The book of Wisdom of Solomon.

This book is about God.s wisdom. Its composition was influenced by the Proverbs of Solomon,

and  therefore the name of Solomon is included in the title. Yet the book of Wisdom was pro-

duced many centuries after the death of Solomon. It was written in Greek and is not found in the

Hebrew Bible. The writer of the book was familiar with the Greek philosophy and customs of the

3rd century BC. The theme of the book is the teaching about the true divinely revealed religion as

the manifestation of God.s Wisdom, whereas pagan idol worship is considered to be a product of

the erring and sinful human mind.

  The main goal of the book.s writer is to show the advantages of God’s wisdom preserved

in the divinely revealed religion of the Jews on one hand, and the meaninglessness of idol worship

 on the other.

  The writer of the book of Wisdom first describes the contemporary beliefs and morals of the

Jews who, being righteous worshippers of the true God, suffered persecution on the part of pa-

gans (1-3). In the following chapters he writes about the sure reward of the righteous sufferers

and the inevitable punishment of pagan persecutors, if not here on earth,  then  definitely  after

death. God did not create death. It has its cause in human sin. Man was created  incorruptible.

Therefore the righteous will be at rest, even if they die, and their souls are in the hand of God.

Suffering and death have redemptive significance for the righteous, so that their cruel suffering

and early death assure us of their future glory.

  The writer concludes by describing characteristics and advantages of the God-given wis-

dom.