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The Platonic Influence in the Passages on Soul in the Wisdom of Solomon
The essay addresses the old problem of Platonic influence in the theme of soul in the Wisdom of Solomon. It analyzes three passages on soul—Wis 8:19–20, 15:8–9, 11, 16, and 16:13–14—and shows that they have unity in the image and in the method running through them. The unity of the method consists in combining biblical and Platonic elements, which help to shape and refine the biblical material. The discussion of the image in Wis 15 helps to reconsider the image in Wis 16 and suggest a new, more nuanced, reading of this theologically important passage. The author’s treatment of the theme of souls is congruent with his general treatment of the theme of immortality, in which he draws on Platonic background and tries to liberate God from any bad intentions.