Jesus & Wisdom

Ecclesiastes

Is life lived in Vain?

Author

The author was a sage that reflected on the meaning of life during the time the Jews were under Greek rule

He questioned the common notion that virtue leads to good fortune, and wickedness to misfortune.

The author is Ecclesiastes in Greek (or Qoheleth in Hebrew) Ecclesiastes means member of

an assembly Qoheleth means teacher

He worried about injustice and wickedness

the book

The book is known for what appears to be a pessimistic outlook on life.

He asked God, “Why?”He says that nothing makes

a difference People are born, die, and are

forgotten, and there is nothing new under the sun: “Vanity of vanities! All is

vanity!” (1:2). Here vanity means

“meaninglessness.”

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

Wisdom in the

Teachings of Israel

Jesus Ben Sirach= author Ran a school for scriptural

study and Jewish wisdom Wanted to instruct Jews

who were confused by the philosophical question of the Greeks All wisdom comes from

God- not from the Greek thought!

Recall: Greeks emphasized reason over faith

Depicts wisdom as a woman who was with God at Creation-like Proverbs

Wisdom is found in the teachings of Israel as given by God, and keeping the Commandments is the way to wisdom.

The book’s alternate name is Ecclesiasticus- which means “church book” (is not the same as Ecclesiastes)

Wisdom of Solomon

The Author The author (called a sage) struggled with the problem of evil

He refused to accept the idea that God rewards goodness and punishes sin in this life.

He witnessed righteous Jews being tortured

The answer was that rewards and punishment will not necessarily come in this life. Believed in afterlife

The Greeks introduced the concepts of body and soul to Judaism

Also called the Book of Wisdom- attributed to King Solomon, who died long before the book was written

The vindication of the righteous is awaited after death. The hope is not for

resurrection but for the continued life of the soul, which is untouched by torment or death.

God did not make death death entered the world

through “the envy of the devil” 2:24

The Book of Solomon: content

The Spirit of God

In the opening chapter of the book we are told that wisdom is a holy spirit (1:5)

Wisdom is the spirit of the Lord that fills the whole world 1:7.

A collection of love poems

or love songs

Also know as Song of Solomon or Canticles

It is a collection of love poems

that early interpreters saw as a religious allegory of God’s passion for Israel.

It is a collection of love songs, a

celebration of erotic love between man

and woman.

The association to Solomon is due to the

fact that his name is mentioned six times.

Solomon is never the speaker in any of the

passages that mention him.

Most often, the speaker is a woman,

sometimes addressing the

beloved directly, sometimes speaking to “the daughters of

Jerusalem.”

Major modern interpretations

(1) a drama with either two or three main

characters(2) a cycle of wedding

songs(3) a single love poem

or(4) a collection of love

poems.

Why is the Song of Songs a book of the Bible, when it does

not even mention God?Some people think even its

language of love and sexuality are inappropriate for a holy

book.But the Jews and Christians who decided to include it in

their respective Bibles recognized that God designed human love as a powerful and

holy bond.

Early interpreters of the book saw the work as a

religious allegory. For both Jews and

Christians- the bride and groom’s mutual love was

an image of God’s love for and passionate devotion to Israel.

For Christians- it was also a figure of Christ’s love

for his “bride,” the church

The bride longs to be as close to the groom as the name seal that

he wears on a cord about his neck,

resting on his heart.She would be one

with him-as he and his name are one.

In this passage we hear the well-known tribute to

the power of love:Set me as a seal upon

your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love

is strong as death, passion fierce as the

grave. 8:6

Love can overcome death. This is the wisdom offered us

by the Song of Songs.