The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-I, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 11."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Do you see any reference to Christ in the eighth chapter of Proverbs? Specifically, the 22nd verse on?

Answer

Well, you’re asking a very interesting question...very perceptive question. Periodically, through the book of Proverbs, you have wisdom. And, wisdom is frequently personified. In other words, wisdom is made into a person. And, this is what you have essentially in 8:1. “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, and in the entrance of the doors. And she calls unto men..." and so forth, and then in verse 22...wisdom is personified again. He talks about... "My fruit is better gold." "I lead in the way of righteousness." "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." I think, it’s best to see this as wisdom simply personified as the wisdom of God. Now, I will admit, and if you go back to Proverbs chapter one, you’ll see it, perhaps, a little more clearly. I will admit that many commentators take it that it is a veiled reference to Christ who is the personification of the wisdom of God.

Question (continued)

The Scofield Reference seems to take that viewpoint in the notes.

Answer (continued)

If you go back to chapter one, verse 20, it says: “Wisdom cries outside; she utters her voice in the streets: she cries in the chief place of concourse, in the opening of the gates: in the city, she utters her words, saying, 'How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and scoffers delight in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof..." And, they see in this public ministry of Christ. Now, frankly, my own perspective on that is that it is not a primary interpretation of the passage. I do not see it as a clear reference to Christ. I think, obviously, Christ fulfilled it in a way because, in the streets, he cried wisdom. But, I think you have to see it best as the personification of wisdom.

Question (continued)

What bothered me is he, Dr Scofield, in his notes, he has it as referring to Christ.

Answer (continued)

Well, you see, the problem is this: wisdom has cried in the streets through many people. It has cried in the streets of the prophets. It cried in the streets of the priests. It’s cried in the streets of the people of God throughout the history of man. It’s cried in the streets through Christ. It’s cried in the streets through the Apostles and the prophets and the preachers and the evangelists, and the teachers, throughout all of the church age. Anyone who stands up and proclaims the wisdom of God. So, I think, it’s forcing the exegesis a little bit.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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