Wisdom
This topic was not in the BTD of the NWT, but I felt it was important to deal with. The Watchtower claims that the topic of Proverbs chapter 8, Wisdom, is Jesus Christ himself! As with their doctrine of teaching that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, they built this error in teaching to give them a foundation to claim that Jesus was created. I shall refute this error below!
Proverbs 8:1-3; 22-36
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? [2] She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. [3] She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. [23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. [24] When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. [25] Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: [26] While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. [27] When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: [28] When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: [29] When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: [30] Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; [31] Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. [32] Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. [33] Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. [34] Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. [35] For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. [36] But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
The argument!
The Arian argument claims that the word "possessed" in verse 22, should be translated as the word "create!" Although the Hebrew word " qanah" can be defined as both "possess, own or keep" and "create," they choose to define the word as "create!" You would first have to convince the reader that God was without wisdom until he created "wisdom!" So then, the question arises, "when did God have the wisdom, to create wisdom?" Did he create something that was wiser than he himself? Since the other possible, and more common interpretation, is that God "possessed" wisdom " in the beginning of his way," - " from everlasting (eternity past)" (v. 23) I would agree with fundamental Christian doctrine that God "possessed" wisdom from the beginning, which verse 23 more accurately defines as, " from everlasting!" To say otherwise, as the Watchtower claims, would say that God did not have wisdom until a determined point in time in which He somehow had the wisdom to bring forth wisdom, which is a foolish and nonsensical doctrine to bring forth!
To declare that this scripture is referring to the creation of Jesus, completely denies the scriptures in John 1:3 and Col. 1:16-17 that declares that "ALL things" were made by Jesus, and "NOTHING" was created without him!
IF we consider the J.W.'s translation in Prov. 8 to be interpreted to say that Wisdom was "created," yet keeping in mind John chapter 1 that declares Jesus as the "creator" of "ALL things" and "nothing was made without him," the only possible conclusion to their translation is that Jesus Christ created Wisdom!
Therefore, knowing that John chapter 1 and Col. chapter 1 both identify Jesus as the "creator of ALL things" with NO exceptions, the reader must realize that the person whom Wisdom is speaking about in the following verses, must be Jesus!
Prov. 8:26-29 [26] While as yet he (Jesus) had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. [27] When he (Jesus) prepared the heavens, I (Wisdom) was there: when he (Jesus) set a compass upon the face of the depth: [28] When he (Jesus) established the clouds above: when he (Jesus) strengthened the fountains of the deep: [29] When he (Jesus) gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he (Jesus) appointed the foundations of the earth:
Each of the above verses are speaking about Jesus as the creator, making him the subject of whom Wisdom is speaking about! Wisdom was with him (Jesus) when he created the heavens and the earth, but Wisdom was NOT the creator!
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Col. 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Wisdom is NOT Jesus
As for verse 22 above, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament makes this note:
But (1) Wisdom is not God, but is God's; she has personal existence in the Logos of the N.T., but is not herself the Logos (Jesus); .... This wisdom the poet here personifies; he does not speak of the person as Logos, but the further progress of the revelation points to her actual personification in the Logos. (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Ante-Nicene Fathers
This quote from IRENAEUS shows that Wisdom, was the Spirit of God, Not Jesus! But, as we shall see further in this study, the Spirit of Wisdom dwelt inside of Jesus!
For with Him were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit, by whom and in whom, freely and spontaneously, He made all things, to whom also He speaks, saying, `Let Us make man after Our image and likeness….'” (Against Heresies 4:20:1)
“I have also largely demonstrated, that the Word, namely the Son, was always with the Father; and that Wisdom also, which is the Spirit, was present with Him, anterior to all creation,
(IRENAEUS 200 A.D. Against Heresies 4:20:3-4)
Seven Spirits of God
The beginning of the error of the Watchtower in falling for this false teaching, is that they are NOT familiar with the Seven Spirits of God! Proverbs 8 is not speaking about Jesus! It is speaking about one of the seven spirits of God! You will note in the following verses in Isaiah that these seven Spirits (including Wisdom) were to rest upon Jesus.
Isaiah 11:1-2, 10 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [2] And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
[10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
The scriptures show Jesus to be the "root of Jesse" which I Trust that even the Watchtower will not deny! The spirit of Wisdom is one of the 7 spirits that would "rest upon" Jesus!
The following scriptures are the fulfillment of the above scripture in Isaiah!
Romans 15:12 And again, Isaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Matthew 12:15-21
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; [16] And charged them that they should not make him known: [17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying, [18] Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. [19] He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. [20] A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. [21] And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
These are the seven spirits that rested upon Jesus (Isaiah 11:1-2)!
1. Spirit of the Lord
2. Spirit of wisdom
3. understanding
4. counsel
5. might
6. knowledge
7. fear of the Lord
Within Jesus!
The spirit of wisdom was one of the seven spirits that was within Jesus! Jesus himself was not the spirit of wisdom spoken about in Prov. 8!
Luke 2:40 And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
In like manner, John the baptist was NOT the Holy Spirit. However, he was "filled with the Holy Spirit" as the Spirit of God was within his fleshly body.
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Others who were also "filled with the Holy Ghost" can be read in Luke 1:67, Acts 2:4, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 13:9 etc. In addition to the spirits of Knowledge and Understanding, we too, are admonished by St. Paul to be "filled with ... Wisdom" in the following verse:
Col. 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Jesus is the one who possesses the Seven Spirits!
The following verses show the seven spirits of God. In Rev. 3:1 below, Jesus declares that it is he who possessed these seven spirits which would make the "Lord" of Prov. 8:22 to be "Jesus Himself!" In another study, I prove that the " Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" together, are the LORD!
Proverbs 8:22 The Lord (Jesus) possessed me (Wisdom) in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Rev. 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev. 3:1
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath (echo - possesses) the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Rev. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev. 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having (echo- possesses) seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The word "hath" in Rev. 3:1 and "having" in Rev. 5:6 are defined in the Theyer's Greek Definitions as:
G2192 echo ekh'-o Thayer Definition: 2) to have, i.e. own, possess
The above scriptures showing Jesus to "Possess" the seven spirits of God (including Wisdom) actually confirms the scripture in Proverbs to show the person who "possess" Wisdom as Jesus!
Proverbs 8:22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
H7069 qanah BDB Definition: 1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess
Wisdom is Female!
You will also note, that the spirit of wisdom is identified in the scriptures as feminine! Jesus was male, not female!
Proverbs 4:5-9 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. [6] Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. [7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. [8] Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. [9] She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Proverbs 7:4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Jesus spoke about Wisdom, again, as feminine and not to be himself!
Luke 7:35 (Matthew 11:19) But wisdom is justified of all her children.
Knowing that John chapter 1 declares that Jesus created ALL things, and that NOTHING was created without him, I must contend that Jesus was not created, nor can this scripture in Proverbs chapter 8 be used to prove such a heresy! He always existed (Micah 5:2)
For a complete study on the pre-existance of Jesus Christ, as God, eternal without a beginning, please see my page on Jesus!
|