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THE FOUR STOIC VIRTUES AND THE BIBLE Dear Friends, Last night I was reading Wisdom chapter 8 in the Scripture selections from the Office of Readings within the Liturgy of the Hours and learned a great deal. Now to my Protestant friends, as I have explained many times previously, Wisdom is one of the seven Deuterocanonical books accepted by the undivided Church of east and west as canonical or inspired by the Holy Spirit. This determination of inspiration was done at two different Councils in the late 4th century AD: the Council of Rome in AD 382 and the Synod of Carthage in AD 397. While the Eastern Orthodox Churches are less precise in their listings, they accepted along with the Latin Church of the west these seven Deuterocanonical books that were subsequently excluded in the so-called Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. That said, the original 1611 edition of the King James or Authorized Version of the Holy Bible as well as the 1526 edition of the Geneva Bible included these books in the apocrypha. And even today the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (e.g., the 1928 and 1979 editions) includes Scripture selections in its daily readings from these books. But post-17th century, most Protestant Bible editions deleted them, so if you have only a Protestant Bible, you may not find the book of Wisdom. You can go to the Bible Gateway web site on-line and select any Catholic edition (e.g., Douay-Rheims Version, New American Bible Revised Edition, New Catholic Bible, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, etc.) to find and read these seven Deuterocanonical books. Therefore, at the end of this post, I have reprinted the English text of Wisdom 8:1-21 and 9:1-4 (originally written in Koine Greek around the 2nd century AD) for those who cannot find it their Bibles. Now with that explanation out of the way, let us return to the topic at hand. The Book of Wisdom is a pseudo-biographical work done in the name and style of King Solomon, and it reflects his philosophy and outlook consistent with the Book of Proverbs but well before he wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes after he had fallen from grace. Chapter 8 gives us both Solomon’s love for wisdom and a discussion of its indispensability to effective rule over a kingdom. Verses 2 and 9 describe the relationship between wisdom and Solomon using the language of marriage where Solomon is the bridegroom and wisdom (the feminine noun sophia in Koine Greek and saepientia or prudentia in Latin) is the bride. Similarly, St. Paul uses the language of marriage in Ephesians 5:21- to describe the relation between Christ the bridegroom and the Church the bride. Again, in both Koine Greek and Latin the noun ecclesia for wisdom is feminine. Now this should be an indicator of the deviancy of today’s society that embraces same sex unions. Such unnatural relations destroy the analogy given in Sacred Scripture between wisdom (female) and Solomon (male), between the Church (female) and Christ (male).  Continuing, I came to verse 7 which states that if anyone love righteousness, her labors are virtues for she teaches self-control (temperantia), prudence (prudentia), justice (iustitia) and courage (fortitude). These are the four Stoic virtues. Stoicism “elaborated a detailed taxonomy of virtue, dividing virtue into four main types: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation. [Prudence or] wisdom is subdivided into good sense, good calculation, quick-wittedness, discretion, and resourcefulness. Justice is subdivided into piety, honesty, equity, and fair dealing. Courage is subdivided into endurance, confidence, high-mindedness, cheerfulness, and industriousness. Moderation is subdivided into good discipline, seemliness, modesty, and self-control” (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). It is no surprise that Sacred Scripture in the Old Testament would use a Gentile understanding of truth to confirm what St. Paul writes in Romans 1:19-20 of the New Testament: 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. Proceeding through the chapter, we come to four IFs: (1) Verse 5: if you want riches, then get wisdom.(2) Verse 6: if you want understanding, then get wisdom.(3) Verse 7: if you want righteousness, then get wisdom.(4) Verse 8: if you want wide experience, then get wisdom. This short litany reminded me of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34 about seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us (verse 33). Then chapter 8 continues with a list of the benefits of wisdom: (1) Verse 10: glory and honor(2) Verse 11: keen judgment(3) Verse 12: people will pay attention(4) Verse 13: immortality(5) Verse 14: nation will be subject(6) Verse 15: being capable and courageous(7) Verse 16: rest, gladness, and joy. Chapter 8 concludes in verse 21 with the fact that wisdom is a gift from God for Solomon states that he perceived he would not have her unless God gave her to him. He even states that it is a mark of insight to know whose gift she was, and in chapter 9 Solomon prays for such wisdom. That wisdom is a gift from God is confirmed by St. Paul in 1st Corinthians 12:8 where he has wisdom leading the list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Below is the applicable Scripture excerpt from the Book of Wisdom who may not find it in their Bibles. Solomon’s Love for Wisdom – Chapter 8 2 I loved her and sought her from my youth,and I desired to take her for my bride,and I became enamored of her beauty.3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God,and the Lord of all loves her.4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God,and an associate in his works.5 If riches are a desirable possession in life,what is richer than wisdom who effects all things?6 And if understanding is effective,who more than she is fashioner of what exists?7 And if any one loves righteousness,her labors are virtues;for she teaches self-control and prudence,justice and courage;nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.8 And if any one longs for wide experience,she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come;she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles;she has foreknowledge of signs and wondersand of the outcome of seasons and times. Wisdom Indispensable to Rulers 9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,knowing that she would give me good counseland encouragement in cares and grief.10 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudesand honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.11 I shall be found keen in judgment,and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.12 When I am silent they will wait for me,and when I speak they will give heed;and when I speak at greater lengththey will put their hands on their mouths.13 Because of her I shall have immortality,and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.14 I shall govern peoples,and nations will be subject to me;15 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me;among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her,for companionship with her has no bitterness,and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.17 When I considered these things inwardly,and thought upon them in my mind,that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,18 and in friendship with her, pure delight,and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth,and in the experience of her company, understanding,and renown in sharing her words,I went about seeking how to get her for myself.19 As a child I was by nature well endowed,and a good soul fell to my lot;20 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.21 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was—so I appealed to the Lord and besought him,and with my whole heart I said: Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom – Chapter 9 1 “O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy,who hast made all things by thy word,2 and by thy wisdom hast formed man,to have dominion over the creatures thou hast made,3 and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,4 give me the wisdom that sits by thy throne,and do not reject me from among thy servants.