WISDOM 14: antithetical Iconodule typology

I encourage even those who question the canonical status of "Wisdom of Solomon" to read it. We see; especially in chapters 13-15; clear inspiration used by ST Paul. As such; it should be read with an open mind by all Christians!

WISDOM 14

¹ Again, one preparing for a voyage and about to traverse the wild waves; cries out to wood more unsound than the boat that bears him. ² For the urge for profits devised this latter, and Wisdom the artisan produced it. ³ But your providence, O Father! guides it, for you have furnished even in the sea a road, and through the waves a steady path ⁴ Showing that you can save from any danger, so that even one without skill may embark. ⁵ But you will that the products of your Wisdom be not idle; therefore people trust their lives even to most frail wood, and were safe crossing the waves on a raft. ⁶ For of old, when the proud giants were being destroyed, the hope of the universe, who took refuge on a raft, left to the world a future for the human family, under the guidance of your hand.

⁷ For blessed is the wood through which righteousness comes about;

⁸ but the handmade idol is accursed, and its maker as well: he for having produced it, and the corruptible thing, because it was termed a god. ⁹ Equally odious to God are the evildoer and the evil deed; ¹⁰ and the thing made will be punished with its maker. ¹¹ Therefore upon even the idols of the nations shall a judgement come, since they became abominable among God’s works, Snares for human souls and a trap for the feet of the senseless.

¹² For the source of wantonness is the devising of idols; and their invention, a corruption of life. ¹³ For in the beginning they were not, nor can they ever continue; ¹⁴ for from human emptiness they came into the world, and therefore a sudden end is devised for them.

¹⁵ For a father, afflicted with untimely mourning, made an image of the child so quickly taken from him, And now honored as a god what once was dead and handed down to his household mysteries and sacrifices.

¹⁶ Then, in the course of time, the impious practice gained strength and was observed as law, and graven things were worshiped by royal decrees. ¹⁷ People who lived so far away that they could not honor him in his presence copied the appearance of the distant king And made a public image of him they wished to honor, out of zeal to flatter the absent one as though present.

¹⁸ And to promote this observance among those to whom it was strange, the artisan’s ambition provided a stimulus. ¹⁹ For he, perhaps in his determination to please the ruler, labored over the likeness to the best of his skill; ²⁰ And the masses, drawn by the charm of the workmanship,

soon took as an object of worship the one who shortly before was honored as a human being. ²¹ And this became a snare for the world, that people enslaved to either grief or tyranny conferred the incommunicable Name on stones and wood.

²² Then it was not enough for them to err in their knowledge of God; but even though they live in a great war resulting from ignorance, they call such evils peace.

²³ For while they practice either child sacrifices or occult mysteries, or frenzied carousing in exotic rites,

INTRO:

 An antithetical typology is  throughout scripture. The shadow and the fulfillment are linked; but directly contrasted in particular aspects.

Such as the unfaithful Adam contrasted to the faithful “new Adam”. Yet both are sons of God without original sin; whose actions affect the entire human race.

The general trend of Wisdom 13-15 mirrors many other criticisms of pagan idolatry; with much of the same logic. This chapter is worth noting in particular; as it describes a specific development of idolatry that progressively results in greater and greater immorality as it develops- explaining the motivations and errors along the way.

What sets this as an antithetical type promoting Icon veneration are several statements within the chapter of things flowing- to or from; the impious idol veneration that uncannily parallel the Christian gospel of salvation!

 Should these statements be fulfilled (antithetically) in Christ... arguably... it logically follows that the impious veneration would no longer be impermissible- but a declaration of the saving incarnation of Christ. (granting the lesson is still learned from Wisdom 14)

That is -IF done with the correct heart, intellectual understanding and prudence- in obedience with the Church's decrees- in liturgical response to the gospel.

The first paragraph begins by establishing the approval of human ingenuity in the creation of tools. It is very relevant to our modern age that we are also reminded that it is through the providence of God that we are able to create any functional technology.

The first paragraph establishes a Christological type:

• This begins following from chapter 13 which speaks of a "skilled woodworker"; Christ being (likely) a woodworker. It also stresses that salvation comes not by our own skill. It is divine providence through which salvation (in immediate context from temporal danger and typologically from sin) comes.
• The “steady path” through the sea brings to mind John the Baptist making straight the ways of the Lord; and Christ who is "The way”.

"But your providence, O Father! guides it, for you have furnished even in the sea a road, and through the waves a steady path"

• We see that “Wisdom the Artisan” produces this; and it is guided by the Father. This "frail wood" shows that God can save from “any danger”.

Christ is the "Wisdom" who as an artisan created all things; and saves from all things including sin. This section of Wisdom concludes with speaking of Gods mercy.

Proverbs 8:22-30

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

Hebrews 1:2 :“but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

• Verse 7 caps this paragraph with a typological allusion to the cross:                                                                                                                        

“For blessed is the wood through which righteousness comes about;”.

As 1 Galatians 6:15 says: "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

• From there begins the rightful criticism of idolatry; focusing on the belief that the this is a “god”. Already this clearly delineates between paganism and Catholicism as it is clearly understood and icon is not in any way a "god". This forms our theological understanding of the icon by establishing what an icon is not.
  

The Antithetical-type:

Parallels  contrast the gospel; presumably contrasting the outcome from impious to pious:

A) The father with the child taken from him in an untimely manner;

¹⁵ For a father, afflicted with untimely mourning, made an image of the child so quickly taken from him,

is contrasted with the Father who gives His Son.

Galatians 4:4-5: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,"

Romans 5:6: "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

This Son was both: given rather than taken; and with perfect timing rather than "untimely".

John 3:16: 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 8:32:"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

Immoral child sacrifice is then later condemned- as it often is in scripture (implicitly contrasted by Christ's once-for-all self sacrifice):

²³ "For while they practice either child sacrifices or occult mysteries, or frenzied carousing in exotic rites"

B) The hypostatic union:

15: "And now honored as a god what once was dead"

20: "And the masses, drawn by the charm of the workmanship, soon took as an object of worship the one who shortly before was honored as a human being."

As Christians we honor this son (which was once dead) as God- (through hypostatic union). Unlike the son in Wis 14; this is virtuous Because

Christ IS divine;

and IS no longer dead.

1 Cor 15:15, 17: "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain."

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."

While we do not believe this because of the deception of an artisan... verse 20 supports at the very least the creation of icons for didactic/inspirational purposes to encourage belief- not in the object itself but in the subject depicted- that is indeed a "human being" but also God through the hypostatic union.

This point of Wisdom 14 is DIRECTLY contrasted with the CORE belief of Christianity

C) Omnipresence/Omniscience

"¹⁶ Then, in the course of time, the impious practice gained strength and was observed as law, and graven things were worshiped by royal decrees. ¹⁷ People who lived so far away that they could not honor him in his presence copied the appearance of the distant king And made a public image of him they wished to honor, out of zeal to flatter the absent one as though present".

Note: this verse is between the example of the dead son and the king; poetically/abstractly linking the "dead son" with the "king..

Verses 16-17 note that earthly kings are not omnipresent.  This is contrasted with Christ our King being present to us:

Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

Matthew 28:20: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Psalm 139:7-10: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

Ephesians 4:10: "He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe."

We ought to show this honor; not merely keep it inside:

Philippians 2:10: " so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,"

Romans 12:10 : "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

1 Timothy 5:17: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine."

The saints are likewise present (or at least aware) of us, by grace through God:

Hebrew 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Being that scripture tells us they reign with Him, and judge us as blessed and holy priests with crowns… it makes sense to befriend them.

Luke 12:58: “As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.”

D) "...and handed down to his household mysteries and sacrifices."

As the "household of the Father"; we have been handed down “mysteries” (that is sacraments and sacramentals) and the sacrifice of the mass.

These are efficacious mysteries of grace as opposed to the occult mysteries of Wis 14 (as
Wisdom explains generally preformed for personal gain- not worship from love)

This is not intended to be an apologetic for sacramental theology but briefly I will list:

1 Cor 4:1: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

1 Cor 11:23: 23 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread..."

Ephesians 2:19: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

1 Tim 3:15-16: "so that if I am delayed, you will know how to regulate your conduct in God’s household—that is, in the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great:

And almost all of us acknowledge the sacrament of baptism and the Lords supper- and matrimony, anointing, confirmation etc as some form of "sacramental".

E) "incommunicable name"

21-22:  "And this became a snare for the world, that people enslaved to either grief or tyranny conferred the incommunicable Name on stones and wood. Then it was not enough for them to err in their knowledge of God; but even though they live in a great war resulting from ignorance, they call such evils peace."

Christ is given the divine name; contrasting this. A name which He also gives to His followers:

John 17:11: "And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one."

Revelation 19:12: "His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but himself."

Regarding the Saints:

Revelation 3:12: "The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name."

Revelation 7:3: "Saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’"

Regarding the name being on immaterial objects; Mark 12:15-17 Matthew 22:19-21 and Luke 20:24-25 we see Jesus not correcting the disciples when they note that is is Caesar’s image on the coin.

Likewise icons are in the image of Christ; yet are known and distinguished not to be Him in actuality/substance.

verse 22 makes it CLEAR that contextually what is at stake is theological understanding:

"...Then it was not enough for them to err in their knowledge of God..."

an icon is not a "god". It is thoroughly understood to be an image OF Christ-  and so not truly POSSESSING the incommunicable name in the true sense intended here.

When it comes to the Saint triumphant; they indeed are humans and not “gods”. They are honored however as being given Christ’s name by Him; and so are themselves living icons of the icon Christ. For “theosis” they are therefore honored- yet not directly implicated by this verse as the context is clearly Christologically centered; foreshadowing the incarnation and implications of this.

Finally; in context it also describes the descent from veneration of the image to worship of the image. For an iconodule this is still timeless wisdom as we avoid superstition with icons. Veneration may be pious- but descent into idolatry is still possible for us fallen humans and must be warned against.

Conclusion

Following this from 22 onward we see the evil fruits of actual idolatry; from errors on God/theology to moral evils:

²⁴ "They no longer respect either lives or purity of marriage; but they either waylay and kill each other, or aggrieve each other by adultery.

And all is confusion—blood and murder, theft and guile, corruption, faithlessness, turmoil, perjury,  Disturbance of good people, neglect of gratitude, besmirching of souls, unnatural lust, disorder in marriage, adultery and shamelessness.

 For the worship of infamous idols is the reason and source and extreme of all evil.  For they either go mad with enjoyment, or prophesy lies, or live lawlessly or lightly perjure themselves.

For as their trust is in lifeless idols, they expect no harm when they have sworn falsely.  But on both counts justice shall overtake them: because they thought perversely of God by devoting themselves to idols, and because they deliberately swore false oaths, despising piety. ³¹ For it is not the might of those by whom they swear, but the just retribution of sinners, that ever follows upon the transgression of the wicked."

A common theme throughout the bible where idolatry is almost always presented alongside child sacrifice, intoxication, divination, theological error and sexual immorality.

It should be noted how icon veneration does not incite these evils unlike the idolatry that is actually condemned!

Chapter 15 continues in similar fashion describing how errors regarding monotheism and the transcendent nature of God- contrasting the iconodule using icons to declare the incarnation of God as a man.

It speaks of Gods mercy and covenant.

This post alone is far from enough to convert an iconoclast to an iconodule

(especially if they deny ALL the deuterocanonical ANY authority whatsoever- a position that is strangely presumed by most protestants.)

However for those that accept this as scripture and are on the fence about iconography; these passages:

-both warn us from going to far; into superstition and idolatry of icons. Establishing the perimeter and boundaries between an icon and an idol and their appropriate uses and intellectual conception.

-and antithetically point to later Church practice being potentially a pious custom when properly understood and regulated.