Abstract
The main purpose of the article is to carry out a research concerningthe use of Greek words καθαρός (pure, clean) and καθαρότης (purity, cleanness)in one passage from the Book of Wisdom, namely Wis 7:22-28, andto find a solution to the observed paradox: purity beeing the condition and,at the same time, the result of man’s contact with Wisdom. Several researchquestions are posed, such as: Is it possible to associate the first use of theword with steam καθαρ (καθαρός; in v. 23) with man, or the author of theBook of Wisdom has in mind only immaterial beings? What is the relationbetween the purity of Wisdom in verse 24 and that from the previous verse?Can we interpret the text of the pericope 7,22-28 as follows: the Wisdomshares its ontological/moral purity with man? According to the author ofthe article, the answers to these questions may have a meaningful impacton the understanding of the theological thought of the Old as well as theNew Testament.The method used consists, in the first place, in the analysis of the meaningof the discussed words (καθαρός; καθαρότης) in the most importantGreek dictionaries/lexicons of classic Greek literature and Old/New Testamenttheology. Then, the focus shifts to the text of Wis 7:22-28 itself inits biblical context and synchronic analysis in which the text is studied inits final form is presented.The research leads to describing a contradiction concerning the purityof a man: being pure seems to be man’s condition for acquiring Wisdom,and, at the same time, man’s purity is the result of her acquisition. Theproposed solution to this contradiction, or paradox, consists in the a prioriinfluence of Wisdom on man, which does not relieve him from the effortto keep the state of purity.