| Geneva Study Bible The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, {k} before his works of old. (k) He declares by this the divinity and eternity of this wisdom, which he magnifies and praises through this book: meaning by this the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ our Saviour, whom John calls the Word that was in the beginning Joh 1:1. Wesley's Notes 8:22 Possessed me - As his son by eternal generation, before the beginning. Of old - His works of creation. Scofield Reference Notes [1] The Lord possessed me That wisdom is more than the personification of an attribute of God, or of the will of God as best for man, but is a distinct adumbration of Christ, is sure to the devout mind. Prov 8:22-36 Jn 1:1-3 Col 1:17 can refer to nothing less than the Eternal Son of God. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 22-31. Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pr 3:19). possessed-or, "created"; in either sense, the idea of precedence. in the beginning-or simply, "beginning," in apposition with "me." before . of old-preceding the most ancient deeds. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 8:22-31 The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we delight in his salvation? | 
