WISDOM OF SOLOMON, THE BOOK OF,

WISDOM OF SOLOMON, THE BOOK OF, one of the most interesting and valuable of the Apocrypha, gives a glowing exposition and commendation of true wisdom as described in Job 28:12 et seq.; Prov 8-9. wisdom is represented as emanating from God as the highest good, and as the fountain of all true virtue and happiness. It was with God when he created the world, Prov 8:24-30; is initiated in his secret counsels, Prov 8:22; emanates from him and accompanies all his actions, rules and governs the world, and renews all things. 8:15. This idea prepared the way for the Logos doctrine of Philo and St. John. The literary form of its exposition resembles that of the Ecclesiasticus and the Proverbs. The Solomonic authorship is assumed, Prov 8:10; Hos 9:7, but only in the sense of personation. The author was probably a Jewish philosopher or theologian of Alexandria. He was a full believer in the O.T. revelations, but also acquainted with Hellenic culture. From his school proceeded Philo, to whom the book has sometimes been ascribed; but the author was no doubt older, and stands between Jesus, son of Sirach, and Philo, about b.c. 100. The book, which was composed in Greek and is somewhat artificial in style, is not quoted before Irenaeus.