Texts in Conversation
The Christian theologian Athanasius uses the Wisdom of Solomon as an authoritative source when he incorporates its teaching about the pursuit of wisdom and the gift of immortality, aligning with wisdom that true understanding transforms human nature.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Wisdom of Solomon 6:18
Deuterocanon
14 He who rises up early to seek her won’t have difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates. 15 For to think upon her is perfection of understanding, and he who watches for her will quickly be free from care; 16 because she herself goes around, seeking those who are worthy of her, and in their paths she appears to them graciously, and in every purpose she meets them. 17 For her true beginning is desire for instruction; and care for instruction is love. 18 And love is observance of her laws. To give heed to her laws confirms immortality. 19 Immortality brings closeness to God. 20 So then desire for wisdom promotes to a kingdom.
Date: 50 BCE – 50 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word 4:6
Early Christian
6 For man is mortal by nature, since he is made out of what is not; but because of his likeness to Him who is (and if he still preserved this likeness by keeping Him in his knowledge), he would hold off his natural corruption and remain incorrupt; as Wisdom says: Paying attention to His laws is the assurance of immortality. And being incorrupt, he would live from then on as God, which I suppose divine Scripture refers to when it says: I said, you are gods, and you are all sons of the Most High; but you die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Date: 335 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... A quotation from Wisdom of Solomon 6:18: ('immortality' is literally 'incorruption') ... compare with chapter 13:1 ..."
Edward R. Hardy, Christology of the Later Fathers (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1977), 59.
* 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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