The “Wisdom of Solomon” in the Greek Bible is a book whose main content is the doctrine of the beginning, properties and actions of the Wisdom of God in the world. The name of King Solomon in it indicates that the author of the book sometimes narrates on behalf of the most ancient ruler. After all, it was he who became the first teacher of biblical wisdom and its main representative. The Book of Wisdom of Solomon in its subject matter is very similar to the Book of Proverbs of Solomon. But let's try to figure out who the main author is.
"The Wisdom of Solomon" - a book and food for the mind
From ancient times it was believed that this work was written by King Solomon himself. This opinion, in particular, was expressed by such fathers and teachers of the Church as Clement of Alexandria, Tertulian, St. Cyprian, and basically it was based on the fact that his name was in the inscription. Subsequently, this statement was reinforced by the Catholic Church, according to her claims, the book corresponded to church canons.
The error of judgment is that, firstly, the “Book of the Wisdom of Solomon” in the original was written in Greek, and not in Hebrew; secondly, the author of the book is well acquainted with Greek philosophy - the teachings of Plato, the Epicureans and the Stoics; thirdly, the author is not a resident of Palestine, but refers to Greek customs and mores; and fourthly, the book is considered canonical and cannot be written by Solomon, if you start from the Rules of the Holy Apostles and the Epistle of Athanasius the Great.
Opinions about the author
At the time of Jerome, there was another opinion: that the “Book of the Wisdom of Solomon” was written by Philo of Alexandria - a representative of Jewish Hellenism, linking the dogmas of the Jewish religion with Greek philosophy. This opinion was based on the fact that the work was very similar to the teachings of Philo on the Logos. But these similarities were only external. The author of “wisdom” did not think at all what Philo meant by the Logos. And between them there is too obvious an opposite of views. In the Book of Wisdom of Solomon the origin of sin and death is explained as “the envy of the devil”, but Philo could not say this because he did not believe in the existence of an evil principle in the world, and he understood the fall of the forefathers from the Bible purely allegorically. They also perceived the theory of pre-existence differently - the author of the book and Philo. According to the teachings of the book, good souls enter pure bodies; according to Philo, on the contrary, fallen and sinful souls are sent to bodies on earth. Their views also differ from those of the origin of idolatry. Therefore, Philo could not write this book.
Attempts to find the author were unsuccessful, so we can only point out that the author of the book was another Jewish Hellenist, a fairly educated Alexandrian, well versed in Greek philosophy.
Time, place and purpose of writing
After a deep analysis, it can be argued that this book was written at the end of the reign of King Ptolemy IV (c. 212-217 BC) and most likely in Egyptian Alexandria. It can be seen from the text that the author is well versed in Jewish-Alexandrian philosophy and makes allusions to the Egyptian religion.
The purpose of writing the treatise, as it is believed, was that the "Book of the Wisdom of Solomon" was originally intended for the Syrian and Egyptian kings with the aim of transmitting to them some veiled divine teachings and messages.
Content
The main theme of the book is the doctrine of Wisdom from two sides, based on the most famous philosophical teachings. The first is objective reality, not given to us in sensation. The second is subjective reality, perceived in sensations from an objective point of view.
In this case, there is the simplest example: there is God in the world. This is an objective reality (so to speak, an axiom from a mathematical point of view that does not require proof), which cannot be touched or felt on a physical level. His Wisdom is displayed directly in our soul. As for the subjective, this is the personal relationship of each person to God and the understanding of what He offers to everyone who believes in Him on a spiritual level.
Three parts
The book is divided into three main sections: the first (Chap. IV) suggests that only Wisdom can become the leader in achieving true blessed immortality, despite the false teachings of the Jews who denied it.
The second (VI-IX chap.) Part is devoted to the essence of the doctrine, its origin, as well as the importance of possessing such higher knowledge and basic conditions in the aspects of their achievement.
The third part (X-XIX chap.) Is a historical example of the fact that only the people who possess this Wisdom can become happy. Ignorance of it, loss or rejection leads any nation to degradation and destruction (like the Egyptians and Canaanites).
Conclusion
The book "The Wisdom of Solomon" (reviews of it are direct evidence) is one of the most revered documents of all times and peoples, which shows the unbreakable unity of God and man. Regardless of its non-canonical origin, from ancient times it was considered deeply instructive for those who are looking for lessons in piety and wisdom.