The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

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Thank you for your understanding.

Blessings,
Randy

As with all scripture, the context helps us keep a proper perspective. In most cases, if we ignore the context, we can make scripture mean just about whatever we wish it to mean. Proverbs chapter 1 through chapter 9 use the phrase "my son(s)" 15 times. (See chapter 1:1-9, to note the purpose of these nine chapters.

It seems obvious the context is that of a father teaching his son how to stay out of trouble. To illustrate this, the father uses the ways of an immoral woman or wife, (Proverbs 6:20-35; and Proverbs 7:6-27), to warn his son away from her.

By contrast, the father extols wisdom as personifying a moral, wise woman, whose counsel is of great value. (Proverbs 8:1-21). And then, to show how necessary wisdom is, portrays its use by God in creation; chapter 8:22-31, then, ending the chapter; verses 32-36, by again personifying wisdom, "Now then, my sons, listen to me...all who hate me love death".

Only by ignoring the context could any justification be given to the possibility that Christ Himself could be meant. To put wisdom and Christ in the proper light, see Col.2:2-3;..."namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge". And, of course, considering the context for that scripture as well.

Ha Tikvah ; Shalom 2 all , Excellant Post !!! King Soloman wrote Proverbs - C. 10 vs. 1 ... !!! Your posting proverbs c. 8 is Soloman*s account of Quot ; Pastor John*s " Personifacation " ; His enlightenment of being KJV vs. 20 - 31 " Set Up " Vs. 23 from everlasting , from the beginning , or ever the Earth was !!! The Earth is approx. 4 1/2 Billion years OLD ... !!! How Could King Soloman be there in the Flesh ??? When He Died after ??? Set up means as an " angel of god " / Sons of God - genesis c. 6 vs. 1 - 2 ... Proverbs C. 8 all ; this ties into Ephesians C. 1 all but vs. 4 - 5 ... !!! Here is an example of " Personifacation " ; three questions , 1 st ; Who are We ??? 2 nd ; What is my Purpose here on Earth ??? 3 rd ; Where do i go to when i die ??? Unless you know the Answers to the 3 Questions ; We are " Lost Souls " - Luke C. 19 vs. 10 ; For the Son Of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost !!! How important it is to spend time in the bible ... even if you don*t understand what you are reading ... God will reveal ..." Personifacation " is your relationship ( enlightenment of scripture ) to God through Jesus Christ ... seek 1 st the kingdom of god , Glory to God through Christ , bless everyone amen shalom ...

I have always been under the impression that the wisdom spoken of in Prov. 8 is a personification. If it were a person who could it be?

A note from my Apologetic Study Bible reads, "...a personification of the wisdom by which the Lord created the universe. (This is common in early chaps. of Pr. and is something that will occur in chap. 9, where both Wisdom and Folly are personified.)" p. 931

My Liberty Study Bible has a note that reads, "Wisdom personified again..." p. 970

In my Jerusalem Study Bible it states in a note "The concept of a personified wisdom a mere literary device..." p. 943

My Zondervan Study Bible states in a note "Wisdom is personified as she addresses mankind in preparation for the final plea from both Wisdom and Folly in ch. 9" p. 955. It also states "Wisdom calls aloud. Here and in 3:15-18:8; 9:1--12 wisdom is personified. This is a poetic device common also in Isaiah (cf. 55:12; 59:14)..." p. 947

In the book "Biblical Hermeneutics," by Milton S. Terry, he states of personification "...tendency of the Hebrew mind to form and express vivid conceptions of the external world. Inanimate objects were spoken of as if instinct with life. And this tendency is noticeable in all languages, and occasions the figure of speech called Personification." p. 251

The Interpreter's Bible, vol. 4 on Psalms and Proverbs on p. 827 states that wisdom is personified.

Wisdom belongs to the Lord - Psalms C. 147 vs. 5 ... !!! And the Lord Is a Spirit that came upon David after Samuel the prophet Anointed David with oil from his horn - 1 st Samuel C. 16 vs. 13 - 14 ... !!! So Wisdom is not a " Person " ; but a personifacation of the Lord*s Spirit being with you ... as in vs. 18 with David the son of Jesse ... !!! Bless everyone ... !!! Glory to God through Jesus Christ ... amen

Then there's Hagia Sophia, later a mosque, and still later a museum of religion. It's in Istanbul.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

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Not all those who wander are lost.

Sophia is the Greek name or word wisdom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(wisdom)

In the Wikipedia article, the caption on the statue reads "Personification of Wisdom." That speaks directly to the topic of this discussion.

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Not all those who wander are lost.

The reference to wisdom is a personification. In other words, it is giving the quality of being a person to some attribute of God.
"The terms used to describe wisdom's origin are metaphorical not mythological, and the single word which can be interpreted as speaking of her activity [amon} at the creation does not essentially go beyond the statement of 3:19. Everything which is here said about her can be naturally interpreted as belonging properly to the poetical personification of an attribute of Yahweh." quoted from Walter C. Kaiser, "Toward an Old Testament Theology," p. 178; he quotes R.N. Whybray, "Wisdom in the Proverbs," p. 103.

I think that personification in the OT is quite different from the personification of wisdom as the goddess Sophia in Greek mythology.

Personification in the OT is clearly a literary device. Personification if Greek mythology is the invention of a deity.

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Not all those who wander are lost.

Well said (wrote) strider33.