Wisdom 11:18

[aReformedPatriot]

From a cursory reading of Wisdom 11:18, what exactly is it teaching?

Wis 11:18 For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,

[arunma]

I read the Scripture (oh wait...I'm not allowed to call it Scripture :sorry: ) in context in the NRSV translation. It seems to me that in Wisdom 11:18, the author is speaking about God's use of his creation in executing righteous judgment. As verse 20 says,
Even apart from these, people could fall at a single breath
when pursued by justice
and scattered by the breath of your power.
But you have arranged all things by measure and number and weight. (Wisdom 11:20)

[aReformedPatriot]

I read the Scripture (oh wait...I'm not allowed to call it Scripture :sorry: ) in context in the NRSV translation. It seems to me that in Wisdom 11:18, the author is speaking about God's use of his creation in executing righteous judgment. As verse 20 says,Even apart from these, people could fall at a single breath
when pursued by justice
and scattered by the breath of your power.
But you have arranged all things by measure and number and weight. (Wisdom 11:20)


Does it seem to argue for creation ex nihilo or creation from pre-existent matter?

[arunma]

Does it seem to argue for creation ex nihilo or creation from pre-existent matter?



Oh, now I see the issue that you're getting at. No, I don't think that this text denies ex nihilo creation. After all, much the same could be said of this Scripture:For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God. (2 Peter 3:5)


It seems to me that Wisdom 11:18 is speaking of the means by which God created the world. But I am by no means a scholar of the Apocryphal books, so I can't say anything with certainty.