This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 15:2 is a complex and potentially controversial statement. It's best understood within the context of the entire book and the Jewish wisdom tradition. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"For even if we sin, we are your, knowing your dominion..."
"Even if we sin": This acknowledges the reality of human fallibility. It doesn't suggest that sin is desirable or encouraged, but it's a realistic acceptance that humans, even those striving to be righteous, sometimes fail.
"we are your": This refers to the speaker and their community (presumably the Jewish people) belonging to God. This underscores a covenant relationship, a special bond where they are God's chosen people.
"knowing your dominion": This implies an understanding and acceptance of God's supreme authority and power. They recognize that God rules over all things. The fact that God has dominion is not negated by human sin. Because God's power is absolute, he has the ability to pardon those he has dominion over.
"But we will not sin, knowing that we have been accounted your:"
"But we will not sin": This expresses a strong intention and determination to avoid sin. It's a statement of aspiration and commitment to living a righteous life.
"knowing that we have been accounted your": This is crucial. The phrase "accounted your" (or "reckoned as yours" in some translations) suggests a status of belonging, acceptance, and perhaps even justification or righteousness in God's eyes. It hints at a grace-based relationship. They are motivated to avoid sin precisely because they are already seen as belonging to God. This motivation stems from gratitude and love, rather than simply fear of punishment.
Possible Interpretations and Nuances:
Covenant and Grace: The verse emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and his people. The recognition of God's dominion is linked to the desire to avoid sin, highlighting the importance of living in accordance with God's will.
Responsibility: The verse does not promote license or the idea that believers are free to sin without consequence. On the contrary, it emphasizes the responsibility that comes with belonging to God. Those who have been accounted as belonging to God are motivated to live in a way that is pleasing to him.
Motivation for Righteousness: The verse provides a unique perspective on motivation for righteousness. It suggests that believers are not driven by fear of punishment, but by gratitude, love, and the desire to live in accordance with their identity as God's people.
Potential for Misinterpretation: This verse is open to misinterpretation if taken out of context. It could be wrongly used to justify sin or to suggest that believers are somehow exempt from the consequences of their actions. However, when understood within the context of the entire book of Wisdom and the Jewish wisdom tradition, it becomes clear that the verse emphasizes the importance of living a righteous life in response to God's grace and love.
Comparison to Paul's Theology (New Testament):
Some see echoes of this idea in Paul's writings in the New Testament. Paul emphasizes that Christians are saved by grace through faith, not by works of the law. However, he also stresses that believers are called to live a life of holiness as a response to God's grace. The verse from Wisdom of Solomon could be seen as a foreshadowing of this idea. The verse emphasizes that those who have been accounted as belonging to God are motivated to live in a way that is pleasing to him.
In summary, Wisdom of Solomon 15:2 expresses a relationship of both privilege and responsibility. Because they are God's people, acknowledging his absolute power, they should strive to live justly. Knowing that they are already accounted as belonging to God should motivate them to avoid sin out of love and gratitude, rather than fear.
This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 15:2 is a complex and potentially controversial statement. It's best understood within the context of the entire book and the Jewish wisdom tradition. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"For even if we sin, we are your, knowing your dominion..."
"Even if we sin": This acknowledges the reality of human fallibility. It doesn't suggest that sin is desirable or encouraged, but it's a realistic acceptance that humans, even those striving to be righteous, sometimes fail.
"we are your": This refers to the speaker and their community (presumably the Jewish people) belonging to God. This underscores a covenant relationship, a special bond where they are God's chosen people.
"knowing your dominion": This implies an understanding and acceptance of God's supreme authority and power. They recognize that God rules over all things. The fact that God has dominion is not negated by human sin. Because God's power is absolute, he has the ability to pardon those he has dominion over.
"But we will not sin, knowing that we have been accounted your:"
"But we will not sin": This expresses a strong intention and determination to avoid sin. It's a statement of aspiration and commitment to living a righteous life.
"knowing that we have been accounted your": This is crucial. The phrase "accounted your" (or "reckoned as yours" in some translations) suggests a status of belonging, acceptance, and perhaps even justification or righteousness in God's eyes. It hints at a grace-based relationship. They are motivated to avoid sin precisely because they are already seen as belonging to God. This motivation stems from gratitude and love, rather than simply fear of punishment.
Possible Interpretations and Nuances:
Covenant and Grace: The verse emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and his people. The recognition of God's dominion is linked to the desire to avoid sin, highlighting the importance of living in accordance with God's will.
Responsibility: The verse does not promote license or the idea that believers are free to sin without consequence. On the contrary, it emphasizes the responsibility that comes with belonging to God. Those who have been accounted as belonging to God are motivated to live in a way that is pleasing to him.
Motivation for Righteousness: The verse provides a unique perspective on motivation for righteousness. It suggests that believers are not driven by fear of punishment, but by gratitude, love, and the desire to live in accordance with their identity as God's people.
Potential for Misinterpretation: This verse is open to misinterpretation if taken out of context. It could be wrongly used to justify sin or to suggest that believers are somehow exempt from the consequences of their actions. However, when understood within the context of the entire book of Wisdom and the Jewish wisdom tradition, it becomes clear that the verse emphasizes the importance of living a righteous life in response to God's grace and love.
Comparison to Paul's Theology (New Testament):
Some see echoes of this idea in Paul's writings in the New Testament. Paul emphasizes that Christians are saved by grace through faith, not by works of the law. However, he also stresses that believers are called to live a life of holiness as a response to God's grace. The verse from Wisdom of Solomon could be seen as a foreshadowing of this idea. The verse emphasizes that those who have been accounted as belonging to God are motivated to live in a way that is pleasing to him.
In summary, Wisdom of Solomon 15:2 expresses a relationship of both privilege and responsibility. Because they are God's people, acknowledging his absolute power, they should strive to live justly. Knowing that they are already accounted as belonging to God should motivate them to avoid sin out of love and gratitude, rather than fear.
