Question:

  Shema Torah believers say that "wisdom" in Proverbs 8:23-32 cannot be referred to as proving that Jesus pre-existed before becoming Flesh, because the word "wisdom" in Hebrew is feminine and not masculine. So it cannot refer to Jesus. Would you like to comment with your view on this.

  Answer:

  Hebrew commentators state that "Wisdom" in Proverbs Chapter 8 is a common type of "oriental figure of speech", which "personifies" God's wisdom, speaking as though the wisdom of God is a person.

  The figure of speech is portrayed as feminine in that it is "wooing", "loving", and "pleading" with the hearer to find and fall in love with her, and accept her, and thereby find favor with God.

  The unbeliever will look at Proverbs Chapter 8 and state that it CANNOT refer to Jesus in His preincarnate existance, because the "figure" is "FEMININE". It seems that God has given us the Scriptures in such a fashion as to give men "enough rope to hang themselves".

  It is true that we cannot "prove" to the unbeliever that "wisdom" in Proverbs Chapter 8 refers to the eternal Person of Jesus. But, to the those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, Proverbs Chapter 8 is virtually universally accepted as referring to the eternal person of Jesus Christ Himself.

  There is nothing in the whole Bible to "prove" to the unbeliever that Jesus is the eternal Second Person of the Triune God of the Bible, because, as 1 Cor. 1:18 and 2:14 state, the natural (unregererate) man cannot receive anything from the Spirit of God, and the preaching of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

  But, when we are born again and believe in Jesus and are aware of the teachings of the New Testament, Proverbs Chapter 8 bursts to life and we read it as Jesus Himself speaking to us!

  When we compare the statements of verses 22 - 36 to the New Testament, the "Wisdom" of God here can be none other than the eternal person of Jesus Himself:

  Proverbs 8:22-36:

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. (Compare with John 1:1&14, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth").

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Compare with John 8:58 where Jesus stated "Before Abraham was, I am", stating that He existed before Abraham, and 1 Cor 10:4 and Exodus 14:14, 19 & 25, where Jesus was in the "cloud" that followed the children of Israel through the Red Sea. The "angel of God" literally means "the appearance of God".)

24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;

  The New Testament states that Jesus himself created the heavens and earth:

  --- John 1:1 -3 & 14 - 1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth".

  --- Heb 1:1-3 God hath spoken to us in these last days and appointed Jesus heir of all things, "by whom he made the worlds".

  --- Eph 3:9 God "created all things by (by means of) Jesus Christ".

  --- Col 1:13-17 and 19 Speaking of Jesus, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him".

Prov 8:31 "Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death".

  Compare with John 3:17&18 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

  Jesus is "God the Son" (Eternal 2nd person of the triune God) as well as "the Son of God" (The 2nd person of the trinity, who left His place in heaven and entered the stream of humanity through the virgin birth, died on the cross for us and ascended back to heaven in his resurrected glorified human body):

  --- 2 Cor 4:4 "Christ is the image of God".

  --- Col 1:13-17 Jesus is "the image of the invisible God".

  --- Col 2:9 In Jesus "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (in bodily form).

  --- Heb 1:3 Jesus is the "brightness of his (God's) glory and the express image of his person".

  --- John 10:30 Jesus said "I and my Father are one"

  --- John 12:45, Jesus said "he that seeth me seeth him that sent me".

  --- John 14:9 Jesus told "doubting Thomas" If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.

  The unbeliever will look at the Scriptures and try to find every reason not to accept them, but, after a person is born again, the same Scriptures come alive with rich meaning!

  I sincerely hope and pray that this has been a satisfactory answer.

  May the Lord richly bless you and your loved ones, in every way.

  Eph. 1:15-17

  Bob Jones