Links Between Wisdom (Hokmah, Sophia) and Christ in Scripture and Tradition

Wisdom-Christ Links Always Present in Christianity Buried with focus on maleness of historical Jesus Interpretations of the maleness of Jesus Resurrecting balanced male/female christological images

Wisdom (Hokmah) in Hebrew Scriptures Grammatically feminine, “She” Depicted as female Described as sister, mother, female beloved, chef and hostess, preacher, judge, liberator, establisher of justice Exercises creative and redemptive power

Wisdom (Hokmah) in Hebrew Scriptures (cont.) Symbolizes transcendent power pervading and ordering the world Leads nature and human beings along the right path to life Cherishes, exalts, and rewards those who are faithful to Her

Parallels Between Hokmah and Christ Hokmah as the “way,” the “life,” the “path” (Proverbs 4:11,13,18), and Christ as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) What Jewish writers said of Hokmah, Christian writers said of Christ: “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15); “the reflection of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3); “the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15); the one through whom the world was created (Hebrews 1:2).

Parallels Between Hokmah and Christ (cont.) Hokmah and Christ existing before creation and participating in creation (Proverbs 8:23, 27-31; Colossians 1:16-17) Hokmah and Christ continually creating and re-creating, making “all things new” (Wisdom 7:27; Revelation 21:5)

Parallels Between Hokmah and Christ (cont.) Hokmah and Christ sustaining the universe with order and goodness (Wisdom 7:11, 8:1; Colossians 1:17) Hokmah and Christ in role of Redeemer (Wisdom 9:18, 10:15,18; John 3:17)

Parallels Between Hokmah and Christ (cont.) Hokmah and Christ (“Mother Hen”) continually calling people to share in Her blessings and remain near Her (Proverbs 8:32-35; Matthew 23:37) Hokmah and Christ calling to the heavily burdened to come and find rest (Ecclesiasticus 6:25-28, 51:26; Matthew 11:28-30) “Embracing” Hokmah and “putting on” Christ (Proverbs 4:8; Galatians 3:27)

Wisdom (Sophia) in Christian Scriptures Christ called the “Wisdom” (Sophia) of God (1 Corinthians 1:24) Christ becoming for us “Sophia from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30) Sophia (Wisdom), “secret and hidden” (1 Corinthians 2:7); and Christ, “the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages” (Romans 16:25)

Sophia in Christian Scriptures (cont.) Sophia in “rich variety” made known through the church to the “rulers and authorities” (Ephesians 3:10) Sophia sending prophets who are persecuted throughout the generations (Luke 11:49-51)

Sophia in Christian Scriptures (cont.) Sophia (with whom Jesus identifies), “vindicated by all Her deeds” (Matthew 11:19) Sophia giving birth to gentleness, peace, purity, mercy, good works, righteousness (James 3:13, 17-18)

Sophia in Christian Tradition Sophia christology in the early Christian missionary movement Early Christian theological interpretations of Jesus as Sophia’s messenger and later as Sophia herself Earliest traditions connecting Jesus with Sophia, who accepts the poor and outcast and wills the wholeness of everyone

Sophia in Christian Tradition Sophia christology enabling the earliest Christian communities to become a discipleship of equals Logos christology developing later as a masculine figure through the influence of Philo of Alexandria, but drawing heavily from Hebrew wisdom literature’s Hokmah “Son” christology developing after the fourth century Council of Nicea, drawing from Sophia tradition

Sophia in Christian Tradition Justin Martyr, second-century theologian, stating that the word “Wisdom” is the most accurate in referring to the Second Person of the Trinity Origen, second-century theologian, stating that Sophia is the most ancient and most appropriate title given to Jesus

Sophia in Christian Tradition St. Augustine (fourth century), most influential theologian of the early church, linking female Divine Wisdom, that “Hen of the Gospel,” with Christ St. Hildegard of Bingen, twelfth-century mystic and theologian, describing Wisdom as a powerful female image of the Divine, who “protects and guides and creates all things, Her head shining like lightning, with so much brilliance that you cannot look directly at it”

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Hildegard of Bingen

Sophia in Christian Tradition St. Bonaventure, thirteenth century theologian, referring to Jesus as “God’s Wisdom” St. Thomas Aquinas, most influential medieval theologian, referring to Christ as “our Mother, Wisdom of God” St. Julian of Norwich, fourteenth-century mystic, praising Christ as “All-Wisdom, our kindly Mother”

St. Bonaventure

St. Julian of Norwich

Questions for Reflection and Discussion Do the names “Wisdom,” “Hokmah,” and “Sophia” convey similar or different meanings to you? How do you feel when you use each one? What do you think are the most powerful biblical connections between Wisdom (Hokmah, Sophia) and Christ? How do you think the world would be different if Christ-Sophia had been the central image of Christians throughout history?

Questions for Reflection and Discussion What other inclusive christological images would you propose? How would Christianity have been different if the Second Person of the Trinity had been referred to as “Daughter” instead of Son”? What do inclusive christological symbols contribute to women, to men, to nonhuman life?