Wisdom 6:25 and 2 Maccabees 10:36

Comment:

Neither of these books, of course, is actually in the Bible—at least as we know the Bible today. They are part of a collection of books generally known as the Apocrypha. Over many centuries they have been included and excluded many times by both Jews and Christians. Today they are generally included, but in a separate section of most Bibles. Why they are so controversial is a fascinating story, but beyond the scope of this reply.

The Book of Wisdom is sometimes known as The Wisdom of Solomon, since Jewish tradition held that it was composed by that great king. Internal and external evidence, however, indicates that it was composed much later—probably in the first century BCE—by a Hellenistic Jew writing in Greek, from the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Writing as, or in the name of, a great personage was an accepted literary style at the time and, indeed, is not uncommon today. Wisdom 6:25 reads as follows: "Therefore, be inspired by my words, and you will profit." I'm not sure how much depth can be found in a fairly straightforward piece of advice. The writer, writing as Solomon, is emphasizing the importance of Wisdom as a guide through life. In verse 24 he writes that "A multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world," which is hard to argue. Listening to wisdom, whether from without or within, is an essential guide to making careful choices. And that is the essence of the creative process that is our purpose here on earth.

Second Maccabees is an abridgement of a longer work written by a man known as Jason of Cyrene. The original five-volume text is now lost. It is a theological interpretation of Jewish history. Second Maccabees 10:36 reads as follows: "Others who came up in the same way wheeled around against the defenders and set fire to the towers; they kindled fires and burned the blasphemers alive. Others broke open the gates and let in the rest of the force, and they occupied the city." Again, I think this passage means what it says. The underlying theological theme can be found a few verses earlier: "Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but their reliance upon the Lord, while the other made rage their leader in the fight" (10:28).  It is equally true in our lives today that battles we enter, and choices we make, out of rage are doomed to ultimate failure because they are based on finite human strength.  It is only when our human determination is linked with our spiritual Truth that lasting peace can be realized in our lives.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed