I don’t know how many times you stick your foot in your mouth but I do it quit a bit. Recently when discussing the Shack with a co-worker I took issue with the author’s separate characterizations of Jesus and Sophia. “Jesus is Sophia,” I said. To which my friend replied, “So you saying Jesus is a Woman.” No, I’m not saying Jesus is a woman. I’m saying the New Testament writers and particularly John present Jesus as the embodiment of Sophia/Wisdom. Jesus was and is a man but before he was a man he was the Logos and or Sophia.
This may sound odd but I assure you my feet are firmly planted in the scripture.
Sophia, the Greek word meaning wisdom, first appears as a character in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. In Chapter one, we read,
Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out.
The writer of proverbs presents Sophia as the protection against the other woman, “the adulteress who flatters with her words” (Pro. 1:16) But more than a literary figure, Sophia in Proverbs is a semi-divine charachter who acts as God’s consort.
“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 “From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. 24 “When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water… 30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.
Because Sophia is Wisdom of God, the writer of Proverbs encourages his readers to pursue her.
13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. 14 For its profit is better than the profit of silver, And its gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.
But Proverbs isn’t the only place where we find wisdom personified. The authors of some of the apocryphal books continue in the vein of Proverbs. The Wisdom of Solomon for instance says,
She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; so nothing impure can find its way into her. 26 For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, and image of his goodness.
The book of Ecclesiasticus has Wisdom/Sophia say,
3‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and I covered the earth like mist. 4 I had my tent in the heights, and my throne was a pillar of cloud. 5 Alone, I have made the circuit of the heavens and walked through the depths of the abyss. 6 Over the waves of the sea and over the whole earth, and over every people and nation I have held sway.
You can find the main passages related to the personification of wisdom in Proverbs 1-9, Ecclesiasticus 24, Wisdom of Solomon 6-8.
How does this Woman relate to Jesus? I’ll address that issue in my next post.
Huh, I’m interested to see where this goes.
More thoughts on the personification of wisdom – my Hebrew professor gets really upset at Mother’s Day sermons telling women to be a “Proverbs 31 wife.” His point is that, in the personification of wisdom as a woman, Proverbs 31 illustrates the benefits of “marrying” wisdom (i.e., life will be blessed and full of goodness and abundance). It’s not really intended as an ideal for women to compare themselves to.
Just trying to add to what you’re already saying.
Absolutly. I wish more people made this point. Proverbs is an inclusio, balancing the beginning and the end.
Hello there…. I thought about logos today and got rerouted…. the past is present the present is past and thanks for the headsup… googlestyle. readership, I love it too… long time no post… nice the wisdom/flesh/logos.mesh….
oh yeah…. Jesus translates “She’s us”.