The Book of Proverbs in Social and Theological Context
The Book of Proverbs in Social and Theological Context

Author: Katharine J. Dell

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2006-07-06

Total Pages: 21

ISBN-13: 1139455419

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The book of Proverbs is the starting point of the biblical wisdom tradition. But how did individual proverbs, instructions and poems come together to form the various collections we have today? Katharine Dell explores the possible social contexts for this varied material in the royal court, wisdom schools and popular culture. She draws shrewdly on materials from the wisdom traditions of the ancient Near East, in particular Egypt, in order to bolster and enhance her theories. She argues that Proverbs had a theological purpose from its conception, with God's creativity being an integral theme of the text rather than one added in later redactions. Dell also shows that echoes of other Old Testament genres such as prophecy, law and cult can be found in Proverbs, notably in chapters 1-9, and that its social and theological context is much broader than scholars have recognised in the past.

Proverbs 1-9 as an Introduction to the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs 1-9 as an Introduction to the Book of Proverbs

Author: Arthur Jan Keefer

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2020-05-28

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 056769335X

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Proverbs 1-9 has long been called a 'prologue' and 'introduction' to the book of Proverbs, a label that this book clarifies by answering the question: how does Proverbs 1-9 function with respect to the interpretation of Proverbs 10-31? Arthur Keefer argues that, in the detail and holistic context of Proverbs, Proverbs 1-9 functions didactically by supplying interpretive frameworks in literary, rhetorical and theological contexts for representative portions of Proverbs 10-31. Keefer suggests that Proverbs 1-9 functions didactically by teaching interpretive skills, and allows interpretation of Proverbs 10-31 by instilling the competence required to explicate this material. As a result, Proverbs 1-9 provides a didactic introduction for the remainder of the book, particularly with respect to its character types, educational goals, and theology. This volume demonstrates the function of Proverbs 1-9 for Proverbs 10-31 in some of the most prominent interpretive contexts of the book, and in doing so advances current key interpretive debates within Proverbs scholarship.

Old Testament Wisdom Literature
Old Testament Wisdom Literature

Author: Craig G. Bartholomew

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2014-06-04

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 0830898174

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Craig G. Bartholomew and Ryan P. O'Dowd provide an informed introduction to the Old Testament wisdom books Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job. More than an introduction, however, this is a thoughtful consideration of the hermeneutical implications of this literature.

Proverbs
Proverbs

Author: Lydia Brownback

Publisher: Crossway

Published: 2014-07-31

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13: 1433540258

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The book of Proverbs uncovers the foundation of wisdom, marks out the paths that make us wise, and points us to the ultimate source of all true understanding: Jesus Christ. Helping make sense of a unique book, this guide explains the biblical text with clarity and passion—uncovering its wise instruction for godly living that glorifies God and leads to blessing for his people. Over the course of 12 weeks, these studies explore books of the Bible and: Ask thoughtful questions to spur discussion Show how each passage unveils the gospel Tie the text in with the whole story of Scripture Illuminate the doctrines taught in each passage Invite you to discover practical implications Help you better understand and apply God's Word

Poetic Ethics in Proverbs
Poetic Ethics in Proverbs

Author: Anne W. Stewart

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1107119421

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This study explores the sophisticated understanding of the formation of the moral self that emerges in the poetry of Proverbs, which many have wrongly dismissed as simplistic. Anne W. Stewart analyzes images and metaphors to illuminate the Book's views on the role of emotions and desires in shaping moral imaginations.

The Message of Proverbs
The Message of Proverbs

Author: David J. Atkinson

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2023-07-18

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 1514006308

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Proverbs' instruction in the art of living has been long tried and long proven. This BST commentary wonderfully illuminates the ancient cultural and religious background and brings the wisdom of Proverbs in conversation with the wisdom of God now more fully displayed in Christ, clarifying the place of Proverbs in the pattern of God's word.

Toward an Interpretation of the Book of Proverbs
Toward an Interpretation of the Book of Proverbs

Author: Zoltán S. Schwáb

Publisher: Penn State Press

Published: 2013-08-08

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 1575068575

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Major religious themes of the Bible, such as election and covenant, are not mentioned in the book of Proverbs. Furthermore, self-interest underlies its motivational system (“you shall behave well, because it will be good for you”). These “selfish” and “secular” features have posed serious ethical and theological challenges for some interpreters, while others have claimed that their presence is only in the eyes of the beholder. After a thorough investigation of the history of Proverbs’ interpretation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Zoltán Schwáb argues that its self-interested and secular nature should not be simply affirmed or dismissed. The question is not whether Proverbs is selfish and secular but in what ways it is selfish and secular and within what conceptual framework one is supposed to interpret these characteristics. In order to construct a proper framework, Schwáb uses such diverse sources as Thomas Aquinas’ theological ethics, modern secularization theories, ancient Near Eastern temple ideology, and the theological tradition of God’s incomprehensibility. The result is a reading that simultaneously reflects on the ancient context of the text and the concerns of its readers in a secular world.

Who Needs the Old Testament?
Who Needs the Old Testament?

Author: Katharine Dell

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2017-06-30

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 1725256282

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Who needs the Old Testament? It might be a literary classic, but what relevance does it have today? How much of it can we believe anyway? Katharine Dell invites you to rediscover the appeal of the Old Testament for the twenty-first century. In doing so she deftly refutes hard-line attacks by writers such as Richard Dawkins; she firmly critiques the atheistic agenda of those scholars who seek to undermine the Old Testament's historical grounding; and she helpfully reassures those within the church who express doubts about its usefulness as a resource for Christian life and thought. Written by a world expert, this book will help many, both inside and outside the church, to gain a more informed appreciation of the different kinds of literature contained in the Old Testament, and a more nuanced understanding of the developing vision of God to which they witness.

Wisdom Literature
Wisdom Literature

Author: Leo G. Perdue

Publisher: Presbyterian Publishing Corp

Published: 2007-01-01

Total Pages: 430

ISBN-13: 0664229190

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The Old Testament's wisdom literature offers one of the most intriguing collections of biblical books (Proverbs, Job, the Psalms about Torah and wisdom, Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth, Ben Sira, and the Wisdom of Solomon). In this magisterial textbook, preeminent wisdom scholar Leo G. Perdue sets each book of wisdom in its historical context, examining the conditions that produced the book and shaped its thinking. This allows him to show how wisdom thought changed over time in response to shifting historical and social conditions. In addition to analyzing the historical setting of wisdom, Perdue discerns the theological themes and theological developments within this rich literature.