The Wisdom of Sirach / Book of Ecclesiasticus – What is it?

TL;DR:

The Wisdom of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus, is an intertestamental, second-century BC Jewish text offering practical and moral wisdom but not considered canon by Protestants. While Ecclesiasticus contains valuable insights, some teachings conflict with biblical principles.

what does the bible say?

The Book of Ecclesiasticus, also known as the Wisdom of Sirach or Book of Sirach or simply as Sirach, is a second century BC writing by a Jewish scribe named Shimon ben Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira who was from the City of Jerusalem. It is considered a deuterocanonical book in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions and is part of the broader collection sometimes referred to as the Apocrypha in Protestant Bibles. Ecclesiasticus was originally written in Hebrew though it also existed in Greek after being translated in Egypt by the author's grandson Joshua. It is believed Shimon was living in Alexandria, Egypt, where he had started a Jewish school, at the time of the book's compilation. Ecclesiasticus is the only book found in the Apocrypha whose writer signed the writing.

The Wisdom of Sirach includes much insightful wisdom, often-resembling Proverbs or other Wisdom Books in its style. It also contains some passages that seem similar to the New Testament (Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 1:52). But it also contains teachings that are anti-biblical. For instance, the Bible affirms the dignity of all human beings (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1; Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Ruth 1—4). The book's contents were not included in the authoritative books of the Bible accepted by the earliest Christians.

from the old testament

Ecclesiasticus includes some wisdom contradictory to the Bible. For example, it supports the harsh treatment of slaves and contains a poor view of women. The Bible, however, upholds the dignity and value of all people regardless of social status or gender. Slaves, for example, were to be treated fairly and even set free in certain circumstances (Exodus 21:2–6; Deuteronomy 15:12–15), and women are honored as bearers of life and active participants in God’s covenant promises (Genesis 1:27; Proverbs 31:10–31; Ruth 1–4). God’s design consistently upholds human dignity and compassion across social and gender lines.

from the new testament

Some see connections between Ecclesiasticus and New Testament teachings. For example, Sirach 29:11 states, "Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold" (NAB), a passage that resembles the teaching of Jesus regarding the storing up of treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20).
In Mary's response to God, she declares, "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate," (Luke 1:52) which resembles, "The thrones of the arrogant God overturns and establishes the lowly in their stead" (Sirach 10:14, NAB).
But Ecclesiasticus contains some major differences from the Bible. For example, the Bible upholds the dignity and value of all people regardless of social status or gender. It teaches that slaves should be treated fairly and that women are equally created in God’s image (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1). It upholds justice, compassion, and respect as central to God’s design for human relationships.

implications for today

The Hebrew canon or collection of books did not include Ecclesiasticus / the Wisdom of Sirach. The Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures called the Septuagint did include Ecclesiasticus, making it popular among Greek-speaking Jews in Egypt. The Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical Books found in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican versions of the Bible also include this book. Though used by various church leaders throughout history, Ecclesiasticus / Sirach was not officially accepted until 1546 at the Council of Trent.

Despite its often-wise sayings, Ecclesiasticus also includes some disturbing readings. For example, it supports harsh treatment of slaves (33:24-28) as well as a poor view of women (42:12-14).

Should the Wisdom of Sirach / Book of Ecclesiasticus be accepted into the collection of Bible books? The church leader Jerome who was responsible for overseeing the translation of the Bible into the Latin Vulgate in around AD 400 believed it was best considered among the ecclesiastical books (writings of the church) rather than Scripture. This evaluation reflected the earlier church councils and leaders prior to the divisions of the Catholic and Protestant churches and remains the best evaluation of the Book of Ecclesiasticus for today.

understand

Ecclesiasticus is a second-century BC Jewish text and is not part of the Hebrew and Protestant Bibles.
Ecclesiasticus offers moral and practical wisdom but contains teachings that conflict with biblical principles.
Ecclesiasticus echoes some Old and New Testament themes and provides insight into the intertestamental period but was never accepted as canonical scripture.

reflect

How do you respond to wisdom that seems morally insightful but conflicts with the Bible, like some teachings in Ecclesiasticus?
How can reading intertestamental texts deepen your understanding of the cultural and religious context of the Bible?
How can you discern which moral guidance aligns with God’s Word?

engage

How can we evaluate the value of intertestamental writings while understanding why they are not canon?
How do the insights from Ecclesiasticus complement, but not replace, biblical teaching?
How should we approach moral and practical wisdom from non-canonical texts in light of the Bible’s authority?