Editing Solomon (section)

=== Christianity ===
	
[[File:King-Solomon-Russian-icon.jpg|thumb|right|[[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] icon of King Solomon holding a model of the Temple (18th century, [[iconostasis]] of [[Kizhi]] monastery, Russia).]]

Christianity has traditionally accepted the historical existence of Solomon, though some modern Christian scholars have also questioned at least his authorship of those biblical texts ascribed to him. Such disputes tend to divide Christians into traditionalist and modernist camps.

Of the two [[Genealogy of Jesus|genealogies of Jesus]] given in the [[Gospel]]s, [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] mentions Solomon, but [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] does not. Some commentators see this as an issue that can be reconciled while others disagree. For instance, it has been suggested that Matthew is using Joseph's genealogy and Luke is using Mary's, but [[Darrell Bock]] states that this would be unprecedented, "especially when no other single woman appears in the line". Other suggestions include the use by one of the royal and the other of the natural line, one using the legal line and the other the physical line, or that Joseph was adopted.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bock |first=Darell|title=Luke |series=The NIV Application Commentary |year=1996|publisher=Zondervan|isbn=978-0-310-49330-3|page=124}}</ref>

Jesus refers to Solomon, using him for comparison in his admonition against worrying about life. This account is recorded in Matthew 6:29 and the parallel passage in Luke 12:27.
	
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], Solomon is commemorated as a [[saint]], with the title of "Righteous Prophet and King". His [[feast day]] is celebrated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (two Sundays before the [[Great Feast]] of the [[Christmas|Nativity of the Lord]]).

The staunchly Catholic King [[Philip II of Spain]] sought to model himself after King Solomon. Statues of [[King David]] and Solomon stand on either side of the entrance to the [[basilica]] of [[El Escorial]], Philip's palace, and Solomon is also depicted in a great fresco at the center of El Escorial's library. Philip identified the warrior-king David with his own father [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], and himself sought to emulate the thoughtful and logical character which he perceived in Solomon. Moreover, the structure of the Escorial was inspired by that of Solomon's Temple.<ref>{{Citation |first=René |last=Taylor |language=es|title=Arquitectura y Magia. Consideraciones sobre la Idea de El Escorial |trans-title=Architecture and magic. Considerations on the idea of the Escorial |publisher=Siruela |place=Madrid}}, enhanced from monograph in Rudolph Wittkower's 1968 festschrift.</ref><ref>{{Citation |contribution=Hermetism and the Mystical Architecture of the Society of Jesus |title=Baroque Art: The Jesuit Contribution |first1=Rudolf |last1=Wittkower |first2=Irma |last2=Jaffe}}</ref>

In the Christian [[Typology (theology)|typological interpretation]], Solomon is viewed as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. His wisdom, peaceful reign, and temple-building legacy are interpreted as analogous to Christ's person and mission.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schmeling |first1=G.R. |title=The Typological Interpretation of the Old Testament |url=https://www.bible-researcher.com/schmeling.html |publisher=Bible Research |access-date=16 May 2025}}</ref>