Does The Bible Teach That Sophia Is A Goddess?

From the earliest of civilizations, there has existed in mythology a "goddess," who was the mother of all. The Romans gave this mother goddess, often called Sophia, the title of the "god of wisdom." The Greek "Sophia" (Σοφία) means wisdom (sophos means wise with Hogia Sophia meaning Holy Wisdom). This is also connected to Philosophy, which in Greek is philosophia or the "love of wisdom." There are claims that wisdom, which is poetically personified in the Wisdom literature of Proverbs (as well as in the non-canonical Apocrypha), is an actually being, the forgotten fourth person of the Trinity, Sophia - the mother goddess. Isis, the Egyptian goddess, is similar, as is Pandora and others. But is this biblical, as is postulated by advocates increasingly since the 1960's and 70's? (Photo credit: Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey; Meister des Hildegardis-Codex ca.1165 AD)

Adherents of what has been called Sophism (followers are typically called Sophists) tend to cite the Apocryphal works of Baruch, the Wisdom of Solomon and Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus). In past articles, we have concluded that "The Apocrypha is an intriguing work and can be used for research purposes, but not regarded as the Word of God. It was not regarded as Scripture for the first four centuries of Christianity until Catholicism, finding that the Apocrypha supported Catholic doctrines, accepted it"[3] (see entry: "Should The Apocrypha And 'Lost' Gospels Be In The Bible?" for more information). The Apocrypha is not considered the Word of God by a variety of Christians, and likewise, there are several reasons to not accept it as such. Also, it should be noted that the 14-15 works found in the Apocrypha never claim to be the Word of God, but the exact opposite (see 2nd Maccabees 15:38-39, for example). 

Nevertheless, since adherents of Sophism claim that these Apocryphal works support their doctrine, select passages will be examined. Gnosticism, which was particularly on the rise in the second-third centuries, advocated a mother goddess. In several of the Gnostic Gospels, a mother goddess is hinted at. Upon seeing these heresies, several Christians opposed it, pointing out the triune nature of God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each having been referred to with male attributes. Belief in Sophia as a goddess is not limited to Gnostics of course, but it was advocated by several Gnostic works. The first nine chapters are often cited by Sophists as evidence for Sophia, and though this is not an exhaustive examination of each passage cited as "evidence," we will examine a few passages. 

Personification of Wisdom at Ephesus

Proverbs 4:5-6 says, "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you." Wisdom, which is often personified in Proverbs, is also spoken of as something to acquire. Consider Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Wisdom personified is found in the first nine chapters of Proverbs - not as an attempt to demonstrate that an entity named Sophia exists, but to allow the reader to connect more with wisdom as a concept. Wisdom is applied knowledge, not a lack of it. Another passage often cited as "evidence" for Sophia as a goddess is in Psalm 3:13-18:

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold fast will be blessed." Proverbs 9:1-6 is also often cited, which says, "Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.'"

With these particular Scriptural references in mind, we turn to Proverbs 8 which reads, "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: 'To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 'I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.'"

Verses 15-29 continue, "By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. 'The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.'"

The eighth chapter of Proverbs concludes, "Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. 'Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.'" Evidently, if such a mother goddess existed, there is much we could glean about her from these passages. The argument used by Sophists states that in the later part of the Old Testament, the feminine noun for wisdom in Hebrew, chokmah, is used to personify wisdom. However, personification is defined as "the attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure."[4] 

As noted earlier in this article, adherents tend to cite Apocryphal works to support their concept of Sophia. Consider The Wisdom of Solomon 7:7-14 which conveys, "Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given to me; I called for help, and there came to me a spirit of wisdom. I valued her above scepter and throne, and reckoned riches as nothing beside her; I counted no precious stone her equal, because all the gold in the world compared with her is but a little sand, and silver worth no more than clay. I loved her more than health and beauty; I preferred her to the light of day; for her radiance is unsleeping. So all good things together came to me with her, and in her hands was wealth past counting, and all was mine to enjoy, for all follows where wisdom leads, and I was in ignorance before, that she is the beginning of it all. What I learnt with pure intention I share without grudging, nor do I hoard for myself the wealth that comes from her. She is an exhaustible treasure for mankind, and those who profit by it become God's friends, commended to him by the gifts they derive from her instruction."

One final passage to examine as "evidence" is Baruch 4:1-4, a rather enlightening passage on the Sophists' beliefs, "Thereupon wisdom appeared on earth and lived among men. She is the book of the commandments of God, the law that stands for ever. All who hold fast to her shall live, but those who forsake her shall die. Return, Jacob, and lay hold of her; set your course towards her radiance, and face her beacon light. Do not give up your glory to another or your privileges to an alien [foreign] people. Happy are we, Israel, because we know what is pleasing to God." The preliminary thoughts bring to mind Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him." The Apocryphal works are not considered to be the Word of God by many, and it is the contention of this ministry that the 66 books found in the Bible are God's Word - not the Apocrypha, not the "Lost" or Gnostic Gospels, not the Qu'ran (Koran), and not the Book of Mormon. Therefore, we will examine the cited passages in Proverbs, with the conviction that the non-canonical works of Wisdom of Solomon and Baruch (Ecclesiasticus also references Wisdom personified) are not God's Word, and hence cannot be considered as support/evidence.

Having mentioned the Book of Mormon, it is worth noting that there is a widely held view among Mormons that humans, along with Satan, Jesus, and others, are all literal spirit-brothers and sisters birthed from Elohim - whom Christians know as God the Father - and a that there is a mother goddess.[5] Mormons also hold the belief that God the Father also had a father, and that God was born on a separate planet,[6-9] as well as having once been - or still is - a man of flesh and bones.[10] This is similar - but not exact - to Sophist belief in that there is a belief in a mother goddess. These Mormon beliefs, however, are a topic of a upcoming entry, and will not be explored within the confines of this article. Now, when we hear claims that the Bible refers to entities such as Sophia, contrary to the belief of some, we should not pray about it to see if it "feels right." Trusting feelings is not a valid measure of truth.

In fact, Jeremiah 17:9 and Proverbs 28:26 warns against this very thing. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Proverbs 28:26 conveys, "Those who trust themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe." The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, as noted earlier in Proverbs. This could be likened unto standing in front of a high wall and thinking, "I need to pray to see how high this wall is." But we would not pray to see how high a wall is - we would measure it using a ruler, or something similar. This is not to say do not pray, but that in no place does the Bible instruct us to pray to see if a book - or a teaching such as Sophia as a goddess - is true. On the contrary, much like a ruler, the Bible is the Christian's ruler, our standard of measurement to see what is true. If Sophia is an actual goddess described in the Old and New Testament, it would agree with the remainder of God's Word. Therefore, we are led to examine a few key concepts about God, and by measuring this "goddess" against the Bible, which is our standard of truth, we can determine whether or not belief in Sophia is valid.

First of all, Romans 11:33, James 1:5, 1:17 and 3:13-17 teach that God is the source of all true wisdom, and if the passages cited as support for Sophia were true, she would be making claims that belong to God alone. Adherents may claim that Sophia is a part of God, but a quick reminder of Proverbs 8:22-23 shows this belief invalid, "The LORD brought me forth at the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be." If this passage were meant to be taken literally, then we would understand that Sophia was created, not eternal - and was created at the beginning, recorded in Genesis 1-2. With this in mind, we would expect that if Sophia is the fourth person of God, that what the Old and New Testament tells us about the nature of God would agree with Sophist belief. Does belief in Sophia agree with the Bible? Consider the following verses:

• "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4, TNIV)
• "The eternal God is your refuge..." (Deuteronomy 33:27)
• "...the LORD is God... there is no other." (1st Kings 8:60)
• "The LORD reigns forever..." (Psalm 9:7)
• "...the LORD is enthroned as King forever." (Psalm 29:10)
• "God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change..." (Psalm 55:19)
• "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2)
• "Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity." (Psalm 93:2)
• "...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
• "...the LORD is the Rock eternal." (Isaiah 26:4)
• "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior." (Isaiah 43:10-11)
• "...apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)
• "Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock..." (Isaiah 44:8)
• "I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself." (Isaiah 44:24)
• "I am God, and there is no other." (Isaiah 46:9)
• "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King." (Jeremiah 10:10)
• "I am God, and not a human being - the Holy One among you." (Hosea 11:9)
• "...one LORD..." (Zechariah 14:9)
• "Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us?" (Malachi 2:10)
• "God is one and there is no other but him." (Mark 12:32)
• "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
• "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1st Timothy 1:17)
• ..."there is one God." (James 2:19)

From these verses, we can conclude that: 1) There is only one God; 2) No other gods exist, nor has there ever been neither will there ever be another God; 3) God is eternal, everlasting, and unchanging; 4) God is not a man. In past entries, such as "Is Jesus Really God?", "Did Jesus Claim to Be God?", "Answering Objections Concerning Jesus As God" and "Is The Trinity Biblical?", arguments for the deity of Christ, arguments for the deity of the Holy Spirit, and the triune nature were presented and as such will not be expounded upon here. However, it is vital to note that the Holy Spirit, who is referred to in the Bible as a "he," not a "she," (see John 14:15-17, for example) is called God in several passages, including Acts 5:3-4, as well as throughout the Old and New Testament, and Jesus is also called God.

Jesus is called God in John 1, Hebrews 1, Philippians 2, and other similar passages. He is called "our great God and Savior" in Titus 2:13 and 2nd Peter 1:1, Thomas called Jesus "My Lord and My God" in John 20:28, Jesus claims to be God several times (see John 8:58 and 10:30-33, for example). Colossians 2:9 teaches, "For in Christ all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form." Colossians 1:15-17 also demonstrates that Jesus is the Creator. 1st John 5:20 calls Him the "Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." Jude 4 calls him "Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord," and when we examine Hebrews 1:8, we find that it is God the Father who is speaking. Hebrews 1:8 reads, "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever'" (A quote of Psalm 45). The Bible is very clear that only one God exists, and only one God has and will exist, yet we also find that the Holy Spirit, which is a being, not an impersonal force as some teach, and Jesus, whom John 1:18 calls "the one and only Son, who is himself God", is also called God throughout the Bible. Also, 1st Timothy 3:16 says, "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory."

Hildegard of Bingen's depiction of Sophi

Passages such as Matthew 28, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:7, Isaiah 6:8 and others indicate that while God is one, He exists as three distinct - not separate - persons. Amos 4:11 records, "I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah..." (ESV). God is shown in Amos 4 as having been the speaker, yet God also says that "God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." Without the concept of the Trinity, which is clearly taught in Scripture, verses such as this would make no logical sense. It is perfectly fine for the Father to call Jesus, "God," for Jesus call the Father, "God," and likewise with the Holy Spirit, because each is one person of the Trinity which makes up God. It is not an illogical or irrational belief as has been postulated, but merely one our finite minds cannot fully grasp, nor are we likely meant to. If we perfectly understood God, we would likely have to become God Himself. God has given us sufficient information about Himself to create a clear picture of who He is, and how He exists as three in one.

Saint Patrick likened the Trinity unto a three-leaf clover, which has three leaves, yet all three are still attached to one stem. Others have used the analogy of water: water can exist as a solid, liquid and gas, and yet in each phase - it is still water. It has also been likened unto the concept of time - time exists as the past, present and future. Each is distinct, yet not separate, because all three are a part of time, which is one. Another analogy often used is a pyramid - one pyramid exists, yet there are three sides. There is no perfect analogy to explain the Trinity, but the internal Biblical evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity is abundant and clear. It also does not allow for the possibility of a mother goddess, Sophia.

God exists as one, yet in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The universe around us also reflects the triune nature of God, with time, matter and energy. When measured against the Biblical record, the belief in Sophia (whose name is not actually found in Scripture) is invalidated. Scripture, contrary to the claims of some, does not allow for the possibility of a mother goddess. God is unchanging, eternal, one in three, and is the only God, according to the Bible. With this knowledge, we conclude that Sophia, or "wisdom," rather, is merely a personification found within the Bible, and not a literal entity, not a part of God that the church has tried to keep a secret. When wisdom is called a "her," it can be likened unto sailors calling their ship "she" or "her," or someone with a new vehicle, among other examples. Merely because something is personified as a "she" does not make it a literal being. When measured against the rest of Scripture, it is evident that wisdom is applied knowledge, and not a being named Sophia.

"The Sophia-goddess controversy leads to some simple conclusions. First, the Bible must be read for what type of literature it is. A proper understanding of feminine personification in relation to this passage and many others is necessary to stay within the framework of biblical doctrine. There is one God who eternally exists in three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18; Eph. 4:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2). Such a position excludes any mention of a goddess or secondary deity. Finally, one must acknowledge that poetry can contain elements that are clearly not to be taken literally. For example, the Bible is full of poetic language that speaks in personified metaphors rather than pure scientific rhetoric. Cain really did kill Abel, but then God said that '...he voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground' (Genesis 4:10). Literally, the blood did not cry from the ground, but the rhetorical device used here communicates another form of personification found in Scripture to emphasize the killing. As Proverbs 8:22-31 describes, poetry and personification do not invalidate Scripture. Instead, these essentials are necessary to demonstrate words, phrases, feelings, and meanings that cannot be understood easily any other way or that continue from a previous argument. In the latter case, the Lord created the heavens by His wisdom found in Proverbs 3:19, and 8:22-31 exists to continue that figurative speech (personification)."[11]

The Truth Ministries would like to thank you for taking the time to read this article of "The Truth." Feel free to email us at vexx801@yahoo.com or thetruth.ministryweb@gmail.com, visit our facebook page, or visit our ministry website.  It is the mission of this ministry to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2nd Corinthians 10:5). We also understand that many will disagree with our position, our claims and our ministry, and we recognize the individual's right to believe what he or she wills, and that some will disagree on our position regarding this particular topic. However, we stand firm upon the Bible as God's Word and hold to our conviction that the conclusion was arrived at based on what His Word tells us. Take care, and God bless you reader. Troy Hillman

Sources:

[1] "sophia." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 29 Aug. 2011. 

[2] "philosophy." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 29 Aug. 2011.

[3] Hillman, Troy. "Should The Apocrypha And "Lost" Gospels Be In The Bible? ." The Truth Ministries Blog. The Truth Ministries, 8 Aug 2011. Web. 30 Aug 2011. http://thetruth-blog.blogspot.com/2011/08/should-apocrypha-and-lost-gospels-be-in.html.
[4] "personification." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 30 Aug. 2011.
[5] Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p.443. and Mormon Doctrine, p.516.
[6] Mormon Doctrine, p. 321. Print.
[7] Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614. Print.
[8] Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345. Print.
[9] Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333. Print.
[10] Smith, Joseph. Journal of Discourses, vol.6, p.120. and Doctrines & Covenants 130:22.
[11] "Does the Bible teach that Sophia is the goddess of wisdom?." Got Questions.org. Got Questions Network, n.d. Web. 29 Aug 2011. < http://www.gotquestions.org/sophia-goddess-wisdom.html >.