Aquinas and the Praise of Wisdom in Sirach 24

An Example of the Richness and Limitations of His Reading of the Old Testament

Abstract

In recent decades, scholars have increasingly sought to understand Aquinas’s theology through his role as a magister in sacra pagina. This article examines Aquinas’s approach to the Old Testament by analyzing his interpretation of Sirach 24:1–14 as a representative example. After discussing the significance of this passage in the book of Sirach, the article highlights two particularly notable instances where Aquinas references Sirach 24:1–14 in his writings. In Sent. III, d. 11, q. 1, a. 1, he identifies the created wisdom in Sirach 24:14 as either angelic nature or Christ’s human nature. In ST I, q. 41, a. 3, Aquinas presents created wisdom as a participation in uncreated wisdom. Here, he identifies created wisdom as Christ’s human nature without referencing angelic nature. Additionally, Aquinas suggests that Sirach 24:5 insinuates to us the mode of divine generation. The article further considers Aquinas’s affirmation in ST II–II that the Trinity and Christ were explicitly believed by the elders before Christ’s incarnation. The article concludes that Aquinas’s way of reading the Old Testament can be reassessed in light of recent advancements in exegesis and fundamental theology. The article highlights a tension in Aquinas’s thought: the belief that divine revelation reaches its apex in Christ’s death and resurrection versus his approach to the Old Testament as an inspired and prophetic text, where he seeks to discern the central mysteries of faith in a literal manner.