Jesus in Proverbs

Introduction

In Proverbs 8, wisdom is personified as “Lady Wisdom”. The early church unanimously agreed that “lady wisdom” is ultimately referring to Jesus, because Jesus is the incarnation of God’s Wisdom. The New Testament tells us this very thing

1 Cor 1:18-25 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

Wisdom in Eternity

Proverbs 8:22-26 ““The Lord acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago. I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began. I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water. Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills, I was given birth— before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth.”

Surface Level Problems

If this passage is referring to Jesus, then it seems to imply he is a created being. “Acquired me, I was formed, I was born, I was given birth.”

However, we know that John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”

Is this then a contradiction? Proverbs 8 says Jesus was created, but John 1 says Jesus is eternally God.

Solution

The way to understand this is that Jesus is eternally begotten. This is what the Nicene Creed says.

We believe in one God,       the Father almighty,       maker of heaven and earth,       of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,       the only Son of God,       begotten from the Father before all ages,            God from God,            Light from Light,            true God from true God,       begotten, not made;       of the same essence as the Father.       Through him all things were made.       For us and for our salvation            he came down from heaven;            he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,            and was made human.            He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;            he suffered and was buried.            The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.            He ascended to heaven            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.            He will come again with glory            to judge the living and the dead.            His kingdom will never end.

Wisdom in Creation

Proverbs 8:27-31 “I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean, when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out, when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate his command, when he laid out the foundations of the earth. I was a skilled craftsman beside him. I was his delight every day, always rejoicing before him. I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam.”

Jesus is the Architect of Creation.

According to Col 1:15 and Heb 1:1-3, Jesus in his becoming human is the image of the invisible God.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

and

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

A theologian named Matthew Emerson said, “In his incarnation, the Son is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15; cf. Heb. 1:1–3). Image bearing is humanity’s, and therefore creation’s, highest goal. Creation points to its head, humanity, and humanity’s pattern as the imago Dei is Jesus, the image of God. To put it simply: Jesus, the incarnation of Wisdom, is the pattern of creation because creation is ordered toward the image of God, who is Jesus.”

Wisdom in Redemption

1 Cor 1:18-25 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

> What was foolish about God saving the world through Jesus from the world’s perspective?

> What does it mean for God’s foolishness to be wiser than human wisdom?

Conclusion

Because Jesus is wisdom itself, He is our ultimate example to follow. He is our older brother, our king, and our teacher. If we want to walk in wisdom, we must listen to His words and emulate His life.