The Ancient Witnesses

92 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“Agreed, said Mentor, “and how is this confirmed?” “Consider the words of Solomon,” Tertullian replied, and he began reciting from the book of Proverbs: The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth…then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. 9 “ Created me! The Lord created me at the beginning of his work!” shouted a voice from somewhere in the Athenaeum. 10 His outburst was quickly drowned out by the shouts of other witnesses, “ Possessed by him,” Tertullian repeated. “He was begotten by him,” said Justin Martyr. “They disagree on the translation of that verse in Proverbs,” said Father Greg, who explained that the phrase the Lord possessed me had been translated various 9 Prov. 8:22–24a, 30-31. J. Robert Wright notes that “in the book of Proverbs, this verse (8:22) received the greatest volume of comments from the writers of the early Church….” In Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon , Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, vol. IX (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005), 60. 10 The claim that Christ had been created by God as the “firstborn of creation”was advanced by Arius and others who were judged to be heretics by the Nicene Council. “ Firstborn of him,” said Origen. 11 “What’s happening?” asked Joseph.

11 See J. Robert Wright, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon , Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture IX (60-61).