@article{ART002093411},
author={Samuel Cheon},
title={Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon},
journal={Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies},
issn={1229-0521},
year={2016},
volume={22},
number={1},
pages={183-209},
doi={10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183}
TY - JOUR
AU - Samuel Cheon
TI - Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon
JO - Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
PY - 2016
VL - 22
IS - 1
PB - Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
SP - 183
EP - 209
SN - 1229-0521
AB - This study aims to find out Pseudo-Solomon’s understanding of God’s mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon 11:15-12:27, where its author presents God who provides mercy upon even the wicked, the Egyptians and Canaanites, as well as the righteous, the Israelites. To do so, I analyze the text exegetically, apply his presentation of God’s mercy to the historical context of the anti-Jewish riot in Alexandria in 38 C.E., and find out its social function.
I insist that Pseudo-Solomon’s idea of God’s mercy reflects universalism. Tha is to say, God’s mercy is impartially paid on both the just and the wicked, because God, as the Creator with unlimited power, takes care of the creatures. Such a way of providing mercy is also the way of God’s punishing sinners, because it is also the way the wicked are enabled to realize their sins and to believe in God. Taking the opportunity of their committing sins, God gradually punishes them for their repentance. Nevertheless, they never repent, because they do not have reasonable discernment. As a result, they cannot escape God’s final judgment. This means that Pseudo-Solomon recognizes the free will of the wicked, even though he exaggeratedly describes their inborn nature as evil. On the other hand, the righteous quickly repent by being lightly punished and return to God, through which they realize that the just should not only love human beings but also seek God’s mercy with their repentance even in the context of their comitting sins.
Through such an idea of God’s mercy, Pseudo-Solomon would try not only to make the Alexandrian Jews, who suffered by the anti-Jewish riot in 38 C.E., find their self-identity, but also to suppress their intention of retaliating upon their enemies and their expectation of the attackers’ immediate destruction.
KW - Wisdom of Solomon;God’s mercy;free will;wisdom literature;intertestamental period
DO - 10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
ER -
Samuel Cheon. (2016). Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 22(1), 183-209.
Samuel Cheon. 2016, "Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon", Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, vol.22, no.1 pp.183-209. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
Samuel Cheon "Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 22.1 pp.183-209 (2016) : 183.
Samuel Cheon. Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon. 2016; 22(1), 183-209. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
Samuel Cheon. "Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 22, no.1 (2016) : 183-209.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
Samuel Cheon. Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 22(1), 183-209. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
Samuel Cheon. Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies. 2016; 22(1) 183-209. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
Samuel Cheon. Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon. 2016; 22(1), 183-209. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
Samuel Cheon. "Understanding God's Mercy in the Wisdom of Solomon" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 22, no.1 (2016) : 183-209.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2016.22.1.183
