Introduction
Creation and wisdom are inextricably linked in the Old Testament. There is a concept that wisdom is not theological in nature. Wisdom is a theological component, as it helps people understand the nature of the world and their response to the Lord. Since the current topic of the creation debate is linked to science, it would seem that wisdom is also a scientific component.
However, science and wisdom are not as closely related as they might seem at first glance, and the concept should not be misleading. Old Testament scholar Walter Zimmerli proposed: “A theology of wisdom is a theology of creation.” This work discusses this statement and aims to demonstrate that wisdom is closely tied to the theology of creation, rather than the scientific aspect of the issue.
Science, Wisdom, and Creation
Since the view of wisdom as part of a scientific approach can be misleading, it is necessary to clearly define the area of knowledge to which the concept of wisdom can apply. Firstly, science relies on empirical knowledge and deals with facts, classification, and systematization. Wisdom can also observe the natural world, but does not seek to classify and distinguish; it intends to determine the limits of available behavior and the best ethical solutions for various situations.
God created people so they could be part of the universe, know it, develop, and act according to the Divine Will. The literature of wisdom, which answers the question of how to live righteously, is called upon to supervise people and guide them on the right path. That is why wisdom is part of theology, not a scientific approach. Wisdom is intended to train people to conform to the Divine Will, while science is aimed at pragmatic knowledge of the world.
Wisdom Literature
The concept of wisdom, encompassing the study of this aspect and its relationship to theology and creation, extends deeply into the roots of human history. It is necessary to refer to these texts to understand the relationship between creation theology and the concept of wisdom. Wisdom literature is applied to the Old Testament canonical books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. All of these books share common characteristics and perspectives. Initially, wisdom literature spread in the territory of the Ancient Near East. The genre is based on the author’s desire to teach people to live righteously and virtuously in connection with the Divine Will.
A key tenet of wisdom literature is that, while traditional storytelling techniques are employed, the books convey insight and wisdom about nature and reality. The wisdom literature from Sumer and Babylonia is one of the most ancient in the world. Parables were especially popular among the Sumerians and contained many fables and anecdotes. In ancient Egyptian literature, wisdom texts were part of the genre of learning. Wisdom is the central theme of Proverbs, Psalms, and other Sacred Texts.
Mesopotamian Wisdom
Mesopotamian literature, discussing the concept of wisdom, is unclassified and fragmented. This category encompasses texts of various genres, including proverbs found in collections and quoted in letters, as well as fables. The instructions pass on the antediluvian wisdom to the post-Flood generations. Some texts explore the issue of theodicy, examining the relationship between man and God, as well as individual divine retribution, while others lament the futility of life.
The most suitable way to understand Mesopotamian wisdom literature is to study proverbs and sayings, as this was the most effective way to disseminate knowledge among ordinary people. One of the most famous is the proverb: “You should not say to Ninĝišzida: ‘Let me live!’ It means that a person cannot interfere in divine providence, but must rely on the fate prepared and endure tests with dignity.
The following saying relates to the correct organization of human existence: “Who can compete with righteousness? It creates life.” This expression means that only with a righteous life can a person call their existence spiritual. The quote about the correspondence with the divine vision can be traced in the following statement: “You don’t speak of that which you have found. You talk only about what you have lost”. It advises people not to complain about providence, but to humbly bear their cross and rejoice in divine rewards.
Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story about the heroes of Mesopotamia and an example of Sumerian wisdom in expression. Gilgamesh’s journey gives the reader a hint of a connection to the hero’s divine initiation. The theme of the meaninglessness of earthly life and the inevitable, but redemptive nature of death is raised. According to the narrative line of the epic, it appears that the highest wisdom is humility, given the transience of human existence.
Gilgamesh must become a wise king who has seen the profound aspects of the world and can recognize the transience of his existence. In Gilgamesh, wisdom was obtained by traveling to the ends of the Earth and exploring the depths with the help of his superhuman strength. Wisdom lies in the inevitability of death for everyone, kings or mere mortals. Death is invisible, but always present next to a person; death awaits everyone, while people do meaningless things in everyday life.
According to the epic, wisdom is given after experiencing deep events aimed at understanding the finiteness of life and the need for righteous behavior. “He who saw the Deep, the country’s foundation, [who] knew…, was wise in all matters!”. Gilgamesh managed to gain wisdom by seeing the end of everything. The epic does not call for living in fear of the end, but rather, on the contrary, to appreciate life more because of its transience. This can be seen as an example of Christian humility before the Will of the Lord. The one who can come to terms with the finiteness of being can be a sage.
Mesopotamian wisdom says a lot about what constitutes a righteous, divine existence. Wisdom applies to everyday life and aims to direct people to the proper, righteous path. It has the goal of knowing the human importance and the correctness of the relationship with God. Since man is directly a product of creation, man’s relationship with the Lord can be considered part of the theology of the concept itself. Therefore, wisdom is part of the theology of creation, explaining the permissibility of these relationships and the right approaches.
Old Testament Wisdom
Wisdom is needed to be safe from the negative influences of the world, from evil, to choose the right path, to rejoice in good and do good, and to have a long, quiet life. Christian wisdom differs from the classical judgment of wisdom, which is usually presented as a search for clues to the mysteries of being through reasoning and inference. According to the Holy Scriptures, wisdom is a step towards God, the Word of God, and His wisdom is a protection from many troubles in this world. The highest wisdom can be achieved only by observing the commandments.
Didactic books make up one-third of the Old Testament’s writings. They teach people to organize their personal, earthly lives so that they are blessed by God and other people, and give a person well-being and peace of mind. Wisdom is the knowledge that God gives to a person when understanding the law of God through its figurative interpretation. The words’ God gave’ mean nothing more than the interpretation of the Bible and its understanding.
Solomon asked God only for wisdom and knowledge to govern God’s people. And God said to Solomon: “Since you did not ask for wealth, possessions, glory, victories, or long life, but asked for wisdom and knowledge, wisdom and knowledge will be given to you; and I will give you riches, possessions, and glory such as the former kings did not have, nor will there be after you.” Didactic books are full of practical advice on how to rationally, wisely, in the fear of God, in righteousness, honesty, work, and temperance, arrange a person’s life and the life of their family, how to be a valuable member of society. The practical guidance of daily life is a characteristic feature of the Old Testament doctrine of wisdom.
However, it would be a mistake to think that biblical wisdom is the wisdom of earthly prosperity. The Bible sees true wisdom in humble devotion to God in the most difficult suffering and in recognizing the incomprehensible nature of the ways of God in innocent suffering. No matter how attractive prosperity, wealth, success, or fame may be, getting attached to anything of this kind is pointless. There is something higher, more valuable, more praiseworthy in life that comes from wisdom. This is the desire to know God’s works, study nature, and, finally, the desire for pure knowledge: to know the composition of the world and the action of the elements; beginning, end, and middle of time.
The Old Testament explains wisdom. This knowledge directly relates to man and guides a person in life in accordance with God’s Will, so it can be considered part of the theology of creation. Wisdom is given to man to comprehend the design of creation, the world around, and to come to the Lord. That is why it is firmly connected with the intent of creation. Wisdom was given to the masters for a righteous, sinless life and service to the Creator.
Wisdom of King Solomon
Christian wisdom is often associated with King Solomon of Israel, who spoke the parables recorded in the books of the Wisdom of Solomon. In the parables of King Solomon, something more is revealed than life advice or the foundations of a righteous being. Solomon’s parables are verses composed according to a special rhythm and ancient versification laws; many are similar to psalms. The parables have no plot; the sayings are simple, concise, and contain a deep, sacred meaning. The poetic form was necessary for better memorization; however, this feature was lost in translation.
The main theme of Solomon’s parables is the discussion of how to become truly wise. The concept of wisdom in these texts is revealed not from the view of education or the possession of knowledge, but from the aspect of virtuous behavior and approaching God. King Solomon received wisdom as a divine gift; he did not get it through his own experience and study; however, he does not urge the reader to follow the same path. The author of the parables tells how to receive the blessing of the Lord, because only from Him can one receive this gift – wisdom.
Solomon’s advice is based on trust in the Lord, hope in Him, humility, and patience. There is no question of learning or knowledge; wisdom must be achieved in the plane of sensory perception. Unusually, the image of wisdom itself is expressed in proverbs, a humanized phenomenon endowed in the text with its own thoughts and actions. Many of Solomon’s reasons overlap with the Holy Scriptures and complement the overall reasoning about Christian wisdom. Wise is not the one who has acquired a lot of knowledge and experience in their life, but the one who lives according to the Word of God.
According to Solomon, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of life can only come from the Lord. “For the Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding”. Wisdom does not come from merely mastery of the knowledge available to a person; it is achievable only by living a righteous life according to God’s Will. Solomon talks about the beginning of knowledge: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.” This is not a fear based on submission, but rather the knowledge that God’s Judgment awaits at the end of each person.
It is necessary to remember this to live in anticipation of God’s Judgment and act in such a way that actions and deeds correspond to the answer that will have to be given. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding”- says Solomon. This statement directly emphasizes the need to rely on the senses, not the mind, to live a virtuous life. Accordingly, the wisdom of Solomon asserts that wisdom is comprehended only in relation to the Divine Will. These tips will allow people to be filled with wisdom in earthly life, respectively, and are directly related to the theology of creation.
Wisdom of Ahiqar
The wise sayings of Ahiqar have survived to this day in two traditional forms of narration: parables and historical notes. Ahiqar is a legendary sage who adopts his nephew and, through his wise approach, triumphs over a relative who does not express gratitude to him. Ahiqar’s sayings may seem contradictory since the texts have changed and are written in Aramaic and Arabic, and the authorship is already difficult to establish.
However, the wise Ahiqar is mentioned in the Bible, so his sayings need to be heard. “I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work, long before he made anything else,” says the parable. Wisdom comes from the divine itself and is inextricably linked with the very act of creation. Earthly wisdom received by man cannot be compared with divine wisdom. However, it is possible to achieve it through a righteous life. Achieving it must be the goal of a Christian’s life to understand the power bestowed at the act of creation.
Parallels Between Creation and Wisdom Theology
Biblical theology of creation allows people to see patterns in creation and redemption. Studying the act of creation and understanding divine wisdom can bring people closer to a righteous life. The study of creation allows people to believe that God is merciful to His creatures, despite the fact that the fall brings the Judgment of God on people. The theology of wisdom is called upon to teach people not to fall into sin, to live righteously in accordance with God’s Will and Plan, the expectations of His sons.
The great thinkers of antiquity and the Sacred Texts are the source of worldly wisdom, allowing people to walk their earthly path with dignity. Mesopotamian proverbs and sayings advise not to grumble against the Lord and teach humility and patience. One of the most famous ancient literary monuments – the Epic of Gilgamesh – urges people to come to terms with the inevitability of death. Only those who have resigned themselves to the transience of human existence are expected to approach divine wisdom.
According to the Old Testament, the Word of God gives people the wisdom to live righteously and according to His Will. Comprehension of the wisdom of a righteous earthly life should become the basis for the existence of a Christian. God-given wisdom allows people to avoid many troubles, to bear their fate with dignity, and answer before His Judgment. God protects and instructs His children, teaching them how to live in accordance with moral principles.
The wisdom of King Solomon clearly distinguishes between wisdom and knowledge. Higher knowledge is inaccessible to man, but one can strive for wisdom during earthly life. The modern interpretation of wisdom inextricably links this concept with the accumulation of experience and the acquisition of empirical knowledge about the world. Solomon teaches people that the main, divine wisdom is acquired not by knowledge, but by feelings. Boundless trust and love for God are the keys to acquiring this gift. Ahiqar explains that wisdom preceded the act of creation; it appeared before everything else on Earth, and God wants His children to be wise during earthly life.
The theology of wisdom is inextricably linked with the theology of creation. Without understanding the history of creation and divine intentions, it is impossible to approach the knowledge of the universe’s structure. The experience of wisdom is characterized as a gift, as any event in salvation history is a gift, for the awe of God leads to wisdom. The main lesson from the studied texts is that human existence is fleeting, death is inevitable, but it is in the power of everyone to live life righteously. The study of the wisdom literature brings people closer to being in line with God’s Will and Idea at the time of the creation of the first people. Wisdom is given by God, just as once people were given life.
Conclusion
Creation theology is fully connected to wisdom theology: the study of the act of creation, the divine intentions can bring a person closer to understanding the world created by God. Wisdom is given by God and is the highest value. At the same time, wisdom should not be associated with knowledge or experience. Wisdom is bestowed only on those who can feel with heart and soul. This is the fundamental difference between Christian wisdom and this concept broadly. True wisdom lies in a righteous life, trust in God, understanding the principles of the world order, and the value of the act of creation.
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