Journey Through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & JobНамуна

Intro

Nicole introduces this course in which we’ll join Solomon in his quest for wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. We’ll also join Job in his involuntary search for wisdom.

Intro

Nicole introduces this lesson which highlights the key themes and perspectives in Proverbs.

Proverbs: Sayings of Sages: In the Text

The biblical proverbs are part of the Wisdom Literature (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job). Proverbs are sayings, often about principles, that have a timeless and universal dimension to them. They are presented to young people so that they can make good choices in the world they are entering. The simplest way to guide them is by offering two paths.

The Two Ways

The Two Ways

Proverbs represents life’s dilemmas through the lens of the Wisdom Tradition. The ancient dilemmas of obedience and disobedience, of life and death, are cast in the context of a fundamental distinction: wisdom and foolishness. This moves from a moral frame of reference to an honor/shame one.

Proverbs reminds us that disobedience isn’t only deadly, but profoundly foolish. Only a fool chooses the way of death when the way of life is laid out before him. Terms like “instruction” and “wisdom” typify the way of life in Proverbs, while the way of death is for those foolish (or shameful) enough to step willingly into its “snares” (13:14) or deliberately “injure themselves” (8:36).