An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts
An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts is designed for undergraduate students and laypersons who are studying Scripture. Part One poses fundamental questions addressed by the genre of wisdom literature, explores definitions of wisdom and folly from the biblical perspective, describes the characteristics and forms of wisdom poetry, and places Israel’s wisdom tradition in a wider historical-cultural context. Part Two addresses the practical wisdom associated with Proverbs, treating both the contents and the academic questions that arise. Parts Three and Four focus on Ecclesiastes and Job, respectively, and on the interpretive challenges they raise. Finally, Part Five recognizes the place of Song of Songs in the wisdom tradition. This text is a highly accessible and engagingly written introduction to the Bible’s wisdom literature and is built on a strong scholarly foundation.

Elaine A. Phillips has served as professor of biblical and theological studies at Gordon College (Wenham, MA) since 1993 and for the past two decades has also been a visiting professor at Jerusalem University College. She is the author of numerous scholarly articles on the Old Testament and has served on the editorial board of the Bulletin for Biblical Research. Phillips has received several distinguished teaching awards and regularly lectures on the Bible to both professional societies and lay audiences.
1125020969
An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts
An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts is designed for undergraduate students and laypersons who are studying Scripture. Part One poses fundamental questions addressed by the genre of wisdom literature, explores definitions of wisdom and folly from the biblical perspective, describes the characteristics and forms of wisdom poetry, and places Israel’s wisdom tradition in a wider historical-cultural context. Part Two addresses the practical wisdom associated with Proverbs, treating both the contents and the academic questions that arise. Parts Three and Four focus on Ecclesiastes and Job, respectively, and on the interpretive challenges they raise. Finally, Part Five recognizes the place of Song of Songs in the wisdom tradition. This text is a highly accessible and engagingly written introduction to the Bible’s wisdom literature and is built on a strong scholarly foundation.

Elaine A. Phillips has served as professor of biblical and theological studies at Gordon College (Wenham, MA) since 1993 and for the past two decades has also been a visiting professor at Jerusalem University College. She is the author of numerous scholarly articles on the Old Testament and has served on the editorial board of the Bulletin for Biblical Research. Phillips has received several distinguished teaching awards and regularly lectures on the Bible to both professional societies and lay audiences.
29.95 In Stock
An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts

An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts

by Elaine A Phillips
An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts

An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts

by Elaine A Phillips

Hardcover

$29.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts is designed for undergraduate students and laypersons who are studying Scripture. Part One poses fundamental questions addressed by the genre of wisdom literature, explores definitions of wisdom and folly from the biblical perspective, describes the characteristics and forms of wisdom poetry, and places Israel’s wisdom tradition in a wider historical-cultural context. Part Two addresses the practical wisdom associated with Proverbs, treating both the contents and the academic questions that arise. Parts Three and Four focus on Ecclesiastes and Job, respectively, and on the interpretive challenges they raise. Finally, Part Five recognizes the place of Song of Songs in the wisdom tradition. This text is a highly accessible and engagingly written introduction to the Bible’s wisdom literature and is built on a strong scholarly foundation.

Elaine A. Phillips has served as professor of biblical and theological studies at Gordon College (Wenham, MA) since 1993 and for the past two decades has also been a visiting professor at Jerusalem University College. She is the author of numerous scholarly articles on the Old Testament and has served on the editorial board of the Bulletin for Biblical Research. Phillips has received several distinguished teaching awards and regularly lectures on the Bible to both professional societies and lay audiences.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781619707108
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers, Incorporated
Publication date: 08/01/2017
Pages: 310
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Elaine A. Phillips has served as professor of biblical and theological studies at Gordon College (Wenham, MA) since 1993 and for the past two decades has also been a visiting professor at Jerusalem University College. She is the author of numerous scholarly articles on the Old Testament and has served on the editorial board of the Bulletin for Biblical Research. Phillips has received several distinguished teaching awards and regularly lectures on the Bible to both professional societies and lay audiences.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements ix

Abbreviations xv

Part 1 Where and How Do We Start? 1

1 The Universal Pursuit of Wisdom 3

2 What Makes Biblical Wisdom Unique? 8

3 Biblical Poetry: The Perfect Form(s) for Wisdom Expressions 14

4 Contexts: Solomon's Court as a Wisdom "Hub"? 25

Part 2 Practical Wisdom: Proverbs 35

5 How on Earth Should 1 Make Sense of Proverbs? An Overview 37

6 Wisdom and Folly and Their "Children" (Proverbs 1-9) 52

7 Character Matters 67

8 The Power in Words 80

9 Discipline 91

10 Relationships 99

11 Leadership, Justice, Poverty, and Stewardship 109

Part 3 Coming to Grips with Mortality: Ecclesiastes 121

32 Is What Happens "Under the Sun" Meaningless, Transient, or Elusive? 123

13 A Masterpiece of Literary Structures 130

14 Coming to Grips with Mortality 138

15 Ecclesiastes Conundrums 145

Part 4 Wisdom and Suffering: Job 155

16 The Array of Issues Confronting the Interpreter of Job 157

17 God and the satan (Job 1-2) 167

18 The Character of Job on a Trajectory: Wrestling with His Own Mortality and God's Sovereignty 177

19 Great Doctrine Misapplied 191

20 God as Job's Adversary, Advocate, and Absent Friend 200

21 TIME to Take a Breath: The Far Reaches of Wisdom 211

22 Job's Life in Retrospect 218

23 Elihu as Arbiter and Adumbration 223

24 Responses from the Wild Wind: A Cosmic Tour 232

25 The Epilogue: Job and God Respond 243

Part 5 Wisdom and Love: Song of Songs 257

26 This Is "The Best Song" 259

27 A Garden of Spices: How Do You Describe Your Beloved? 267

Epilogue: What Next? 279

Notes 283

Index of Scripture References 283

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews