A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25
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Otto Mulder
Abstract
The Hymn of Praise to the Creator and his creation is available in Hebrew in two manuscripts, B and M. The first part 42:15-25 is a theological discourse about the Creator, who needs no counsellor. Wisdom, created before all things, is only part of creation. All God’s works are useful and nothing is made in vain. Ben Sira occupies a unique position in the wisdom tradition of Israel and in post-exilic biblical literature. He is critical of opponents with an apocalyptic view based on heavenly revelations.
Abstract
The Hymn of Praise to the Creator and his creation is available in Hebrew in two manuscripts, B and M. The first part 42:15-25 is a theological discourse about the Creator, who needs no counsellor. Wisdom, created before all things, is only part of creation. All God’s works are useful and nothing is made in vain. Ben Sira occupies a unique position in the wisdom tradition of Israel and in post-exilic biblical literature. He is critical of opponents with an apocalyptic view based on heavenly revelations.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction 1
- Zum Gedenken an Otto Kaiser (1924–2017) 5
- In Memory of Alexander A. Di Lella (1929–2019) 9
- Heaven: Use, Function and Content of a Cosmic Concept 13
- Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context 35
- Cosmos and Creation in Job 38 (Septuagint) 55
- Cosmic Events in the First and Last Additions to the Greek Text of the Book of Esther 77
- “Bless the Lord, Winter Cold and Summer Heat”. Cosmos and Creation in Greek Daniel 3:52–90 91
- Epiphanies: Cosmic Transcendence in 2 Maccabees 111
- “Gold from Heaven” in 2 Maccabees 129
- Creation and Humanity in the Book of Ben Sira 149
- Polarities in Creation (Sir 33:7–15) 179
- A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25 201
- Creation and Cosmos in Greek Sirach 18:1–10 223
- Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon 245
- Creation and History in the Structure of the Book of Wisdom. ἡ κτίσις … ὑπηρετοῦσα (Wis 16:24) 271
- Philosophical Ideas about Cosmos and Creation in the Book of Wisdom 297
- God’s Conflict with the Chaos Monster in the Book of Tobit 319
- Cosmological Origins and Creation in 4QInstruction 331
- The Work of Creation in Early Rabbinic Prayers and Benedictions 345
- Ben Sira 42–50: An Antecedent of the Seder ‘Avodah Poems? 363
- Biographies of Authors 385
- Index of References 387
- Index of Authors 429
- Index of Subjects 435
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction 1
- Zum Gedenken an Otto Kaiser (1924–2017) 5
- In Memory of Alexander A. Di Lella (1929–2019) 9
- Heaven: Use, Function and Content of a Cosmic Concept 13
- Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context 35
- Cosmos and Creation in Job 38 (Septuagint) 55
- Cosmic Events in the First and Last Additions to the Greek Text of the Book of Esther 77
- “Bless the Lord, Winter Cold and Summer Heat”. Cosmos and Creation in Greek Daniel 3:52–90 91
- Epiphanies: Cosmic Transcendence in 2 Maccabees 111
- “Gold from Heaven” in 2 Maccabees 129
- Creation and Humanity in the Book of Ben Sira 149
- Polarities in Creation (Sir 33:7–15) 179
- A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25 201
- Creation and Cosmos in Greek Sirach 18:1–10 223
- Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon 245
- Creation and History in the Structure of the Book of Wisdom. ἡ κτίσις … ὑπηρετοῦσα (Wis 16:24) 271
- Philosophical Ideas about Cosmos and Creation in the Book of Wisdom 297
- God’s Conflict with the Chaos Monster in the Book of Tobit 319
- Cosmological Origins and Creation in 4QInstruction 331
- The Work of Creation in Early Rabbinic Prayers and Benedictions 345
- Ben Sira 42–50: An Antecedent of the Seder ‘Avodah Poems? 363
- Biographies of Authors 385
- Index of References 387
- Index of Authors 429
- Index of Subjects 435
