Between Jerusalem and Athens: the wisdom of Sirach Ben Sirá in front of the hellenism

“Despise not the one that it becomes, not the sinner seeking forgiveness.”
(Sir 8:5)

General introduction

The Book of the Ecclesiastical (in Hebrew Ben Sira or Sirach) is one of the gems of wisdom of judaism, hellenistic. Part of the canon deuterocanónico catholic and orthodox, but not of the Hebrew canon, or of the protestant, where it is considered to be apocryphal.
It was originally composed in Hebrew toward the 180 to.C. by Jesus ben Sirá (son of Sirá) in Jerusalem, and translated into Greek by his grandson in Alexandria around 132 to.C..

The text is a synthesis bright between the wisdom Hebrew traditional (Proverbs, and Job) and the rationalist thinking of the hellenistic worldoffering a guide to moral, social and religious to everyday life.

Authorship and historical context

1. Author: Jesus ben Sirá

• It was a wise jew (probably enter or teacher) who lived in Jerusalem during the hellenistic period, under the rule of the seleucids.
• His work reflects a deep knowledge of the Torah, the Prophets, and the writings of wisdom above, which places it as a interpreter scholar of the mosaic tradition.
• It is the unique book of wisdom where the author is identified by its own name (Sir 50:27).

2. Historical context

• It is written in a time of voltage cultural and religious: judaism faced by the influence of the hellenismafter the conquests of Alexander the Great.
• Ben Sirá search to preserve the jewish identity and the values of the traditional wisdom in front of the cultural assimilation of Greek.
• The Greek translation was made in Alexandria, which facilitated its diffusion in the jewish diaspora, and then in the early christianity.

Literary structure

The book consists of 51 chapterswithout a thematic order rigid, although it has blocks that are consistent. Its structure combines poetry, wisdom literature, proverbs, hymns, moral exhortations, and theological reflections.

Main sections:

1. Preface of the translator, Greek: Introduction of great historical value, where the grandson of Ben Sirá explains the translation of the Hebrew to the Greek.
2. Chapters 1-23: Moral wisdom of individual: the fear of God, prudence, control of speech, humility, and justice.
3. Chapters 24-42: Wisdom personified and its relationship with the creation and the Law (Torah).
4. Chapters 43-50: Hymns to the creation and the great heroes of Israel.
5. Chapter 51: Prayer of thanksgiving to the author's tone autobiographical.

Theological themes and the moral and main

1. Wisdom as a divine gift

• For Ben Sirá, the wisdom comes from God and is manifested in the Law of Moses (Sir 24:23).
• Is away from the wisdom which is purely rational or philosophical of the greeks: for him, the true wisdom is moral and religious.

2. The fear of the Lord

• Is the the foundation of all wisdom (Sir 1:11-20).
• This is not fear, but an attitude of reverence, obedience and faithfulness to God.

3. The everyday ethics

• The book offers tips on the use of the word, the friendship, the marriage, the education of children, the dealing with the poor and the respect for the elderly.
• It also promotes the moderation, humility and generosity.

4. Social justice and the work

• Defends the honest work as a means of human dignity.
• Condemns the corruption, oppression, and greed.
• Commends charity and mercy.

5. The freedom and human responsibility

• Unlike the fatalism Greek, Ben Sirá teaches that the man is free to choose between good and evil (Sir 15:14-17).
• Stresses the moral responsibility and the divine retribution.

6. Creation and providence

• Dedicated to beautiful hymns to the greatness of nature as a reflection of the Creator (on hold 42-43).
• Asserts that everything created reveals the wisdom and goodness of God.

7. The praise of the ancestors

• In Sir 44-50, it offers a gallery of portraits of the great biblical characters, from Enoch to Simon, the high priest.
• It is a sacred history in key moral and pedagogical, which seeks to inspire people to follow their example.

Theology of the Church

1. God: transcendent but close; just, wise, and merciful.
2. The human being: endowed with freedom, reason and morality, called to reflect the divine wisdom.
3. The Law (Torah): the supreme expression of wisdom; its observance is the path to happiness.
4. Reward and punishment: classical vision of retribution earthly; still there is no development of the concept of eternal life (although there are intuitions of the beyond).
5. Wisdom personified: it is presented as a female figure that sojourneth among men and is embodied in the Law of God.

Influence and reception

In judaism

• He was highly respected in the communities of the diaspora.
• Although it is not incorporated into the Hebrew canon, fragments hebrews were found at Qumran and in the Guenizá Cairo, confirming its liturgical use.
• Some rabbis cited with respect, although he was considered “the wisdom of second category.”

In christianity

• Very influential in the Fathers of the Church: Saint Augustine, Jerome, and Origen as cited abundantly.
• The catholic Church joined the canon of scripture in the Council of Trent (1546).
• His ethics inspired theologians and moralists, medieval and modern.
• Appears in liturgical readings, especially on issues of wisdom, justice, and social behavior.

Comparison with other wisdom books

Message spiritual and philosophical

The Church provides a synthesis between faith and reasonbetween tradition and modernity.
It is an invitation to live according to the divine wisdom, which illuminates the practical life and morality.
Its central message could be summarized as follows:

“The true wisdom is not about knowing a lot, but to live well before God.”

Conclusion

The Ecclesiastical or Sirach it is a testimony to the effort jew defend the spiritual identity in front of the thought hellenistic, showing that the divine wisdom can coexist with human reason.
It is a manual ethical, philosophical, and theological of enormous depth, which influenced both the jewish tradition later as in the christian spirituality primitive.
Its effect lasts: it is a book on how to be a wise, just, and faithful in the midst of a changing world.