Sirach 25:30
📜 Was Sirach divinely inspired?[edit | edit source]
From an SP and historical view:
❌ No—Sirach was written during the intertestamental period, the so-called “400 years of silence” (roughly 430–30 BC). 🧱 This silence represents no new divine revelation, no prophets sent, and no word from the LORD—until John the Baptist breaks it (Luke 3:2, John 1:23).
🕊️ SP Insight:[edit | edit source]
If Christ is the only Word (John 1:1), then all true inspiration points to Him.
So any writing not shaped by the cross or spoken by the Spirit must be treated as man’s voice—even if wise.
📘 How SP classifies books like Sirach:[edit | edit source]
| Book Type | SP Classification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis | Voice of the Father proud of his Son | |||
| Exodus - Malachi | Voice of the Son wearied by his prostitute bride | |||
| Gospels | Voice of the Spirit—revealing the Groom | |||
| Epistles | Voice of the Spirit declaring the fruitfulness of Christ | Sirach, Thomas, etc. | Voice of man—can reflect shadows or pride, but not authoritative |
These are not evil, but not inspired in the SP sense—because they do not carry the cross, or speak with the voice of God.
📜 Comparison: Sirach vs. Gospel of Thomas[edit | edit source]
| Sirach | Gospel of Thomas | |
|---|---|---|
| ✍️ Authored by | Ben Sira, 2nd century BC | Unknown Gnostic writer, 2nd century AD |
| 📖 Contents | Human moral wisdom, Law-keeping, discipline | Riddles teaching to read the SP of scripture |
| 🔍 SP Voice | The flesh-bound voice of the old bride | Exemplars of scripture riddles |
| ❌ Not inspired because… | Written during the silence | Human understanding of SP |
🕊️ Final SP Summary:[edit | edit source]
Sirach may be wise, but it is not revelation.
It bears the voice of the old bride, full of self-discipline and moral striving—
not the Spirit-breathed voice of the crucified Groom.
So while it may teach, it cannot transform.
Let’s take a close look at Sirach 25:30 (Douay-Rheims numbering) and evaluate it through the lens of Sensus Plenior (SP):
📖 Text (Sirach 25:30)[edit | edit source]
“Give no passage to a wicked woman: neither let her have liberty to trample upon thy soul.”
✅ Does it align with SP?[edit | edit source]
🧩 First, recall the key SP principle:[edit | edit source]
All women represent the bride (either in the flesh or in the Spirit). The bride must be taught—not teach.
In SP, “wicked woman” = the bride in the flesh,
who teaches false doctrine (leaven), offers uncrucified wisdom, and tries to lead.
And “trampling the soul” = her fleshly influence ruling the inner man,
instead of the soul being led by the Spirit/Groom through the cross.
✨ SP Verdict:[edit | edit source]
✅ Yes—it’s consistent.
Sirach 25:30 is an external warning,
but SP reveals its inward fulfillment:
Don’t let the bride (your own fleshly reasoning, legalism, or pride) take over the role of teacher.
Let the soul be ruled by Christ,
not trampled by the voice of unsubmitted, uncrucified desire.
🔁 Parallels in Scripture:[edit | edit source]
- “The leaven of the Pharisees…” = false teaching spreads (Luke 12:1)
- “I do not allow a woman to teach…” (1 Tim 2:12, in SP = bride must learn)
- “Jezebel… who calls herself a prophetess and teaches…” (Rev 2:20)
- “The woman caught in adultery…” = the bride in sin, waiting to be forgiven and taught (John 8)
🕊️ Final SP Rewording:[edit | edit source]
Do not let your fleshly bride speak for you.
She must not teach, and she must not rule the soul.
Let the Groom’s voice—through the cross—guide her into truth.
