Wisdom
[This book is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] The Book of Wisdom teaches the rewards of seeking justice. It praises wisdom. It draws lessons from the Exodus.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
The Book of Wisdom is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
SUMMARY
Title
The title of this book is based on the central theme of the work, which is “Wisdom.”
The Book of Wisdom is sometimes referred to as The Wisdom of Solomon.
Author
The author is probably a Jewish man living in Alexandria in Egypt. He writes in Greek.
Sometimes he writes in the person of king Solomon.
Date
The Book of Wisdom may have been written in the mid-first century BC.
See our study of The Chronology of the Deuterocanonical Books.
Purpose
Many educated Jewish people were attracted by Greek culture. They were tempted to assimilate fully and give up their Judaism.
The author sees the Jewish faith as philosophically and ethically superior to the religious beliefs and practices of the Greeks.
He calls believers to want to grow in wisdom.
Their first step is to seek growth in knowledge and justice.
Their second step is to become open to receiving the gift of wisdom from the LORD God.
OUTLINE
THE REWARDS OF SEEKING JUSTICE
Wisdom 1:1-15. Be single-hearted in seeking the LORD God
Wisdom 1:16. Wicked people are bent on destruction
Wisdom 2:1-24. Wicked people are bent on destruction, continued
Wisdom 3:1-12. The destiny of the righteous
Wisdom 3:13-19. On being without children
Wisdom 4:1-6. On being without children, continued
Wisdom 4:7-19. For righteous people, to die is to be at peace
Wisdom 4:20. The final judgment of the wicked
Wisdom 5:1-23. The final judgment of the wicked, continued
Wisdom 6:1-25. Leaders need to seek the LORD God
SOLOMON PRAISES WISDOM
Wisdom 7:1-6. Solomon is mortal like everyone else
Wisdom 7:7-30. Solomon asked, and God gave him the spirit of wisdom
Wisdom 8:1-21. Solomon asked, and God gave him the spirit of wisdom, continued
Wisdom 9:1-18. Solomon asks God for wisdom
Wisdom 10:1-11. Heroes of wisdom in the Old Testament
Wisdom 10:12-21. Devotion to God is mightier than all else
LESSONS FROM THE EXODUS
Wisdom 11:1-16. The exodus from Egypt
Wisdom 11:17-26. The limitless mercy of God
Wisdom 12:1-27. The LORD God is lenient toward all people
Wisdom 13:1-9. Argument from Design
Wisdom 13:10-19. Ironies in worshipping idols
Wisdom 14:1-11. Ironies in worshipping idols, continued
Wisdom 14:12-31. The origin of idolatry
Wisdom 15:1-6. God is gracious in dealing with us
Wisdom 15:7-19. Some people sell idols to get rich
Wisdom 16:1-29. God liberated his people from slavery to the Egyptians
Wisdom 17:1-21. The plague of darkness
Wisdom 18:1-4. The plague of darkness, continued
Wisdom 18:5-13. The plague of firstborn sons
Wisdom 18:14-16. Allusions to Jesus Christ
Wisdom 18:17-25. The ministry of Aaron
Wisdom 19:1-5. The Egyptians hated foreigners
Wisdom 19:6-12. The whole creation serves the LORD God
Wisdom 19:13-17. Egypt was punished
Wisdom 19:18-22. The LORD God dwells with his people
MEMORIZE
Here are some great verses to memorize:
Wisdom 11:23. But you have mercy on all men, because you have power to do all things, and you overlook the sins of men to the end that they may repent.
Wisdom 11:24. For you love all things that are, and abhor none of the things which you made; For you never would have formed anything if you hated it.
Wisdom 11:26. You spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls. (NAB translation)
SEE ALSO:
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
WISDOM
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.