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"For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made
revellings of strange rites; they kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled:
but either one slew another traitorously, or grieved him by adultery. So that there reigned
in all men without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption,
unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury, disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns,
defiling of souls, changing of kind (or sex--Compare Rom. 1: 26), disorder in marriages,
adultery and shameless uncleanness. For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the
beginning, the cause, the end of all evil" (Wisdom 14: 23-27).
The writer of the Book of Wisdom traces all evils back to idolatry, as in
Rom. 1: 19-32. As soon as man degraded God, his own degradation followed. This is
plainly stated earlier in chapter 14:, and the reference brings together idolatry,
immorality and inventions of evil, just as in Rom. 1: 19-32:--
"For the devising of idols was the beginning of (spiritual) fornication, and the
invention of them the corruption of life . . . . . for by vain glory of men they entered into
the world" (Wisdom 14: 12, 14).
The reader will also be struck by the phrase, "entered into the world", as he thinks of
Rom. 5: 12 and remembers that the sin that entered into the world was incipient idolatry:
"Ye shall be as God." And this led to the "corruption of life".
There is a great deal in common between Romans and the Book of Wisdom,
chapters 12:-14:, which cannot be realized by piecemeal quotation. The reader will
doubtless perceive that the following, though not so close as the other passages cited, still
keep pace with the teaching of Rom. 1: 19-32:--
"They held them for gods, which even among the beasts of their enemies were
despised" (Wisdom 12: 24).
"Shall feel a judgment worthy of God" (Wisdom 12: 26).
"Being corruptible, it was called god" (Wisdom 14: 8).
We do not wish to take up too much space with this subject, and will therefore defer
further comparisons until another time. We trust that what has been demonstrated will
enable the reader to appreciate the value of these old writings. Although their teaching
does not come with the authority of the inspired Scriptures, they surely have as just a
claim to be considered as much that passes to-day for exposition.