The Most Ancient of All Wisdom
The second-century Church Father St. Clement of Alexandria wrote that the "philosophy of the Hebrews" is "beyond all contradiction...the most ancient of all wisdom." He compares the philosophy and the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers and writers to the Hebrew philosophy by quoting Plato's Timæus, in which an Egyptian priest says:
Whence most beautifully the Egyptian priest in Plato said, 'O Solon, Solon, you Greeks are always children, not having in your souls a single ancient opinion received through tradition from antiquity. And not one of the Greeks is an old man.’
St. Clement then contrasts this with the philosophy of the Hebrews, describing it as belonging also to the Christians—"our literature"—and belonging to "more remote antiquity." Therefore, taking St. Clement's stance on the topic, Hebrew philosophy is rightly to be viewed as far pre-dating the Greek philosophical tradition in its various forms. St. Clement also displays a wide and thorough familiarity with Greek writings of various degrees, and attributes certain Greek historical notions to Moses, saying:
Euphorus and many other historians say that there are seventy-five nations and tongues, in consequence of hearing the statement made by Moses: 'All the souls that sprang from Jacob, which went down into Egypt, were seventy-five.
Hebrew philosophy, as "the most ancient of all wisdom," as St. Clement acknowledges, also far-predates the earliest known writings and figures from among the vast majority of other philosophical schools of antiquity. Below is a list of comparisons:
To further illustrate the high antiquity of the philosophy of the Jews, consider the following quotation from Flavius Josephus:
We have already demonstrated that our laws have been such as have always inspired admiration and imitation into all other men; nay, the earliest Grecian philosophers, though in appearance they observed the laws of their own countries, yet did they, in their actions, and their philosophic doctrines, follow our legislator, and instructed men to live sparingly, and to have friendly communication one with another.
Moses
Moses as an Historical Philosopher
Gérard Gertoux from the Université Lyons writes: "The checking of chronologies shows that the chronological data from the Bible (Old and New Testament) are absolutely correct from 1533 BCE to 140 CE.”
St. Clement of Alexandria writes concerning Moses:
On the plagiarizing of the dogmas of the philosophers from the Hebrews, we shall treat a little afterwards. But first, as due order demands, we must now speak of the epoch of Moses, by which the philosophy of the Hebrews will be demonstrated beyond all contradiction to be the most ancient of all wisdom.
Solomon
King Solomon as a Wisdom Philosopher
The genre of Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament encompasses the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. In the Hebrew Bible, these books are included in the third portion of books known as The Writings (כתובים). Sefaria explains this division as follows:
Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) is Judaism’s foundational text. The word “Tanakh” is an acronym of its three parts: Torah (The Five Books of Moses), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). It contains stories, law, poetry, and teachings about God and humanity.
Principles of Wisdom
As author of both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, King Solomon is the preeminent figure of Biblical Wisdom Literature, whose philosophy consists largely of the following principles—
Fear of God
One of the key standards by which wisdom is attained and measured, in the Wisdom Literature of Solomon, is the fear and reverence of the God of Israel. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7
Solomon draws a direct connection between wisdom and one's disposition toward God Himself. Solomon states not only that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God, but that the fear of God is the result of wisdom as well. As an example, the following quotation from Proverbs exemplifies how Solomon's philosophy of wisdom is inseparably connected to his understanding of God, and one's knowledge of the One True God.
My son, if you accept my word
And treasure up my commandments;
If you make your ear attentive to wisdom
And your mind open to discernment;
If you call to understanding
And cry aloud to discernment,
If you seek it as you do silver
And search for it as for treasures,
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD
And attain the knowledge of God.
For the LORD grants wisdom;
Knowledge and discernment are by His decree.
Proverbs 3:1-6
In this way, ancient Hebrew philosophy understands the fear of God to be both the source and the outcome of wisdom. Without the fear of God, no wisdom can exist; and without wisdom, no fear of God can exist. Thus, ancient Hebrew philosophy, in a very fundamental sense, is epistemologically cyclical. When referring to the fear of God as the outcome of wisdom, in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says:
The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind: That God will call every creature to account for everything unknown, be it good or bad.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Love of Wisdom —
In Proverbs, Solomon depicts Wisdom as the first of God’s creations: "“The LORD created me at the beginning of His course; As the first of His works of old.” He personifies Wisdom as a woman: "It is Wisdom calling; Understanding raising her voice.” Lady Wisdom, as it were, is attained and kept through love: "Those who love me I love; And those who seek me will find me.”
The second-century Church Father St. Clement of Alexandria wrote that the "philosophy of the Hebrews" is "beyond all contradiction...the most ancient of all wisdom." He compares the philosophy and the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers and writers to the Hebrew philosophy by quoting Plato's Timæus, in which an Egyptian priest says:
Whence most beautifully the Egyptian priest in Plato said, 'O Solon, Solon, you Greeks are always children, not having in your souls a single ancient opinion received through tradition from antiquity. And not one of the Greeks is an old man.’
St. Clement then contrasts this with the philosophy of the Hebrews, describing it as belonging also to the Christians—"our literature"—and belonging to "more remote antiquity." Therefore, taking St. Clement's stance on the topic, Hebrew philosophy is rightly to be viewed as far pre-dating the Greek philosophical tradition in its various forms. St. Clement also displays a wide and thorough familiarity with Greek writings of various degrees, and attributes certain Greek historical notions to Moses, saying:
Euphorus and many other historians say that there are seventy-five nations and tongues, in consequence of hearing the statement made by Moses: 'All the souls that sprang from Jacob, which went down into Egypt, were seventy-five.
Hebrew philosophy, as "the most ancient of all wisdom," as St. Clement acknowledges, also far-predates the earliest known writings and figures from among the vast majority of other philosophical schools of antiquity. Below is a list of comparisons:
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We have already demonstrated that our laws have been such as have always inspired admiration and imitation into all other men; nay, the earliest Grecian philosophers, though in appearance they observed the laws of their own countries, yet did they, in their actions, and their philosophic doctrines, follow our legislator, and instructed men to live sparingly, and to have friendly communication one with another.
Moses
Moses as an Historical Philosopher
Gérard Gertoux from the Université Lyons writes: "The checking of chronologies shows that the chronological data from the Bible (Old and New Testament) are absolutely correct from 1533 BCE to 140 CE.”
St. Clement of Alexandria writes concerning Moses:
On the plagiarizing of the dogmas of the philosophers from the Hebrews, we shall treat a little afterwards. But first, as due order demands, we must now speak of the epoch of Moses, by which the philosophy of the Hebrews will be demonstrated beyond all contradiction to be the most ancient of all wisdom.
Solomon
King Solomon as a Wisdom Philosopher
The genre of Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament encompasses the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. In the Hebrew Bible, these books are included in the third portion of books known as The Writings (כתובים). Sefaria explains this division as follows:
Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) is Judaism’s foundational text. The word “Tanakh” is an acronym of its three parts: Torah (The Five Books of Moses), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). It contains stories, law, poetry, and teachings about God and humanity.
Principles of Wisdom
As author of both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, King Solomon is the preeminent figure of Biblical Wisdom Literature, whose philosophy consists largely of the following principles—
Fear of God
One of the key standards by which wisdom is attained and measured, in the Wisdom Literature of Solomon, is the fear and reverence of the God of Israel. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7
Solomon draws a direct connection between wisdom and one's disposition toward God Himself. Solomon states not only that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God, but that the fear of God is the result of wisdom as well. As an example, the following quotation from Proverbs exemplifies how Solomon's philosophy of wisdom is inseparably connected to his understanding of God, and one's knowledge of the One True God.
My son, if you accept my word
And treasure up my commandments;
If you make your ear attentive to wisdom
And your mind open to discernment;
If you call to understanding
And cry aloud to discernment,
If you seek it as you do silver
And search for it as for treasures,
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD
And attain the knowledge of God.
For the LORD grants wisdom;
Knowledge and discernment are by His decree.
Proverbs 3:1-6
In this way, ancient Hebrew philosophy understands the fear of God to be both the source and the outcome of wisdom. Without the fear of God, no wisdom can exist; and without wisdom, no fear of God can exist. Thus, ancient Hebrew philosophy, in a very fundamental sense, is epistemologically cyclical. When referring to the fear of God as the outcome of wisdom, in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says:
The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind: That God will call every creature to account for everything unknown, be it good or bad.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Love of Wisdom —
In Proverbs, Solomon depicts Wisdom as the first of God’s creations: "“The LORD created me at the beginning of His course; As the first of His works of old.” He personifies Wisdom as a woman: "It is Wisdom calling; Understanding raising her voice.” Lady Wisdom, as it were, is attained and kept through love: "Those who love me I love; And those who seek me will find me.”