Texts in Conversation
The epistle of 1 Clement quotes the Wisdom of Solomon, showing how this Jewish text was used authoritatively in early Christian tradition. The quoted text discusses Wisdom’s concern with divine justice and how people shouldn't challenge that.
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Wisdom of Solomon 12:12
Deuterocanon
11 For they were an accursed race from the beginning, and it was not through fear of anyone that you left them unpunished for their sins. 12 For who will say, "What have you done?" or will resist your judgment? Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you made? Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the unrighteous? 13 For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people, to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly; 14 nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you have punished.
Date: 100-50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
1 Clement 27:5
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
3 Therefore let our faith in Him be kindled within us, and let us understand that all things are near to Him. 4 By a word of His majesty He compacted the universe; and by a word He can destroy it. 5 Who shall say to Him, “What have You done?” or who shall resist the might of His strength? When He wills, and as He wills, He will do all things; and nothing shall pass away of those things that He has decreed. 6 All things are in His sight, and nothing escapes His counsel. 7 seeing that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day utters word to day, and night proclaims knowledge to night; and there are neither words nor speeches, whose voices are not heard.”
Date: 90-100 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
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Notes and References
"... The Apostolic Fathers (ca. 90-150 CE), those writings closest in chronology to the New Testament writings, have a number of even more striking parallels. quotations, and allusions to noncanonical literature. Notice, for example. that Clement of Rome (ca. 90-95 CE) cited Sirach 2:11 in 1 Clement 60.1, Wisdom of Solomon 12:10 in 1 Clement 7.5, and Wisdom of Solomon 12:12 in 1 Clement 27.5 (perhaps also alluded to in 3.4 and 7.5). In 1 Clement 55.4 6 both Judith (8ff.) and Esther (7 and 4:16) are cited authoritatively or scripturally. The author of 2 Clement (ca. 150 CE) has a number of quotations, allusions, and references from unknown and nonbiblical sources (see 11.2-4,7, and 13.2) as well as a quote from Tobit 16:4. Barnabas (ca. 90-130) employs quotations from Wisdom of Solomon (20.2), 1 Enoch (16.5), 4 Ezra (12.1), and from unknown 'scripture' as in 7.3, 8, and 10.7. The Didache (ca. 70-90 CE) makes use of Wisdom of Solomon in 5.2 and 10.3 as well as an unknown quote in 1.6. Polycarp cites Tobit 4:10 (see also 12:9) in Martyrdom 10.2 ..."
McDonald, Lee Martin
Forgotten Scriptures: The Selection and Rejection of Early Religious Writings
(p. 136) Westminster John Knox Press, 2009
* 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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