Why do some Christians refer to God as Sophia?

[Angel_Hazard]

Hi,
Can someone please explain this, I’m confused. Is Sophia another name for God? Any information (or websites) you may have will be appreciated.

~Blessings

 

[Publisher]

“Sophia” is the “Wisdom of God” personified in scripture…especially in Proverbs.

The Gnostics believed that from Sophia’s desire to return to the Father, she begat from her own volition a being who came to believe he and he alone was the “Only true God”…and through him all the material universe was created…we as spiritual beings have become captive “particles of Light” trapped in this mortality…Jesus crossed the Boundary to give us the True Gnosis, thereby allowing us to be free of the “God of the Blind”…“Samael” or “Ialdaboeth”…

Eastern Christians I believe use the personification of “Sophia” in their spirituality…I’m a bit unclear as to Her role in Eastern Christian religious practice

Some accept Sophia as the “feminine aspect of God”.

Just as Jesus was the personification of God’s Word made flesh…so to is Sophia the personification of God’s Wisdom…in the NT, Jesus is also understood to be the “Wisdom of God”.

 

[Nine_Two]

As Publisher said, Sophia isn’t a name for God but generally when used (like in the Hagia Sophia) means the Wisdom of God.

As he also mentions there is the Gnostic concept of Sophia but that is completely different.

 

[Angel_Hazard]

“Sophia” is the “Wisdom of God” personified in scripture…especially in Proverbs.

The Gnostics believed that from Sophia’s desire to return to the Father, she begat from her own volition a being who came to believe he and he alone was the “Only true God”…and through him all the material universe was created…we as spiritual beings have become captive “particles of Light” trapped in this mortality…Jesus crossed the Boundary to give us the True Gnosis, thereby allowing us to be free of the “God of the Blind”…“Samael” or “Ialdaboeth”…

Eastern Christians I believe use the personification of “Sophia” in their spirituality…I’m a bit unclear as to Her role in Eastern Christian religious practice

Some accept Sophia as the “feminine aspect of God”.

Just as Jesus was the personification of God’s Word made flesh…so to is Sophia the personification of God’s Wisdom…in the NT, Jesus is also understood to be the “Wisdom of God”.

Thank you for explaining this.

 

[Publisher]

As Publisher said, Sophia isn’t a name for God but generally when used (like in the Hagia Sophia) means the Wisdom of God.

As he also mentions there is the Gnostic concept of Sophia but that is completely different.

Thank you Friend,

I just was not comfortable explaining the Eastern Christian understanding of “Sophia”…as I understand…there are icons of Sophia which are venerated in Eastern Christianity?