Wisdom

by Richard J. Clifford

Publisher:

Liturgical Press

, 2013

Overview

In the book of Wisdom, we find the literary voice of Solomon, the model king and seeker of wisdom sharing his meditations. Concepts from Greek philosophy are integrated into Jewish tradition to present new insights into how wisdom can be both a quality of God and a human characteristic. Three affirmations in this lyrical book especially resonate for modern Christians: the kingdom of God means that God’s justice actually rules the world—God is Lord of the universe, not just the God of heaven. He is engaged in human history and dwells with the human race.

Contents

Top Highlights

“The ultimate driving force for the whole industry of image making is greed born of the conviction that life has no meaning (15:12). Money determines all.” (Pages 66–67)

“The author portrays Israel in its defining moment, the exodus. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the moment of origin was deemed particularly important, for it was then that the imprint of the creating gods was clearest. In antiquity, people thought of the world as ‘given’ at the beginning, having already the institutions (kingship, temples, marriage, etc.) and systems of the present. To understand a reality, therefore, one had to understand its founding moment. Hence, the founding moment of Israel, the exodus, took on a special importance.” (Page 47)

“The author’s project is similar to that of the prolific Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria (ca. 20 b.c.–a.d. 50). Philo likewise stood within the Jewish tradition of biblical study, was familiar with pagan learning, and interested in the spiritual dimension of individual life. Like Philo, the author of Wisdom of Solomon is confident in humans’ capacity to know God and act virtuously, and confident too in the special vocation of Israel, whom God protects and endows with wisdom.” (Pages 5–6)

“Like other wisdom books, Wisdom of Solomon puts a premium on learning through the ‘discipline’ of the teacher.” (Page 55)

“The religions were also interested in immortality as a gift from god. Pre-Hellenistic Judaism did not use the concepts of immortality or eternal life to express the blessed future. Rather, it looked for divine restoration of the nation as a whole.” (Page 7)

Product Details

• Title: Wisdom
• Author: Richard J. Clifford
• Series: The New Collegeville Bible Commentary
• Volume: 20
• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2017
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. O.T. Wisdom of Solomon › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780814628546, 0814628540
• Resource ID: LLS:NCBC43WIS
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:25:22Z

About Richard J. Clifford

Richard J. Clifford, S.J., a native of Lewiston, Maine, is Dean of the Boston College, Department of Theology School of Theology and Ministry and Professor of Old Testament. Prior to becoming Dean, he taught biblical studies at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge from 1970 to 2008. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1966. He is a graduate of Boston College, Department of Theology (A.B., M.A.), Weston Jesuit School of Theology (S.T.L.) and Harvard University (Ph.D.). He was General Editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly and is a former President of the Catholic Biblical Association. As well as teaching and lecturing in scholarly circles, he also is active in adult education in various New England dioceses. The