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JEWISH WISDOM IN THE HELLENISTIC AGE
THE OLD TESTAMENT LIBRARY Editorial Advisory Board JAMES L . M A Y S C A R O L A.
NEWSOM
D A V I D L . PETERSEN
John J. Collins
JEWISH WISDOM IN THE HELLENISTIC AGE
Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky
© 1997 John J. Collins All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396. Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible are copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and are used by permission.
Book design by Jennifer K. Cox First edition Published by Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky This book is printed on acid-free paper that meets the American National Standards In stitute Z39.48 standard.® PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Collins, John Joseph, date. Jewish wisdom in the Hellenistic age / John J. Collins. — 1st ed. p. cm. — (The Old Testament library) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 0-664-22109-2 1. Bible. O.T. Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Bible. O.T. Apocrypha. Wisdom of Solomon—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 3. Pseudo-Phocylides— Criticism and interpretation. 4. Wisdom—Biblical teaching. 5. Hellenism I. Title. II. Series. BS1765.2.C65 1997 229'.306-dc21 97-20102
In memory of my father, John Collins 1912-1996
4Q416 2. iii. 16
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
ix
Abbreviations
x
Chapter
1.
Where Is Wisdom to Be Found?
1
PART ONE. HEBREW WISDOM
21
Chapter
2.
Ben Sira in His Hellenistic Context
23
Chapter
3.
Wisdom and the Law
42
Chapter
4.
Ben Sira's Ethics
62
Chapter
5.
The Problem of Evil and the Justice of God
80
Chapter
6.
The History and Destiny of Israel
97
Chapter
7.
Wisdom in the Dead Sea Scrolls
112
PART TWO. WISDOM IN THE HELLENISTIC DIASPORA
133
Chapter
8.
The Diaspora Setting
135
Chapter
9.
Jewish Ethics in Hellenistic Dress: The Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides
158
Wisdom and Immortality
178
Chapter 10.
Contents
VIII
Chapter
11. Wisdom and the Cosmos
Chapter 12.
Epilogue: From Hebrew Wisdom to Greek Philosophy
196
222
Bibliography
233
Index of Passages
257
Index of Authors
271
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to express my gratitude to Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., for graciously pro viding me with a copy of his manuscript on "Wisdom in the Dead Sea Scrolls" prior to publication; to Torleif Elgvin for giving me access to several unpub lished articles on 4QSapiential Work A; and to Frederick Brenk, S.J., Gregory Sterling, and Gideon Bohak for bibliographic information on the status of the Jewish communities in Egypt. Shannon Burkes read the manuscript and made several helpful observations. Brenda Shaver prepared the bibliography and helped with the indexes.
ABBREVIATIONS
AB ABD AnBib ANET ANRW APOT ARW BAR BETL BIB B