WISDOM CHRISTOLOGY: HOW JESUS BECOMES GOD’S WISDOM FOR US, by Daniel J. Ebert IV

A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance

by Mark Baker

 

About the Author

Daniel J. Ebert IV (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Professor of Biblical Studies at Cedarville University and was a missionary in Asia for 21 years (back cover).

 

Overview

This book seeks to explore “how the doctrine of Christ functioned as wisdom for the early church” (2). There is a fairly common tradition that sees Christ fulfilling the role of “Lady Wisdom” as depicted in the Old Testament and in other Jewish literature. This book rejects that connection while maintaining that there is indeed a wisdom Christology found in Christ Jesus himself (13).

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Wisdom’s Invitation

1 An Invitation to Follow Jesus (Matthew 11:25-30)
2 An Invitation to Receive the Word (John 1:1-18)

Part 2: Wisdom and the Cross

3 Wisdom and the Crucified Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18-24, 30-31; 8:6)
4 Wisdom and the Cosmic Christ (Colossians 1:15-20)
5 Wisdom and the Way of the Cross (Philippians 2:5-11)
6 Wisdom and the Priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Conclusion: Learning to Live in the Wisdom of Christ

 

Summary

 

Part 1: Wisdom’s Invitation

 

Chapter 1: An Invitation to Follow Jesus (Matthew 11:25-30)

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 11:25-30 is sometimes called a “Johannine thunderbolt” because it sounds so much like John’s Gospel. A deeper look at the context of this passage reveals that Jesus is saying some significant things about wisdom. The book of Sirach provides an interesting parallel to this passage. It says, “I open my mouth and speak of [wisdom]: gain, at no cost, wisdom for yourselves. Submit your neck to her yoke, that your mind may accept her teaching. For she is close to those who seek her, and the one who is in earnest finds her” (51:25-26). Both the similarities and the differences of these two passages are instructive. “Jesus is not identifying himself with the wisdom of Torah as understood by much of the tradition of his day, but rather he is identifying himself as the law’s fulfillment” (30). Further, for Sirach, wisdom is only available to the upper class and those who had leisure (see Sirach 38:24-25), but Jesus invites all people, even those who labor, to find rest and wisdom in him (31). . . .

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