Texts in Conversation
Colossians describes Jesus as a partner with God in creation, similar to the Wisdom of Solomon, which depicts divine wisdom present at creation and sharing in God’s work. Both personify the agent of creation in cooperation with the divine will.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Wisdom of Solomon 9:9
Deuterocanon
7 You chose me to be king of your people, and a judge for your sons and daughters. 8 You gave a command to build a sanctuary on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city where you live, a copy of the holy tent which you prepared from the beginning. 9 Wisdom is with you and knows your works, and was present when you were making the world, and understands what is pleasing in your eyes, and what is right according to your commandments. 10 Send her from the holy heavens, and ask her to come from the throne of your glory, that being present with me she may work, and I may learn what pleases you well. 11 For she knows all things and understands, and she will guide me prudently in my actions. She will guard me in her glory.
Date: 50 BCE – 50 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
Colossians 1:16
New Testament
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and all things are held together in him. 18 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Date: 80–85 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... These elements of pre-existent glory and creative power are given their fullest development in Colossians 1:15-17, again perhaps part of an early confession or hymn ... These passages are strongly reminiscent of several earlier texts that speak of the role of divine Wisdom in creation (e.g., Proverbs 8:22-31, Wisdom of Solomon 9:1-2, 9-10); this linkage suggests that Paul is ascribing to Jesus Christ attributes that earlier Jewish texts had associated with God's eternal creative wisdom ..."
Richard B. Hays, "The Story of God's Son" in Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, and Richard B. Hays, ed. Seeking the Identity of Jesus: A Pilgrimage (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008), 183–184.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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