A Biblical Theology of the Testament of Solomon
1. The Testament of Solomon in Context
The Testament of Solomon is one of the most unusual writings in the pseudepigrapha. Unlike the Testament of Moses or the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, it does not focus primarily on ethical exhortation or covenant instruction. Instead, it presents Solomon as a magician who summons, questions, and subdues demons in order to build the temple of the Lord. Written in Greek, probably between the first and third centuries AD, the text blends Jewish, Christian, Greco-Roman, and Egyptian traditions.
While the biblical Solomon is remembered for wisdom, wealth, and the temple, the Testament of Solomon reshapes that memory into a folkloric narrative where spiritual powers, astrology, and medicine intersect. This work reflects the fascination of late antiquity with the supernatural and demonstrates how biblical figures could be reimagined through the lens of magical traditions.
2. Manuscript and Provenance
The text survives in multiple Greek manuscripts, with later translations in other languages. Its place of origin is debated, with possibilities including Syria-Palestine or Egypt. Scholars generally place its composition between the first and third centuries AD, though additions may have been layered over time.
The “testament” framework—Solomon recounting his experiences on his deathbed—may have been attached later to earlier magical traditions. This would explain the mixture of genres: some portions read like a farewell discourse, while others resemble magical handbooks cataloging spirits, their powers, and their remedies.
3. Content and Structure
The Testament of Solomon divides broadly into two sections.
Chapters 1–18 narrate how Solomon, by means of a magical ring given by the archangel Michael, summons demons. Each demon describes its powers of affliction, often linked with illness, misfortune, or temptation. Solomon then commands the demon to work on the construction of the temple or discloses the means by which the spirit can be banished.
Chapters 19–26 recount Solomon’s meeting with the Queen of Sheba (here portrayed as a witch), further dealings with the demon Ornias, and the extraordinary story of the wind demon Ephippas raising the temple’s cornerstone. The text ends with Solomon admitting his love for a foreign woman and acknowledging the danger of sin that undermined his reign.
The narrative presents Solomon both as a powerful ruler over the spirit world and as a man vulnerable to temptation—echoing the biblical account that praises his wisdom yet condemns his idolatry (1 Kings 11:1–13).
4. Demonology and Cosmology
One of the most striking features of the Testament of Solomon is its detailed demonology. The spirits are portrayed not merely as abstract evils but as personal beings tied to specific afflictions, sins, or astrological influences. Some are linked to stars and constellations, suggesting a worldview in which heavenly bodies directly affect human life.
The work reflects the “two-spirits” worldview common in Jewish apocalyptic thought: angels and demons are active agents influencing human conduct. Demons describe how they cause lust, strife, disease, or madness, and how they may be resisted. This blend of cosmology and practical instruction reveals the overlap of magic and medicine in antiquity, where ritual acts were believed to drive away evil spirits.
5. Ethical and Theological Themes
Although much of the text reads like folklore, its theological weight lies in several recurring themes:
The Power of God’s Name – Solomon’s control over demons comes not from his own wisdom but through the ring given by Michael, representing divine authority. This echoes biblical teaching that God’s word and presence subdue evil (Psalm 91:11–13).
The Danger of Idolatry – Even as Solomon commands spirits, he confesses at the end that his heart was turned by foreign women. The text warns that great spiritual power is meaningless without covenant faithfulness.
Judgment of Spirits – Demons are forced to reveal not only their works but also their eventual judgment. This anticipates New Testament teachings that unclean spirits recognize Christ and tremble before him (Mark 1:24).
6. Testament of Solomon and the Bible
The Testament of Solomon clearly stands outside the canon, yet it engages with biblical motifs. The temple construction (1 Kings 6–8) is the central frame, but demons rather than conscripted laborers carry the stones. Solomon’s wisdom in 1 Kings 5:12, which includes knowledge of plants and animals, is expanded into secret lore that verges on magic.
The work also parallels traditions preserved by Josephus, who claimed Solomon had knowledge of incantations and the power to expel demons. Early Jewish and Christian fascination with Solomon as both sage and sorcerer likely contributed to the formation of this text. In some ways, the Gospel accounts of Jesus as “Son of David” who casts out demons (Matthew 12:22–28) may stand as a deliberate correction: Jesus demonstrates divine authority over spirits, but without resorting to magical instruments. His power is intrinsic, rooted in his identity as the Christ.
7. Eschatology and the Last Days
The Testament of Solomon is not a systematic apocalypse like Daniel or 1 Enoch, yet it conveys eschatological undertones. The catalog of demons portrays a world under bondage to spiritual oppression, awaiting final judgment. The confession at the end—Solomon’s failure despite great authority—reminds readers that no human king can bring lasting salvation.
In this sense, the work indirectly points forward to the need for a greater Son of David. Where Solomon falters, Christ succeeds. Where Solomon commands demons by borrowed authority, Christ casts them out by his own word. And where Solomon’s temple is constructed by coerced spirits, Christ himself becomes the true cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20–21), raising a temple not made with hands.
Thus, the Testament’s strange demonology ultimately testifies to the biblical hope that the kingdom of God triumphs over every spiritual power in the last days.
8. Gospel Connections
For Christians, the Testament of Solomon offers important contrasts and reminders:
Authority over Demons – Solomon’s ring prefigures Christ’s greater power, who binds the strong man and plunders his house (Mark 3:27).
The True Temple – While Solomon’s temple was physical, Jesus builds a spiritual house made of living stones (1 Peter 2:4–6).
Wisdom from Above – Solomon is remembered for wisdom but corrupted by sin. Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), pure and uncorrupted.
Faithfulness in Covenant – The Testament ends with Solomon confessing failure. The Gospel proclaims Christ as the faithful Son who fulfills the covenant and secures eternal life for his people.
The Testament reminds believers that fascination with power, magic, or spiritual secrets cannot save. Only the Gospel reveals the true King whose reign liberates from every demonic force.
Conclusion
The Testament of Solomon is a peculiar but illuminating witness to how later Jewish and Christian imagination reshaped the biblical figure of Solomon. Behind its elaborate demonology and magical folklore lies a serious theological warning: spiritual power without covenant loyalty leads to ruin.
By contrast, the Gospel presents Christ as the greater Solomon (Matthew 12:42), whose wisdom is perfect, whose temple is eternal, and whose authority over demons is absolute. In the last days, it is not Solomon’s ring but Christ’s cross and resurrection that bring freedom and establish the kingdom of God.
Bible Verses Related to the Testament of Solomon
1 Kings 8:27 – “Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven … cannot contain you.”
1 Kings 11:4 – “His heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God.”
Psalm 91:11–13 – “He will command his angels concerning you … you will tread on the lion and the adder.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Matthew 12:22–28 – Jesus casts out demons by the Spirit of God.
Matthew 12:42 – “Something greater than Solomon is here.”
Mark 3:27 – “First he must bind the strong man.”
John 2:19 – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
1 Corinthians 1:24 – “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Ephesians 2:20–21 – Christ as the cornerstone of God’s temple.
