Wisdom literature / Samuel E. Balentine.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Balentine, Samuel E. (Samuel Eugene), 1950-2024, author.

Series:

Core biblical studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Wisdom of Solomon--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Proverbs--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible. Job--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible. Ecclesiastes--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible. Ecclesiasticus--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible. Ecclesiastes.

Bible. Ecclesiasticus.

Bible. Job.

Bible. Proverbs.

Bible. Wisdom of Solomon.

Wisdom literature--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Wisdom literature.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xiii 190 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Nashville : Abingdon Press, [2018]

Summary:

If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom formed in the life of faith, its end is nothing less than the shaping of a moral self and community attuned to the character of God. This pursuit of wisdom is an ongoing journey, never a simple arrival. For the wisdom writings of the Old Testament, the pursuit of wisdom calls for the ongoing attainment of instruction, insight, shrewdness, knowledge, prudence, learning, and skill. And persons who attain wisdom think more deeply, are more discerning, and have a keener insight into the complexities and nuances of decision making. For a world-perspective that assumes the power and reality of divinity, being wise means living ethically - and to live ethically, one must be in a constant intellectual pursuit of meaning. -- The book details the structure, themes, and contribution to both ancient and modern society of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The chapters on Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon will discuss the consonance and dissonance with "canonical wisdom," giving special attention to the development of their core ideas. The book will conclude with a chapter on Wisdom's abiding legacy. --

Contents:

Chapter 1 Proverbs: "Wisdom Begins with the Fear of the Lord" 9

Composition History 10

Literary Forms 11

Sociopolitical Context 17

Thematic Coherence 22

Chapter 2 Job: "Wisdom, Where Can It Be Found?" 31

Form, Structure, and Genre 31

A Man Named Job 38

For No Reason 41

Ultimate Questions, Penultimate Answers 44

Wisdom, Where Can It Be Found? Where Is the Place of Understanding? 54

Epilogue or Eulogy? 58

Chapter 3 Ecclesiastes: "Perfectly Pointless" 63

AuthorshiDate, mid Structure 64

Rhetorical Strategy 67

Qohelef's Intellectual World 75

The End of the Matter 87

Chapter 4 Sirach: "All Wisdom Involves Doing the Law" 95

Form, Structure, and Rhetorical Strategy 97

Ethos and Ethics 105

Fear of God, Wisdom, and Law: The Ethics of Submission 111

Ben Sira's God: "The Lord Is the All" 117

Chapter 5 Wisdom of Solomon: "Doing What Is Right Means Living Forever" 129

Historical and Cultural Contexts 131

Intellectual Economy 135

Key Issues and Theological Themes 146.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781426765025

1426765029

OCLC:

1000580892