Wisdom of Solomon 2:18

Deuterocanon

12 "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. 13 He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. 14 He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; 15 the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. 16 We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. 17 Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; 18 for if the righteous man is God's child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. 19 Let us test him with insult and torture, so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected."

Matthew 27:43

New Testament

37 Above his head they put the charge against him, which read: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!” 41 In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law and elders—were mocking him: 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” 44 The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

 Notes and References

"... The taunt is undoubtably based on Jesus' popular reputation as a miracle-worker, Matthew 27:43 (compare Psalm 22:8; Wisdom of Solomon 2:18) ..."

Moo, Douglas J. The Old Testament in the Gospel Passion Narratives (pp. 260-261) Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2007


"... It appears, for instance, that Matthew made use of the language of Wisdom of Solomon in his telling the story of Jesus. For example, in Wisdom of Solomon 2:13 we read, “He professes to have knowledge of God and calls himself a child of the Lord.” There is some coincidence of language in Matthew 27:43 where we read, “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son’” (see also parallels in thought in Wisdom of Solomon 2:18–20) ..."

McDonald, Lee Martin Before There Was a Bible: Authorities in Early Christianity (p. 72) T&T Clark, 2022


 User Comments

Do you have questions or comments about these texts? Please submit them here.