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.