Wisdom:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like other men’s, and different are his ways.
He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them,
And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward. (Wisdom 2:12-22)
Click to expand...
 
Hello Gene,

Also, Jesus may have been contemplating Wisdom and Sirach when composing the Lord’s Prayer. Either that or Jesus inspired Wisdom and Sirach or Jesus both inspired and quoted from them. Remember Solomon did not know the name Jesus. However, Solomon certianly describes Jesus in the name “Wisdom”. One can find Old Testament Scriptures which mirror the Lords prayer.

Please visit www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com/prayer.html

NAB MAT 6:9 “This is how you are to **pray: ‘Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name,…’” **

**NAB SIR 51:10 **

I called out: O LORD, you are my father, you are my champion and my savior; Do not abandon me in time of trouble, in the midst of storms and dangers. I will ever praise your name and be constant in my prayers to you.​
**The Lord’s prayer **

"’…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth ****as it is in heaven.’"
**NAB WIS 6:17 **

For the first step toward discipline is a very earnest desire for her; then, care for discipline is love of her; love means the keeping of her laws; To observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility; and incorruptibility makes one close to God; thus the desire for Wisdom leads up to a kingdom.​
The Lord’s prayer continued.

“‘Give us today our daily bread,…’”

**NAB PRO 30:8 **

(provide me only with the food I need)​
The Lord’s prayer continued.

“…and forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us.” **NAB MAT 6:14 **

“If you forgive the faults of others, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours. If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you.”

**NAB SIR 28:1 **

The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the LORD? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.​
The Lord’s prayer continued.

“‘Subject us not to trial but deliver us from the evil one.’”

**NAB SIR 28:2 **

You have saved me from death, and kept back my body from the pit, From the clutches of the nether world you have snatched my feet; you have delivered me, in your great mercy, From the scourge of the slanderous tonge, and from lips that went over to falsehood; From the snare of those who watched for my downfall, and from the power of those who sought my life; From many a danger you have saved me, from the flames that hemmed me in on every side; From the midst of unremitting fire, from the deep belly of the nether world; From deceiving lips and painters of lies, from the arrows of dishonest tongues. I was at the point of death, my soul was nearing the depths of the nether world; I turned every way, but there was no one to help me, I looked for one to sustain me, but could find no one. But then I remembered the mercies of the LORD, his kindness through ages past; For he saves those who take refuge in him, and rescues them from every evil. (SIR 23:1-6)​
 
Wisdom chapter 2 seems to be a prophecy of the death of Christ.
 
Gene C.:
Hi all,

I’m in a discussion on the canon with some Evangelicals and need some help. My point was that the Jewish council of Jamnia in 90 A.D. threw out the 7 deutero-canonical books because one or some of them contained Messianic prophecies that were plainly fulfilled by our Lord. Am I right or wrong? If there are prophecies, where are they?

Thanks,
Gene
Click to expand...

The book contains no prophesies, for the very good reason that there was no prophecy and no prophets when it was written (about 100 BC). They had died out by then.​

The prophecy is a distinct type of literature, like the parable or the psalm. The book is an example of wisdom writing - its not prophetic, any more than it is parabolic. 🙂

Hope that helps ##
 
Gottle of Geer said:
## The book contains no prophesies, for the very good reason that there was no prophecy and no prophets when it was written (about 100 BC). They had died out by then.

The prophecy is a distinct type of literature, like the parable or the psalm. The book is an example of wisdom writing - its not prophetic, any more than it is parabolic. 🙂

Hope that helps ##
Click to expand...

It is prophetic it the same sense that the psalms are prophetic. Like Psalm 22. But there were no “P” Prophets when Wisdom was written. Meaning public Prophets (like Isaiah). Non-public prophecy did not cease. (King David was a non-public “p” prophet, who tradition claims wrote psalm 22.)

For more info, go here:

matt1618.freeyellow.com/prophets.html

and here:

catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9803chap.asp
 
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