Mądrość i kultura w Księdze Mądrości

Abstract

The article discusses the way the noun παιδεία and its derivative verb παιδεύομαι (which means culture, upbringing or education) are used in the Book of Wisdom. The author starts her analysis with verse 3:11: “Wretched are those who scorn wisdom and culture”. She demonstrates that the Book‘s calls addressed to the kings were meant to make them realize that they should become disciples educated by God. Consequently, the entire history of Israel as related here is a story of education and formation of the Chosen People by God’s wisdom, whereas sinners are those who refuse to undergo the process of upbringing. According to the Book, what constitutes the essence and goal of culture is love. Culture leads a human being to “indestructibility” and to “existence” near God (which are also referred to as “kingdom”). In the second part of the article, the author presents the historical context in which the Book of Wisdom originated. The Book was written in Greek in the Hellenised community of Alexandrian Jews. Thus, it formed part of the mainstream of Jewish apologetic literature in Greek, which among others referred to the Greek heritage adopted by the Jews living in the diaspora. With this cultural background in mind, the author suggests an interpretation of the “wisdom and culture” from the Book of Wisdom as the Jewish religion (the Law) and as the Greek paideia – both regarded as paths on which God educates people and leads them to Himself.