A Wisdom Bible Study

1. 74

   IntimatEvolutionposted 15 years ago

   A little background history;
   
   The Book of Wisdom was written approx. 100 yrs., before the coming of Christ.  Its author was a member of the Jewish community at Alexandria, Egypt.  He wrote in Greek, in a style patterned on that of  Solomon, placing his wisdom in a Hebrew verse writing style. Which tells us modern day Biblical Scholars, that this man must have have some direct connection to the Jewish sect called Gnostics.
   
   Though the authors name is not known, it is clear that the author of the Book of Wisdom had a profound knowledge of the earlier Old Testament writings.  Making him an outstanding representative of the religious devotion and learning among the Sages of postexilic Judaism.
   
   Many believe that the author predicted the coming of Christ, and gives the best description of Jesus the man, his purpose, and Christ's preordain life.
   _____________________________________________________________________
   Since so many like to quote scripture around here, I thought maybe we could have a religious bible study open to everyone.
   _____________________________________________________________________
   The verses in question are Chapter 2:13-23.
   
   In these verses, one kind find the perfectly laid out description of Christ. 
   
   Verse 18 in this bible study reads, For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19 With revilement and torture let us put him to the test, that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.
   
   Is this the proof Christians need that Jesus was indeed the son of God?  Or, could Jesus been just another Gnostic Jew, well versed in scriptures and planned his life around this scripture to gain recognition and a mass following?

   replyreport
   1. 54

      cwriter82posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The Bible is the proof. It is the only book thay can fine any falts. You many not underatnd some if it but when time comes you will.
      
      In the Bible Jesus told the people what will happen befor his return. The thing that he had told them is happening NOW. 
      
      In the last book  and Chapter of the Bible It gives a small description of jesus Lord ower God,
      
      Just remeber don't forget God you are nothing with out him.
                                                   cwriter82

      replyreport
      1. 74

         IntimatEvolutionposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         cw, nobody is arguing against your points.  With that said, what is your opinion on the biblical verses?  What is your interpretation?  This is a bible study.  I would like to read that point of view.

         replyreport
2. 0

   Twenty One Daysposted 15 years ago

   I can't say that it is proof, but it certainly points to His work and suffering. He was a student of Wisdom/Philo even as a child.
   
   did he pull this together from other writings -independent of the traditional Hebrew scripts, possibly or was purely inspired without it.
   I like that you found this. (aka linkage).
   Makes me want to stop my the University library -again- and look it up.

   replyreport
   1. 74

      IntimatEvolutionposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It is always good to look back on old study materials. 
      
      I still remember the first time I read this book, I was awestruck.  However, as I grow older in my studies I find that it could have been very possible, that Jesus used texts such as this, to play on people's emotions.  As you even admitted, you are not sure whether texts like these are proof or not. This book would have been well read during that time period, and most likely conversed about in Christ's sect of Jewish heritage and villages. 
      
      Then again, we are taught that the bible is the word of God, as translated by Godly men. 
      
      I also appreciate the last part of verse 23, where it says "the image of his own nature he made him."  Describing God's attributes  to be divinely bestowed to a man of a future revelation. It would seem that he perfectly described Jesus.

      replyreport
3. 68

   TheGlassSpiderposted 15 years ago

   I can't stay long right now, might make it back later...but this just pops into my head right off the bat:
   
   I'm not sure that being a "son of God" is an exclusionary thing, i.e., I'm not convinced that there's only one. Is it possible that yes, Jesus intentionally lived up to these scriptures in order to fulfill prophecy AND that anyone else can follow his example and do the same? In other words, perhaps living up to those scriptures is what MAKES one the Son of God?
   
   What do you think?

   replyreport
   1. 74

      IntimatEvolutionposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Ah! 
      
      I think you be onto something.  I too, would like to read more opinions on this view point.  Another point, if what you write has truth behind it, then are these scriptures merely directions instead of prophecy?

      replyreport
4. 60

   Jeramiposted 15 years ago

   I have not read the book that you mentioned.
   I agree with 21 .. I have always felt that Jesus knew beforehand the prophesy that he was to fulfill and fulfilled them.   
    
      Seems to me that through out scripture we are told to keep an open mind and prove those things that we are told to believe as to their source.
      And he is said to have been sitting a standard for us to live by.  I'd have to ask to what extreme are we suposed to do that?
      I think that those answere must be found in our own higher selves. Maybe our subconcience is smarter than we give it credit for. 
    
     Lets not confuse our subconcience with our wild imagination.
      I think that here is wisdom! 
      to know the diffrence ???????????

   replyreport
5. 60

   wayne srposted 15 years ago

   I have not read the book that you mention.But I believe that the coming of Christ was prophesied,I think 700 yrs before He came on the scene.And it is possible that the authors had read about his coming and maybe got their information from the book of Isaih.It really is hard to say.But Jesus knew why he was here.He told his desciples.And I believe[my own personal opinion]that when he maybe 5or6 yrs. old,he knew his purpose.Remember he taught in the temple when he was 12 yrs. old.But it is interesting to know that the unknown authors described his suffering.

   replyreport
6. 74

   IntimatEvolutionposted 15 years ago

   The book of Wisdom is in the bible, if you all would like to read it sometime.  It is a very short book, and takes no time to read. 
   Might be worth you while to try it.  I love it.  I think it is a very intriguing book.
   
   
   Brief summary as found on Wikipedia for those who has read the old testament;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Wisdom
   
   The second chapter of the Book of Wisdom (Wisdom 2) builds up to a prophecy of Christ’s passion. First the ungodly men are described (Wis 1:16-2:9), followed by their plotting against the righteous man (2:10-20). The passage describes in detail the treatment of Jesus by the Jewish authorities. The first indication for Christians that it is a prophecy of the Messiah is in verse 11. Where the RSV reads weak, the Greek has achrestos, a play on the title Christos. Verse 12 is a quote of the LXX version of Is 3:10; Is 3:10 has been taken to refer to Jesus since the first-century Epistle of Barnabas.[8]  On the whole, this treatment of the suffering of the righteous man is heavily indebted to Isaiah; particularly the fourth Suffering Servant song (Is 52:13-53:12).[9]  Verse 13 uses pais (child, or servant), from Is 52:13. Verse 15 says his very sight is a burden, referencing Is 53:2. In verse 16 he calls God his father, which is thought to be based on a poor understanding of pais as in Is 52:13. Verse 18 is comparable to Is 42:1. Verse 19 makes reference to Is 53:7. A final reference to the Messiah is the righteous man’s “shameful death” in verse 20. This death has been identified with Jesus’ death on a cross, a cursed death hanging on a tree.
   
   The Gospel of Matthew contains allusions to the Wisdom of Solomon. Parallels between Wisdom and Matthew include the theme of testing, and the mocking of a servant of God's claim to be protected by God. Matthew's gospel teaches that Jesus is the suffering servant of God. Wis 2:17-18 (Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.) lent itself to Mt 27:43 (He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”).[10]

   replyreport