The book of Proverbs personifies God’s attribute of Wisdom as a woman⁽¹⁾ whom God begot before all creation:

“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud… ‘I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion… The LORD brought me forth (qanani) as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth (cholalti), when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth (cholalti), before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:1-3, 12, 22-36 New International Version 1984 Edition (NIV1984)

The same verb, which is used to describe the birth of Wisdom, is found in another text where David refers to being born sinful:

“Surely I was sinful at birth (cholalti), sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5 NIV1984

The point being is that, just as David was existing in his mother’s womb before she begot him, Wisdom was also existing from before creation, in eternity, before God begot her. As such, Wisdom is uncreated by nature and not one of the things which God brought into being from nothing.  

This brings me to my next point. The next passage indicates that Wisdom was born from God’s “mouth”:

“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 NIV1984

What this shows is that the Wisdom which eternally resided within God came out of him at the moment God chose to employ her to create all things.

The Deuterocanonical writings bring out this point more explicitly:  

“All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out? Wisdom was created BEFORE ALL THINGS, and prudent understanding FROM ETERNITY. The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices—who knows them? There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne. The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works. She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him.” Sirach 1:1-10 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

“Wisdom praises herself, and tells of her glory in the midst of her people. In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory: ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist. I dwelt in the highest heavens, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. Alone I compassed the vault of heaven and traversed the depths of the abyss. Over waves of the sea, over all the earth, and over every people and nation I have held sway. Among all these I sought a resting place; in whose territory should I abide? Then the Creator of all things gave me a command, and my Creator chose the place for my tent. He said, “Make your dwelling in Jacob, and in Israel receive your inheritance.” Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me, and for all the ages I shall not cease to be. In the holy tent I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion.’” Sirach 24:1-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The foregoing texts make it clear that Wisdom was created not in the sense that she was brought into existence from nothing, or in the sense of having been produced from creation itself, since she is described as already being there in eternity before all things came to be. Rather she was created in the sense of coming forth from God’s mouth for the express purpose of making God’s will and purposes known to his creation.  

As such, the term create is being used synonymously with begetting or birthing, e.g., Wisdom was begotten out of God’s own infinite Being, springing forth from God’s metaphorical mouth. This identifies God’s Wisdom with his Word since both originate from God’s so-called mouth, which is why the next passage equates the two together:

“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word (ta panta en Logo sou), and by your wisdom have formed humankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made… With you is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments. Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labor at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory. Then my works will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father… Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom.” Wisdom 9:1-2, 9-12, 17-18 NRSV

Note how the foregoing passage even describes Wisdom being sent along with the Holy Spirit from on high for the express purpose of saving mankind!

And just as Wisdom sits enthroned with God in heaven, so does God’s Word who is portrayed as an almighty Warrior and Agent of judgment that descended from the heavenly throne to kill the firstborn of the Egyptians:

“For though they had disbelieved everything because of their magic arts, yet, when their firstborn were destroyed, they acknowledged your people to be God’s child. For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, your all-powerful word (ho pantodynamos sou Logos) leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command, and stood and filled all things with death, and touched heaven while standing on the earth.” Wisdom 18:13-16 NRSV

As if this weren’t remarkable enough, Wisdom is described as possessing all of the essential attributes and qualities of Deity, such as absolute purity, holiness, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, being God’s eternal radiance/reflection, etc.:

“for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique (monogenes), manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful (pantodynamon), overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle. For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection (apaugasma) of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image (eikon) of his goodness. Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom. She is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.” Wisdom 7:22-30 NRSV

This, perhaps, explains why Wisdom does what the Hebrew Scriptures depict God alone doing, namely, being seated on the heavenly throne, dwelling in the pillar of cloud, and traversing the vaults of the watery deep,

“I dwelt in high places, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. ALONE I have made the circuit of the vault of heaven and have walked in the depths of the abyss. In the waves of the sea, in the whole earth, and in every people and nation I have gotten a possession.” Sirach 24:4-6 RSV

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night;the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Exodus 13:21-22 RSV

“Then the angel of God who went before the host of Israel moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them,coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness; and the night passed without one coming near the other all night… And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down upon the host of the Egyptians, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily; and the Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from before Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.’” Exodus 14:19-20, 24-25 RSV

“he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who ALONE stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea; who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei′ades and the chambers of the south; who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.” Job 9:5-10 RSV

As well as pouring out the Spirit, stretching out his/her hands to unbelievers so that they might call on his/her name and be saved before it becomes too late to do so anymore:  

“Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: ‘How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.’” Proverbs 1:20-33 New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

“I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ To a nation that was not called by My name. I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts;” Isaiah 65:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:28-32 NKJV

To sum up the data, we discovered that:

Wisdom was there in eternity, from before all creation, and came forth from/out of God. As such, Wisdom did not come into existence from nothing, or as a part of creation. Rather, Wisdom is uncreated by its very nature and therefore has no beginning of days nor end of years.

Wisdom is described as possessing all the essential attributes of God such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, omnibenevolence, perfect holiness, righteousness, purity, etc.

Wisdom gives life and grants salvation to mankind.

Wisdom is sent forth with the Holy Spirit to guide mankind.

Wisdom is said to be unique or only-begotten (monogenes), God’s radiance/reflection (apaugasma), and the image (eikon) of God’s goodness.

Wisdom is identified with the Word of God that proceeds from God’s mouth.

In fact, Wisdom like the Word created and fashioned the entire creation.

And just like the Word, Wisdom dwells with God on God’s heavenly throne.

These are the very ascriptions and titles which the New Testament writings attribute to Christ, who is also said to be God’s Wisdom/Word through whom all things were created and subsist:

“In the beginning was the Word (ho Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men… He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten (hos monogenous) from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God (monogenes Theos) who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” John 1:1-4, 8-10, 14, 18 New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten (ton monogene) Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten (tou monogenous) Son of God.” John 3:16-18 NASB1995

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten (ton monogene) Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9 NASB1995

“but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24 NASB1995

“in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image (eikon) of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 NASB1995

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image (eikon) of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:13-18 NASB1995

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance (apaugasma) of His glory and the EXACT REPRESENTATION of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power… But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God (ho Theos), is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.’… And, You, Lord [the Son], in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.’” Hebrews 1:1-3a, 8, 10-12 NASB1995

What makes this reference from Hebrews so astonishing is that the inspired author not only ascribes to Christ the very same word used to describe Wisdom’s being the reflection of God’s eternal light, namely apaugasma,

“She’s the brightness (apaugasma) that shines forth from eternal light. She’s a mirror that flawlessly reflects God’s activity. She’s the perfect image of God’s goodness.” Wisdom 7:26 Common English Bible (CEB)

He also has God the Father taking the following Psalm, which glorifies Jehovah as the unchangeable Creator and Sustainer of all creation,

“A Prayer of the Afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord! And let my cry for help come to You… But You, O Lord, abide forever, And Your name to all generations… Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.” Psalm 102:1, 12, 25-27

And applying it to the Son, thereby identifying Christ as that very same Jehovah whom the psalmist praised and glorified!  

The connections don’t end there since Jesus, just like Wisdom/Word, is portrayed as sitting with God on his heavenly throne from which he descends to slay God’s enemies with the sword of his mouth:

“… When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3b NASB1995

“To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 NRSV

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’” Revelation 19:11-16 NRSV – Cf. v. 21; 1:16; 2:12, 16; 12:5; 17:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8

And just like Wisdom, Jesus was sent forth with the Holy Spirit to bring about the salvation of mankind:

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” Matthew 12:28 NRSV

“and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli,” Luke 3:22-23 NRSV

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness… Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” Luke 4:1, 14-21 NRSV

“You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:36-38 NRSV

Moreover, notice how the following description of Jesus’ essential purity and holiness echoes what is said of Wisdom:

“one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life… Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” Hebrews 7:16, 23-26 NRSV

The foregoing makes it abundantly clear that the inspired Christian Scriptures are intentionally depicting Christ as the human incarnation, or (more precisely) as the very personification and physical embodiment of God’s eternal Word and uncreated Wisdom, which the OT writings speak of as having been begotten out of God from before all creation.

This means that the NT writings are not portraying Jesus as a mere creature. Rather, they are deliberately setting out to prove that Christ is the eternal, unchangeable Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all creation, describing him as that very Jehovah God Almighty of the Hebrew Scriptures who then chose to become a physical human being.

According to these God-breathed writings, Jesus is the unique Son of God who is eternally and inseparably united with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the same divine essence, glory, power, honor, and majesty.

FURTHER READING

Was Jesus a created being after all?

How Jesus’ “Apotheosis” proves Muhammad was an antichrist!

Jesus As Wisdom Incarnate [Part 1], [Part 2]

ENDNOTES

(1) The reason why Wisdom is portrayed as a woman is that both the Hebrew (chokmah) and Greek (sophia) words for wisdom are feminine nouns. To, therefore, personify Wisdom as a man wouldn’t fit the gender of the noun or make grammatical sense.

Putting this simply and clearly, Wisdom is not a literal woman that was dwelling with God from before creation. Rather, Wisdom is God’s eternal attribute which the inspired authors personified as a woman in order to agree with the Hebrew and Greek nouns for wisdom, which are feminine in gender.    

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