In this post I will quote two less known references from the Deutero-canonical writings, called “Apocrypha” by Protestants, which clearly point to the Lord Jesus Christ.
BARUCH
The following is from a book attributed to Jeremiah’s scribe Baruch (Berechiah), which speaks of God appearing on earth to mankind:
“This is our God (ho theos hemon), and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of him He hath found out all the way of knowledge (epistemes), and hath given it unto Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved. Afterward did he shew himself (ophthe – lit. “appeared”) upon earth, and conversed with men.” 3:36-38 Brenton’s LXX (BARUCH)
The term opthe is an aorist passive indicative 3rd person singular verb. Therefore, the Greek text literally reads, “Afterwards appeared,” i.e., God appeared on the earth and was seen by men. This interpretation is reflected in the following versions:
“This is our God, and none other shall be guessed against him. (He) This found each way of wisdom, and gave it to Jacob, his child (or his servant), and to Israel, his darling. [He this found all way of discipline, and betook to Jacob, his child, and to Israel, his dearworth.] After these things he was seen in lands [or in earth’s (or upon the earth)], and lived with men.” Wycliffe (WYC)
“This is our God (Deus noster), and there shall no other be accounted of in comparison of him. He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved. Afterwards he was seen (visus est) upon earth, and conversed with men.” Douay-Rheims–Latin Vulgate (DR + LV)
Some other translations take the position that Baruch is referring to knowledge appearing among men, not God, which is reflected in the way they render the passage:
“This is our God. No other will be compared to him. God discovered every way of knowledge (epistemes) and gave her to his child Jacob, to Israel, whom he loved. After this, she appeared on the earth and lived among humans.” 3:35-37 Common English Bible (CEB)
“Thus she has appeared on earth, is at home with mortals.” New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)
“After that, she appeared on earth and lived with humankind.” 3:38 New Catholic Bible (NCB)
“Afterwards she appeared on earth and lived with humankind.” New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVACE)
“Afterward she appeared upon earth and lived among men.” Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The word epistemes (i“of knowledge”) is a genitive singular feminine noun. This is why the aforementioned versions read “she appeared,” as opposed to “he appeared,” and explains the following paraphrase:
“He is our God, and there is none like him. He discovered the entire path leading to understanding and gave Wisdom to his servant Israel, whom he loved. From that time on, Wisdom appeared on earth and lived among us.” 3:35-37 Good News Translation (GNT)
Remarkably, the NT writings describe Jesus as God’s very own divine, uncreated Word, being the personification of God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge, who came into the very creation he brought into being and became flesh in order dwell among mankind:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men… The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father… No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” John 1:1-4, 9-14, 18 RSV
“but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 RSV
“He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:13-20 RSV
“For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at La-odice′a, and for all who have not seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge… For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily,” Colossians 2:1-3, RSV
“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16 RSV
“awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:13-14 RSV
WISDOM OF SOLOMON
The book of Wisdom contains a truly astonishing prophecy of what evildoers will do to the holy, sinless Son of God when he appears among them:
“‘Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow nor regard the gray hairs of the aged. But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.’ Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls;” Wisdom 2:10-22 RSV
Now contrast this with the Gospels’ depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion and death:
“And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, ‘This is Jesus the King of the Jews.’ Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, “I am the Son of God.”’ And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.” Matthew 23:37-44 RSV
“Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent!’” Luke 23:46-47 RSV
It seems evident that the NT writers were aware of and/or saw from the aforementioned Deutero-Canonical texts explicit prophecies pointing to Christ’s unique Sonship, Incarnation, crucifixion and death.
FURTHER READING
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