Expositio prologi
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/16/d/0/q/bon-sap-prol
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### The Prologue of St Jerome to the book of Wisdom.

The book of Wisdom is nowhere found among the Hebrews. Whence also its very style is redolent rather of Greek eloquence. The Jews affirm this to be Philo's; and it is therefore given the name of Wisdom, because in it the coming of Christ, who is the Wisdom of the Father, and his passion are evidently expressed.

### The exposition of the prologue.

*The book of Wisdom* etc. This is the prologue which Jerome prefixes to the book of Wisdom; and first he shows the *origin* of this book, saying: *The book of Wisdom is nowhere found among the Hebrews. Whence also its very style*, that is, the very diction, namely, because it is so elegant, *is redolent rather of Greek eloquence*, that is, savours of it, than of Hebrew. For the Greeks are more eloquent and deeper in their sentences than the Hebrews. Whence, since this book has a most elegant style and the greatest depth of sentences, it is clear that it was handed down in the Greek tongue rather than in the Hebrew. — Secondly he names its *author*, saying: *The Jews affirm this*, namely the book of Wisdom, *to be Philo's*, namely as its compiler, but Solomon's as its finder, as has been said. This Philo, although he

was a Jew, was nevertheless very skilled in the Greek tongue. Of him Jerome says in the book *On Illustrious Men* that « he was a Jew, by nation an Alexandrian, of the priestly stock ». — Thirdly he assigns the *reason for the title*, saying: *Which book*, namely of Wisdom, *is therefore named Wisdom, because in it the coming of Christ, who is the Wisdom of the Father, and his passion are evidently*, that is, diligently, *expressed*.

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