The Two Types of Wisdom
The Two-fold Sophia
There is Echamoth and there is Echmoth. Echamoth is simply wisdom, but Echmoth is the wisdom of death—that is, the wisdom that knows death, that is called little wisdom. (The Gospel of Philip)
From the Gospel of Philip we can see there are two types of wisdom
Echamoth is Wisdom simply
Echmoth is the Wisdom of death or "the little Wisdom"
There are two types of wisdom the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God.
The rulers of this age, Paul argues, knew Sophia but not Christ-Sophia [higher wisdom]
1Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God (Divine Wisdom) the world by wisdom (human wisdom called philosophy) knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
The Sophia of this age is the lower form of wisdom in those who are material or carnally minded not spiritual
The other Sophia is of God a wisdom of God, formally hidden in mystery'. (1 Co 2:6-7) Now revealed in Jesus Christ (Col 1:26-28)—1Co 1:24, 30; compare 1Co 2:7, 8; Pr 8:1, 10, 18-21.
The Fall of Wisdom
Rom 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened.
Rom 1:22 Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish
Rom 1:28 And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mental state.
James 3:15 This wisdom is not one, from above, coming down, but is earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal!
Human Wisdom
Ecclesiastes describes human wisdomThe “wisdom” of Proverbs is not the “wisdom” of Ecclesiastes. The former is godly wisdom; the latter is usually human wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 1:16 I entered into counsel with my own mind, saying, Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom, yes, more than all who have been over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.
17 And I gave my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it.
18 For in much [human] wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Human Wisdom on a limited scale is attainable by man through his own efforts,
Human wisdom can bring much sorrow and it does not bring real satisfaction.
. 19 For it is written: “I will make the wisdom of the wise [men] perish, and the intelligence of the intellectual [men] I will shove aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this age? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not get to know God, God saw good through the foolishness of what is preached to save those believing
18 Let no one be seducing himself: If anyone among YOU thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own cunning.
Human wisdom is foolishness with God this is the real fall of wisdom those that did not hold God in accurate knowledge but chose the wisdom of the world instead that is, the world of mankind alienated from God. (1Co 1:20)
Wisdom is Personified
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:13-15).
"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1).
These verses, and indeed the rest of the chapters in which they appear, show that wisdom is personified as a woman, but because of this, no-one has the idea that wisdom is a literal beautiful woman who roams around the earth; all recognize that it is a very desirable characteristic which all people should try to acquire.
Wisdom is personalized in the book of Proverbs, depicted there as a woman inviting persons to receive what she has to offer. That is why in Proverbs human wisdom is an adulteress woman (2:16 Wisdom, on the other hand, is personified as a virgin
Jesus says wisdom is know by her children (Matt 11:19 compare Luke 7:35)
and we are born of the spirit (John 3:6)
Wisdom or Sophia is a feminine aspects of God or one of God's attributes
Therefore God is androgynous being both Father and Mother the holy spirit is the feminine aspect of God. In Hebrew the word spirit is a feminine noun. That is why it can be spoken of as a Mother giving birth. John 3:8 However The holy spirit is a force, the invisible power and energy of the Father by which God is everywhere present. The Spirit is the power of God through which God's Family works. The chosen messengers have been given only the power and authority from Yahweh they need to accomplish their mission. Gen 1:2; Num 11:17; Mt 3:16; John 20:22; Ac 2:4, 17, 33. The Spirit is not a 'separate' or 'other' person. Ac 7:55, 56; Re 7:10 The spirit is God's own radiant power, ever out flowing from Him, by which His 'everywhereness' is achieved. Ps 104:30; 1 Cor 12:4-11.
The Spirit is personal in that it is of God Himself: it is not personal in the sense of being some other person within the Godhead"
Therefore the Sophia is a feminine aspect of God his holy spirit. Sophia can be described as the wisdom of God, and, the holy spirit or active force which emanates from God. The Sophia is seen as being expressed in all creation and the natural world as well as, the Holy Spirit is an equivalent expression with Sophia, being the feminine counterpart to the masculine Logos. Whereas the latter is manifested in Jesus of Nazareth, the former is effectively manifested in the Church which Begets, anoints, Empowers, leads God’s people today. Joh 3:5-8; 2Co 1:21, 22 Ga 5:16, 18.
This view of God being androgynous can be found in the Bible in the Book of Proverbs God has a feminine aspect wisdom (Sophia):
8:22 Yahweh possessed me," saith the Logos, "in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from olahm (the hidden period) from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the open places, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the deep; when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea his decree that the water should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by him as one brought up with him (the Logos was with the Theos): and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights with the sons of men" (Prov. 8:22).
Here wisdom is personified. Wisdom here is not a separate deity. but it is the personification of the attribute of wisdom displayed by God: truth, justice, value, the beautiful, faithful, eternal companion and handmaid of God.
The personification begins with the love relationship she has with her followers is a guarantee of prosperity, provided they walk in her ways [vv 17-21]. Then, in the astounding passage in vv 22–31, she affirms her origins from God, and from of old before creation. The description of creation in vv 25–29 is not really important here; there is no concentration on creation itself, which merely serves to underscore Wisdom's preexistence.
The feminine aspects of God. Gnostics held that she was the syzygy (female twin divine Aeon) of the logos (i.e. the Bride of Christ), and Holy Spirit of God who is the Father-mother
"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1).
These verses, and indeed the rest of the chapters in which they appear, show that wisdom is personified as a woman, but because of this, no-one has the idea that wisdom is a literal beautiful woman who roams around the earth; all recognize that it is a very desirable characteristic which all people should try to acquire.
Wisdom is personalized in the book of Proverbs, depicted there as a woman inviting persons to receive what she has to offer. That is why in Proverbs human wisdom is an adulteress woman (2:16 Wisdom, on the other hand, is personified as a virgin
Divine Wisdom
Wisdom is more than just a personification; she is an expression of the feminine aspects of God.Jesus says wisdom is know by her children (Matt 11:19 compare Luke 7:35)
and we are born of the spirit (John 3:6)
Wisdom or Sophia is a feminine aspects of God or one of God's attributes
Therefore God is androgynous being both Father and Mother the holy spirit is the feminine aspect of God. In Hebrew the word spirit is a feminine noun. That is why it can be spoken of as a Mother giving birth. John 3:8 However The holy spirit is a force, the invisible power and energy of the Father by which God is everywhere present. The Spirit is the power of God through which God's Family works. The chosen messengers have been given only the power and authority from Yahweh they need to accomplish their mission. Gen 1:2; Num 11:17; Mt 3:16; John 20:22; Ac 2:4, 17, 33. The Spirit is not a 'separate' or 'other' person. Ac 7:55, 56; Re 7:10 The spirit is God's own radiant power, ever out flowing from Him, by which His 'everywhereness' is achieved. Ps 104:30; 1 Cor 12:4-11.
The Spirit is personal in that it is of God Himself: it is not personal in the sense of being some other person within the Godhead"
Therefore the Sophia is a feminine aspect of God his holy spirit. Sophia can be described as the wisdom of God, and, the holy spirit or active force which emanates from God. The Sophia is seen as being expressed in all creation and the natural world as well as, the Holy Spirit is an equivalent expression with Sophia, being the feminine counterpart to the masculine Logos. Whereas the latter is manifested in Jesus of Nazareth, the former is effectively manifested in the Church which Begets, anoints, Empowers, leads God’s people today. Joh 3:5-8; 2Co 1:21, 22 Ga 5:16, 18.
This view of God being androgynous can be found in the Bible in the Book of Proverbs God has a feminine aspect wisdom (Sophia):
8:22 Yahweh possessed me," saith the Logos, "in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from olahm (the hidden period) from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the open places, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the deep; when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea his decree that the water should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by him as one brought up with him (the Logos was with the Theos): and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights with the sons of men" (Prov. 8:22).
Here wisdom is personified. Wisdom here is not a separate deity. but it is the personification of the attribute of wisdom displayed by God: truth, justice, value, the beautiful, faithful, eternal companion and handmaid of God.
The personification begins with the love relationship she has with her followers is a guarantee of prosperity, provided they walk in her ways [vv 17-21]. Then, in the astounding passage in vv 22–31, she affirms her origins from God, and from of old before creation. The description of creation in vv 25–29 is not really important here; there is no concentration on creation itself, which merely serves to underscore Wisdom's preexistence.
The feminine aspects of God. Gnostics held that she was the syzygy (female twin divine Aeon) of the logos (i.e. the Bride of Christ), and Holy Spirit of God who is the Father-mother
Wisdom and Wisdom of Death
The Gospel of Philip
Echamoth is one thing and Echmoth, another. Echamoth is Wisdom [divine wisdom] simply [“single eyed” and in tune with the will of the Father], but Echmoth is the Wisdom of death [“double mindedness” still intellectualizing and analyzing things eventually leading you to go your own way according to your own hearts desires], which is the one who knows death [he knows he will die physically but not that he will rise. So his wisdom is all physical, it is worldly wisdom, based upon the false premise that his physical existence is all he will ever have], which is called "the little Wisdom" [these still cling to “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and cannot progress form the "letter" and will use it for unrighteous gain - these will hinder themselves and others from progressing to “the tree of life” still “deny its power” in them]. (Philip 28)
The upper and a lower Sophia
there is a distinction of an upper and a lower Sophiasige is the higher sophia
Sige is an aspect of the Monad, Sige is the Silent Though the hidden higher part of Sophia or Wisdom Sige the great silence or void from which all creation sprang:
29 They say that Silence, who is the mother of all who were put forth by Depth, with regard to what she had nothing to say kept silence about the inexpressible and with regard to what she did not understand she called it incomprehensible. (Extracts from the Works of Theodotus )
Silence or Sige is the highest and most exalted manifestation of Sophia, whose lower manifestation as the last of twelve aeons is associated with the creation of the world. It has been suggested that the doubling or even pluralization of Wisdom in Gnostic sources could be read out of a Hebrew word used for Wisdom in Proverbs. As Deirdre Good puts it, “The strange (plural) form twmkj iin Proverbs 1:20; 9:1; 14:1; 24:7 might have suggested to Gnostic readers of Wisdom passages that there were many Sophias
the lower Sophia is the author of ignorance
But I shall call upon the imperishable knowledge, which is Sophia who is in the Father (and) who is the mother of Achamoth. Achamoth had no father nor male consort, but she is female from a female. She produced you without a male, since she was alone (and) in ignorance as to what lives through her mother because she thought that she alone existed. But I shall cry out to her mother. And then they will fall into confusion (and) will blame their root and the race of their mother. (The (First) Apocalypse of James)
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