Sirach 1:4 and the trinity

  • Thread starter Thread starter Turtullian
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Turtullian

Guest
In Sirach 1:4, the verse states that Wisdom was created by God. If Wisdom in The Wisdom of Solomon and Sirach is a prefigurement of Christ then, doesn’t this remotely suggest that there was a time in which Wisdom was not? I am wondering how Sacred tradition interprets Sirach 1 in the light of Christ being eternally begotten of the father.
 
Being one of little expertise, I can only point out that the Most Holy Trinity has always existed, so then wisdom would have also esixted. I know nothing about Sirach, but maybe it is prefiguring Jesus on earth?
God Bless,
Margarete
 
Sirach
Chapter 1
1
1 All wisdom 2 comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever.
2
The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these?
3
Heaven’s height, earth’s breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these?
4
Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity.
5
To whom has wisdom’s root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties?
6 **
There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne:**
7
It is the LORD; he created her, has seen her and taken note of her.
8
He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends.

You have two wisdoms being spoken of, that which God’s nature ( uncreated) and that which men can posses (created for man ).

I would guess that the wisdom assosiated with Christ would be the uncreated.
 
40.png
Turtullian:
In Sirach 1:4, the verse states that Wisdom was created by God. **If Wisdom in The Wisdom of Solomon and Sirach is a prefigurement of Christ ** then, doesn’t this remotely suggest that there was a time in which Wisdom was not? I am wondering how Sacred tradition interprets Sirach 1 in the light of Christ being eternally begotten of the father.
Click to expand...
The problem arises from making too close an identification of Wisdom in these books with Christ. Though it is helpful and edifying to do so for meditative and contemplative purposes (and many great saints have done so), we should be cautious about absolutizing it and making a literal one-to-one correspondence.
 
“Sophia” as a “prefigurement of Christ” is just that, and no more - a type.

The personification of wisdom is simply a literary device, reaching back to Egyptian wisdom literature a thosand years before Christ.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top