Apocryphal Books > Univeral Deuterocanon > Sirach
Sirach (a.k.a. Ecclesiasticus)
Otherwise known as Ecclesiasticus, the
Wisdom of Ben Sira derives its title from
the author, “Yeshua [Jesus], son of Eleazar,
son of Sira” (50:27). This seems to be the
earliest title of the book. The designation
Liber Ecclesiasticus, meaning “Church
Book,” appended to some Greek and Latin
manuscripts, is perhaps due to the
extensive use the church made of this book
in presenting moral teaching to
catechumens and to the faithful. The
author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was
thoroughly imbued with love for the
wisdom tradition, and also for the law,
priesthood, Temple, and divine worship.
Written in Hebrew in the early years of the
2nd century BC, the book was finished by
approximately 175.
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