Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Now, in the same way in which we have understood that Wisdom was the beginning of the ways of God, and is said to be created, forming beforehand and containing within herself the species and beginnings of all creatures, must we understand her to be the Word of God, because of her disclosing to all other beings, i.e., to universal creation, the nature of the mysteries and secrets which are contained within the divine wisdom; and on this account she is called the Word, because she is, as it were, the interpreter of the secrets of the mind. And therefore that language which is found in the Acts of Paul, where it is said that “here is the Word a living being,” appears to me to be rightly used. (Book II, Part 3)

Wisdom - the Greek is sophia (Σοφíα) - must be understood as the Word of God - the Greek is logos (λόγος).

Philo of Alexandria is the first I know to equate sophia and logos. There is in his treatment a sense that sophia - a female noun - is passive while logos - male noun - is active.

To be known and acted upon wisdom must be articulated. To be known divine wisdom must be incarnate, active in the world.

(Note: I am not familiar with the Acts of Paul. This is a second century text long considered non-canonical)

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