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Sophia

A Greek word for wisdom used in Aristotelean thought to mean ‘the unifying wisdom that comes from understanding fully the integrated nature of things”. This is in contrast to phronesis or practical wisdom – the ability to make right judgement in cases of moral difficulty.

First nine chapters of Proverbs focus on Wisdom (Sophia)

• Proverbs 4:13 she is your life, giver of life
• Proverbs 8:35 whoever finds me finds life
• Proverbs 8:15 decrees what is right
• Proverbs 8: 22 – 31 like Wisdom herself, before the foundation of the earth I was there. Wisdom comes from God, was created by God

The Apocryphal Book of Wisdom and Sirach also stress Sophia

• Wisdom 7:22 – 8:1 She is the fashioner of all things; 21 attributes which is the product of two perfect numbers 3 & 7. Wisdom is perfection multiplied by perfection. Intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all powerful. Overseeing all, penetrating through all other intelligent spirits
• Wisdom 8:1 She orders all things
• Wisdom 7: 24 She pervades and penetrates all things
• Wisdom 7:27 She renews all things – renewable energy
• Wisdom 9:10 She shares the throne of God
• Wisdom 7:10 – 14 She’s the source of all things new
• Sirach 1:1 – 8 It is God who knows wisdom and pours her forth upon the world
• Sirach 24: 1 – 27 Hymn of self-praise sung by Wisdom in which she describes herself, her origins, her relationship to God and the good things she does for human beings. She came from the mouth of God, she is God’s word, breath, Spirit; as the spirit/wind that hovered over the waters of creation and as mist / steam that covered the earth at the beginning; she is universal, everywhere. Her image as a tree echoes Proverbs 8 – she strikes root among God’s people. She feeds all who long for her. Her food is sweeter than honey. Her food is herself. All who eat of her will hunger still, who drink of her will thirst for more. One will never be able to get enough of what she offers. What she offers is life. She concludes her song with a promise similar to Proverbs 8:35 – 34 – those who obey her will not be shamed. Those who serve her will not fall short. I believe she is the personification of God’s wisdom as the feminine archetype.