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We shall not attempt a systematic survey of the parallels, but those that follow are
sufficiently important to call for something more than a passing glance. Their cumulative
effect is to leave the student with the impression that some of these apocryphal works had
left their mark upon the language and the arguments employed by the apostle. They
therefore merit attention as a means to the end of more clearly understanding his
meaning. Can anyone, for example, read the following words in praise of wisdom,
without immediately thinking of the apostle's ode to love in I Cor. 13:?
"Holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt,
loving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good, kind to
man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going
through all understanding, pure and most subtil" (Wisdom 7: 22, 23).
The words "free from care" that occurs here, are literally "without carefulness", and
remind us of I Cor. 7: 32, "But I would have you without carefulness". In the same
chapter, we have that said of Wisdom which reminds us of what is predicted by the
apostle of Christ:--
"For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of
God, and the image of His goodness" (Wisdom 7: 26).
The apostle's use of the words "depart" and "departure" in Phil. 1: 23 and
II Tim. 4: 6 should be read with the words:--
"In the sight of the universe they seemed to be dead and their departure was accounted
a calamity . . . . . yet is their hope full of immortality . . . . . they shall judge the nations,
and have dominion over the people, and the Lord shall reign for ever" (Wisdom 3: 1-8).
The association, moreover, with the thought of a "crown" or "prize" will not, we trust,
pass unnoticed. While we are speaking of this subject of the "crown", we might read on
in Wisdom until we reach chapter 4: where we read (concerning wisdom):--
"It weareth a crown (that is, the wreath or garland used in athletic contests),
and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory striving for undefiled rewards"
(Wisdom 4: 2).
Can anyone read the following reference to "complete armour" without its calling to
mind Eph. 6: 13-17?
"He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature His
weapon for revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and
true judgment instead of a helmet, He shall take holiness for an invincible shield, His
severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword" (Wisdom 5: 17-20).
In Wisdom 11: 23 we read:--
"But Thou hast mercy upon all; for Thou canst do all things, and winkest at the sins
of men, because they should amend (literally, `overlooked the sins of all men, with a
view to repentance')."