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Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word

Part 1D Wisdom Books

Reverence and Respect for the Lord


Wisdom Literature: Themes and Styles
Wisdom Books: A Unique Form of Spirituality

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books

Wisdom Literature
1. A unique literary response to faith that emerged and
became refined in Jewish communities of the Diaspora
2. Wisdom literature focused on four main themes:
Gods Creation The natural laws The future
The meaning of life itself
3. Hebrew tradition borrowed and adapted a great
deal from the writings of other cultures
4. According to Hebrew wisdom: The beginning
of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10)

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books

Themes and Styles of Wisdom Literature


1. The wisdom described is basically moral in character,
involving lessons in truth, moderation, prudence, and
kindness
2. The message of any wise saying is usually applicable
between cultures across different eras as well
3. This literature answers questions that all people have:
why we are here? what the point of life is, what
will bring them the most happiness, how best to get
along with other people, and what will be the most
meaningful work for them to do with their lives

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books

Spirituality of the Wisdom Books


1. For the most part, the central themes and characters of
the Old Testament scarcely appear in the Wisdom books
2. Unlike the spirituality of the prophetic writings, Wisdom
literature describes God by what he has made it is
descriptive, rational, and objective
3. It is likely that all Hebrew Wisdom literature is from the
postexilic era of biblical history
4. Wisdom literature was another response of the Jews to
the challenges of living as a minority people in the
ancient world

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books

The Book of Job


1. The Book of Job rejects the simplistic belief that good is
rewarded and evil is punished
2. It doesnt so much solve the problem of the suffering of
the innocents as it ponders it
3. It reveals much about the perplexing questions
of why God permits physical and moral evil.
Physical evil exists because God
has willed that there be limitations
in the world that he created. There
is physical evil as long as creation
has not reached perfection.

Moral evil exists because


God respects our freedom
and mysteriously knows how
to derive good from it.

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books

The Book of Psalms


Authorship: traditionally King
David, although most
originate from the period of
the Second Temple
Literary style: poetry
including parallelism
Psalm from the Greek name
for a stringed instrument
called a psalter

Kinds of Psalms:
Lament Psalms requesting
Gods help and protection in
various needs
Praise and Thanksgiving
Instruction Two types:
wisdom psalms and historical
psalms
Liturgical Psalms used for
Temple celebrations

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books
Other Wisdom Books

1. Proverbs teaches three types of wisdom: knowledge of


Gods created world, the skill of making right choices,
and the art of living before God
2. Ecclesiastes a loose collection of proverbs, laments,
poems, and rhetorical questions that are concerned with
the value of human life
3. Song of Songs a collection of love poems that express
the alternating views of two lovers describing each
other in very erotic language

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of Gods Word


Part 1D Wisdom Books
Other Wisdom Books

4. Wisdom Divided into three sections:


(a) The Book of Eschatology
(b) Praise of Wisdom
(c) Gods special providence during the Exodus
5. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) contains numerous sayings,
laments, Psalms of praise, and moral maxims

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