Wisdom Literature

Proverbs

·         Authorship: Authorship brings authority to the book and here the authorship is attributed to Solomon.

·         Place: we find proverbs borrowed from Egypt & Mesopotamian traditions.

·         There are 2 types of sayings( wrinting)  here. They are

1.                  Exaltation or instructions

2.                  Proverbs

·         What is a Proverb…?

It’s a pithy 2 lines saying which expresses a truth learnt from experience in a striking way.

·         What do we find in the  poem?

Teacher passing sage advice to student.

Purpose of the book:

·         To give wisdom to simple people.

What is the beginning of wisdom?

Beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord…. This means to be in awe of…

What does Lord mean here?

Lord: the one who brought orderly creation.

So…?

Therefore need to observe and reason with fear of the Lord. This will lead to right moral living.

Fear of the lord comes when you recognize the power of God in day today events.

Characteristics of Prophetic literature:

In Prov: 1, 20-33: there are prophetic literature characteristics.

1.      Personification: Wisdom cries in the street.(1,20)

2.      Proclaim to all the people.(1,20,21)

3.      Call for conversion ( 1, 22-23)

4.      Consequence if ignored (1,32-33) – Retribution theology.

In prophetic literature, prophesy is reserved to all people.

Adultery

Adultery: a choice that leads to death. (5,15-19)

·         5,1-14:Fidelity to one’s wife leads to wonderful life ( Deut 22,23-24-literal level.)

·         7,14-27: Cult prostitution  leads to double infidelity( to wife  and god)

9,13-18:           Lady wisdom(1-6)calling       

(9,7-12:            Fear of the Lord.

9,13-18:           Lady folly-Canaanite cult etc.

·         Wisdom advices not to get into adultery for it lead to death – physical & spiritual.

·         In adultery family is involved. Thus call not to destroy the family unit. Family- is an important aspect here.

Three automatic choices when one chooses adultery:

1.      Physical Death

2.      Unhappiness coming from double infidelity.

3.      Death due to idolatry ( spiritual death)

Call is to move in the direction of life.

Three places where wisdom is personified:

1, 20-33,8,1-36, 9,1-6…..why as women?

1.      Psychological: Written from men to men. Eg: Be faithful to your wife.

2.      Grammatical: in Hebrew, Hokmah is feminine.

3.      Context  : was of polytheism, monolatry and monotheism. During the time of polytheism there was also a goddess called wisdom.

Sayings of Solomon

Chapters 10-22: there are 375 proverbs.

First collection of Solomon’s Proverbs: (10.1-22,16):

 “Striking way”.

Use of figures of speech.

a.      Personification

b.      Parellalism:i.e.

·         Synonymous (14,19)

·         Antithetic (10,1)-contrast

·         Synthetic (15,12)- thought of first line is explained.

c.       Alliteration: repetition of the initial consonant.(10,15,17,18)

d.      Metonymy: Real meaning is exposed through a word, closely associated with that meaning (11,30)…Eg. White House – President.

e.       Synocdoche: A part for the whole. Eg. India won the match.

Wealth : Blessing or temptation???

Poor:

·         God loves them…so when you love the  poor, God is pleased(19,17)

·         When you help the poor, you remain wealthy. ( 28,27) =investing with god.

·         Lack of wealth is not always lack of blessing.

Wealth:

·         It’s a sign of God’s  love.

·         It’s a gift and a task. ( 28,19)

·         Earning through dishonest means, you will lose it.(28,8)

·         Wealth is a blessing but pursuit of wealth may be a temptation.

Wealth shouldn’t be a goal in itself, rather the goals should be

·         Integrity (19,1),

·         Loyalty in relationship ( 19,22),

·         fear of the Lord ( 15,16)

Purushasukthas:

·         Artha : Wealth: money can’t buy everything.

·         Kama: Emotional & aesthetic satisfaction.

·         Dharma:Passion for Justice and charity- goes beyond your grave.

·         Moksha : Only God can give.

Proverbs: practical advice and not Law

Bribes:           

·         They do work. They open the door.(17,8)

·         But you should not accept one ( 17,23)

·          

Surety on Loans:

·         Not a wise thing.( Not immoral but chancy 6,1-5)

Discipline ( about Children)

·         Beating gives some sense. ( 13,24).

·         In our society today, physical punishment  is abusive. Times are changing.

Note:

·         Proverbs offer a practical advice and not Law. No divine revelation claimed.

·         It’s flexible and reflective.

2 ways: Compare & Contrast

Core:  

Right way exists and can be discovered. This rests on Isaiah’s concept- God is love and  has established an order that reflects God’s loving purpose. Only wise have discovered it and choose to live within it.

Way of Foolish also exist.

·         One way to differentiate is to compare and contrast between way of the wise and way of the foolish. Book of Proverbs does that.

Proverbs attitude to Kings:

·         16,10: Inspired decisions are on the lips of the king. King is inspired to God’s will. Therefore not above God’s order.

·         16,12;20,28: Kings authority rests on God’s authority. He acts within g’s right order. His throne is upheld by righteousness.

·         16,15; 19,12; 20,2: kings have power.

·         Wise person stays in Kings good graces.

·         Don’t try to please the king so much as to give false witness.

These apply to all, including judges. That’s known as YHWHiztion of proverbs.

Ch 22,17- 23,11

·         30 sayings from Egyptian work given by Amen –em-Ope- referred to him. Proverbs have been borrowed and modified from him/there.

·         23, 12: we find the instructions of AHIQUAR. We find the adaptation of Lord into his writings.

·         Ch 25-29: Hezekiah’s Official…copied.

·         Ch 30: Agur – Unknown figure.

·         Ch 31: Lemuel – Unknown Name…Both these are borrowed.

Let’s note that proverbs don’t belong only to Israel.

Numerical Proverbs: ( 30,15-33)

1.      15-17: Insatiable desire is not good; be satisfied with what you have.

·         Three- limited

·         Four – unlimited.       

·         Sheol: Hell – barren womb – enough space.

2.      18-20: Man’s behavior is a mystery and not simply a free choice.

·         We shouldn’t attribute motive to anything. Do not judge for God is the judge.

·         21-23: Why no guilty conscience in adulterous? Why prostitutes are in prostitution?

·         24-28: rock batches – small animals. Handicapped is not in your body but within your mind.

·         29-33: we shouldn’t be arrogant but be majestic.

All the above are the attitudes of the wise person who would avoid – greed, arrogance, pride, persevere despite handicapped, and are at awe of God’s creation.

·         Lemuel: (31,1-9):To vindicate the right of the poor is duty of the king.

·         Faithful to God means being faithful to Covenant partners.

·         In prophets poor have the right to be defended and supported.

·         All Israel are members of the covenant.

Job

• We find 2 types in him – one is enemy and the other is the one who repents.
• The basic question that is being addressed is ‘Why innocent suffering?’

There are 2 types of literary forms:

1.      Debate: where characteristics are – Job & His 3 friends( Eliphaz, Bildad, Sophar)

2.      Legend: Characters are God who believes in human goodness and Satan  who is cynic who believes that humans are incapable of unselfish love.

• Though the question is about the innocent suffering the deeper issue is about the mystery of God.
• Satan asks God, ‘Does Job believe for nothing?
• Job’s friends believe in the traditional retribution theology. (Implicitly Job too believes this)
• What triggered suffering is the immediate question but the deeper question is why exile?
• In the exile people underwent Physical (Land) and Spiritual (has God left us?) devastation.
• Job, is originally a Mesopotamian story in 10 -12 B.C.
• The story borrowed is given in the framework.
• The frame is from out. That is the legend which is in prose.( Ch 1,2 & 42,7)
• What the author has introduced is given in the poetry. ( Ch 3 onwards)
• In poetry we see Job as a totally different man. Angry and shouting at God.

Sitz im Laben of Ch 3: Post Exilic Story

Schema of the book

3- Job’s first Lament

4 – Onwards: 3 cycles of dialogues: speeches of Job & Speeches of friends.

First Cycle:

4                      -Eliphaz speaks

5, 6, 7              - Job speaks

Ch 8                - Bildad speaks.

9, 10                – Job speaks

Ch 11:                         -Zophar speaks

12, 13,14:        - Job speaks.

Second Cycle:

15                    - Eliphaz speaks

16, 17              - Job speaks

18                    – Bildad

19                    – Job

20                    – Zophar

21                    - Job

Third Cycle:

22                    - Eliphaz

23, 24              – Job Replies

25                    - Bildad

26, 27              - Job

28:                   -Interlude.

29, 30, 31        – Job replies.

32,-37              – Elihu sums up all his friends.

38 – YHWh’s first speech

40, 6: YHWH’s second speech

39-42 – YHWH and Job are together.

Suffering according to his friends:

• For Eliphaz- suffering is a way to correct or discipline.
• Bildad can’t see anybody challenging God.

Job’s lamentations

• Ch 3: Job’s first lament- cursed the day he was born.
• Note: When one suffers, if he knows its cause- the suffering is less. Job doesn’t know.
• Ch 29-31: Job’s second lament
• V 5. – How was my past and what am I come to?
• Generally as per the biblical idea increase of sin leads to decrease of life span.

Reasons for suffering as his friends think:

I.                  Eliphaz Speaks:

1. First reason

4: 7-8: Retributive Justice.

Eliphaz says you have committed sin- so suffering.

Author, through this is questioning retributive theology.

2. Second reason:

4, 17:  To err is human…. You may have committed sin. All humans are finite/ mortals and limited.

3. Third reason: - Suffering is a discipline.

II.              Bildad Speaks:

1. First reason : Retribution theology
2. Second Reason: Discipline
3. Third Reason: Forgetting God. I f you annal the covenant, God annals you.

Note:  When no God in your life, you suffer.

III.          Zophar Speaks:

1. First Reason :11,6: you are a great sinner and god has not punished you as much as you deserve.( Retributive theology)
2. Second Reason: you are looking for suffering. So you suffer.

Please Note: St Ignatius speaks of 3 reasons for suffering:

• Negligence in prayer.
• To depend on God
• That you may mature.

IV.             All these are summed up by Elihu who was the audience.

·         32, 8: The main point of Elihu is that, the view point of Job about  God is wrong.

·         33, 15 says God speaks to us through – dreams and visions

·         Through angels and through suffering.

·         His main view is through suffering.

·         Suffering is preventive- punitive.

Job says, ‘ God is unjust. Then what is the use of serving god?

Elihu speaks out.

1.      God is not unjust for he governs the whole world. Elihu says , look at the world. You do good or bad that doesn’t affect God.

2.      Ch 36,5: God is mighty and great

3.       For Elihu God is gracious, mighty, great and just.

Conclusion:

• Ch 38: First speech of YHWH (38, 39, 40:2)
• Here we find questions from cosmology (Rain, clouds, earth) & zoology- 77 questions

·                     Ch 39: Mountain goats, wild ass, wild ox, ostriches, eagle.

·                     Through all these images, YHWH challenges Job.

• 42,6 : call to repent in dust and ashes.

Job surrenders to the mystery of God.

• God’s answer is HIMSELF.
• Experience of god leads to disappearance of problems.
• Only after praying for his friends ( reconciliation) Job brought blessings for himself.

Note:

• Never blame the victim.
• There is no moral nihilism
• Job doesn’t compromise with his integrity.
• Whether others reward you or not, you need to live in your integrity.

Qoheleth - Ecclesiastes

·         Qoheleth: Word of Teacher.

·         Authorship: Attributed to Solomon.

·         Late Origin: Post Exilic, may be 2^nd Century B.C.

·         Could be from Babylonian work- ‘Dialogue of Pessimism’.

·         Between Ch 1, 2 & 12,8  we find a inclusive technique – ‘Vanity of Vanities’.

1.      Monotony & Boredom in Qoheleth – Hebel, Nothing new under the sun, Wtvr was- will be and Wtvr will be – was.

So what the meaning life has?

·                     Discover newness

·                     Enjoy life

·                     Enjoy in proper time and moderation

2.      Bankruptcy  of Wisdom(Agnosticism vs. Skepticism) – Indulgence

  -Despair            don’t give meaning

              Therefore no one can freely understand God’s work.( 3,13,11; 7:13,8:17,11:5)

     3.   Q’s concept of time -Cyclic ( 1,9; 3:15)

                                 -Linear-Distinguishes past & Future. –(1,11)

Humans can grasp their lives in totality even though God’s plan in history is elusive. (3,11)

4.      Q & oppressed – 4,1; 5:8, 8:11. Do not be unnecessarily troubled

5.      Q & Cult( 5, 1-4)

·         Temple   - Keep a distance ( 4,1)- temple – routine ritual – will not bring any change.

·         Synagogue: Listen to the sermon – don’t make long prayers- God is far away- doesn’t listen.

·         Long preaching( Mt 6,7)

·         Vow: Don’t make; if so keep it.

Thus in all this retribution theology is challenged.

ü  One fate for all.

o   Same fate ( 2,14;8,14; 9,1-3)

o   Everything is a chance.

o   Fate of human and animal is same( 3,16-20)

Conclusion : No bitterness, but honesty as in job.

Insight: Even if there is no God, can you continue to do good?

Wisdom of Sirach

I.                   Prologue:

·         This dates to TaNak (50:27)

·         Purpose f the book (2:10-11)( 42:2)

·         Purpose is : It’s a guide for living. People had temptations. Generally conquerors culture takes supremacy.

·         In 42:2 advices not to take Greek culture (Hellenistic) as supreme.Sirach cautions his people.

II.              Creation storyL 17:1-3

·         We can find the work of P & J authors in this.

·         God created out of the earth, is from J author and this shows solidarity with the material & animal world.( 17,1-2)

·         This is in parallel with Gen 2, 7-8: Man is made of clay.

·         Sir 17,3: Image ( Gen 1:27) – this refers to P author.

·         Thus the creation story shows solidarity with – man, world, and God.

III.          Greatest contribution of Sirah in interpreting the wisdom ( 24)

·         This says that wisdom became Torah. Thus it serves as a stepping stone to NT Christological speculation in Paul & John.

·         Wisdom from Heaven resided in Jacob & Israelites. Now it has come to Zion.

·         24,10 & 24,23 are the 2 important verses.

·         In proverbs wisdom is seen as a mystery.

·         Here Torah is wisdom incarnate.

·         In John, Jesus is word incarnate.

·         For fuller life – go to Torah.

IV.           Patriarchy & statutes of women.

·         Sirah, in general has a very suspicious and with sexual connotation looks at women.

·         They are portrayed as waiting to have sex with anyone. ( 26, 10-12)

·         About daughters as pain and headache and of no use. ( 42,9-10)

·         Birth of a daughter is seen as Loss ( 22,3)

·         Adulterous wife ( 26.7;)

·         Loose women (9,2-9)

·         Male chauvinism- sin through woman and so death came in.( 25:24)

·         ( Let’s note that book of wisdom of Solomon see’s serpent as reason and  Letter to Romans sees Adam as reason)

·        But we also find Sirah speaking with respect about mothers in Ch 3.

V.               Concupiscence: ( Inclination to evil & free will)

This comes from the word – YESER

1.      Inclination to Evil: ( 37:1-3; 29:17)

·         Ungratefulness is a kind of Inclination to Evil.

·         Inclination to Evil breaks friends.

·         Antidote is observance of the Law. ( 21:11)

2.      Free will: ( new Meaning): 15,14 ; gen 4:7.

We are free but accountable to God. ( 15, 13-20)

Please Note:

About the division of the books:

·         We see in 2  Macabbees – 2 divisons ( 15,9)

·         In Sir 1,1: 3 Divisons

Dating of the book is around 180 BC

Though it was thought that this book was originally written in Greek, the manuscripts found in Masada show that the book was written originally in Heb.

Wisdom of Solomon

·         Written in Gk, in Alexandria & in Egypt.

·         Date: 50- 30 B.C.

·         This is the last book composed in the Old Testament.

ü  Author: is a Greek and knows Greek well.

o   He is also a Jew.

o   We can also see here, ‘Jewish faith in Greek Culture.’

Solution to Retribution theology is found in Ch 1-5

• 1:1, 2: 6-7, 2:12, 4, 19
• 2, 1-2: We find connection with Qoheleth.
• 2:21-24: God created us for incorruption.
• First time serpent is compared to devil here.
• 3, 1-2: Souls of the righteous are in the hands of God.
• 5, 13-15: Rewarded with Eternal life- incorrupt. (Concept of Life after death. Idea is from Gk Philosophy)

Wisdom of Solomon

1.      Solution to retribution theology (1-5). Reward and punishment – in other world.( wisdom & HS are synonymous)

2.      Prologue of John (9:1,17; 18, 14-15; 7,22)- Jesus the wisdom of God.

3.      Midrashic interpretation of history( 10-19)

·                     Wisdom’s role in the history ( 10; 6:24, 9: 18)

·                     Imaginary additions to the plagues of Egypt( 11,17-19)

·                     Midrashic transformation of Mana ( 16, 20-21)

·                     Total darkness appalled by spectress ( 17)

·                     Reed sea to Red sea an in LXX ( 19,6-7)

4.      Idolatry :( For Jews Covenantal relationship with God is unique and  material rep. of God)

·         Origins of idolatry: 14,15 & 14,17

·         Types of Idolatry – Worship of natural phenomena ( 13,2) = foolish

-          Worship of manmade statue ( 13,10) = More foolish.

-          Worship of animals. ( 15,14, 18)- most foolish

-          Folly of Idolatry ( 15,16-17)

Please Note: Midrash comes from the word – darash = search. Search meaning of the text and interpret it through laws and stories.

Ch 10: Calls us to make friendship with wisdom.

Psalms

Purpose: Renewal of the covenant to the house of David.

Form and content makes a Psalm a psalm.

Wisdom psalms: contain a form and content.

Different types of Psalms:

1.      Wisdom Psalms

2.      Royal / Messianic Psalms. = Regarding Kings

3.      Laments : Individual & community

4.      Praise (Hymns)= For what God is?

5.      Thanksgiving. = for what God has done.

6.      Penitential = Acknowledgement of Sin.

7.      Imprecatory = Invoking curse upon people.

8.      Ascent / Pilgrim = These are Psalms used by pilgrims on the way.

9.      Historical Psalms = Righteous acts of YHWH in the history through which he had delivered them       from their foes.

10.  Enthronement Psalms = Kingship of God.

Psalm -1

1,19,34,36,37,49,73,112,119,127,128

Psalm -1 is a wisdom psalm.

Here we find beatitude style and 2 ways and its ramifications.

Please note: Authorship is attributed to David but that is not a claim to historical setting. (David earlier is known to play lyre.

Preface: Why?

·         Setting is not worship but didactic.

·         Worship is useless unless the worshiper decides to walk in the way of the Lord.

·         We also find, Synthetic, simile, compare and contrast, beatitude type, 2 ways , repetitions etc.

·         Order – too can be the content of wisdom psalms.

Psalm 2

 Royal Psalm = about the king

2,18,20,21,45,72,78,89,101,110,132,144.

We see covenantal theology in this type.

Different types in it are…

1.      Abraham: Covenantal love is described.

2.      Moses : Passover ( covenant love)

3.      David :  Royal theology

4.      Solomon – Zion theology.

5.      Isaiah – Messianic prophesies.

Please Note:

·         Psalm 2: is the scene of Coronation

·         Jesus-  Nathans words fulfilled in Jesus.

·         Background of royal Psalms is – Covenant theology.

·         Through Passover they celebrated – Covenant Love of God.

David:

·         In the 10^th century the nation became a reality.

·         King was considered the adopted son of God.

·         God has chosen Davidic line.

Solomon:

·         Ark of the Covenant was the visible presence of God, was placed in the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem temple.

·         Therefore god has chosen Zion as his dwelling place.

·         Zion theology + Royal theology = Jerusalem Theology

Issiah: Expectation of the coming of the Messiah – Davidic son.

Ps 2,7 – refers to Davidic Son.

Psalm 3: Lament Psalm

Here we observe 5 steps:

1.      Call

2.      Complaint

3.      Trust

4.      Petition.

5.      Praise.

Some of the laments Psalms are:

In Book -1 : 3,4,5,6,7,9,10,13,14,17,22,25,26,27,28,31,35,38,39,40,41.

Psalm 3

In lament Psalms we find Headings. These headings are not a claim to historical setting but could be an imaginary historical setting.

These headings could be for – Musicians or according to tune.

 1/3^rd of the Psalms are – Laments.

·         v.1 – Call ( O Lord)

·         v.2 -  Complaint ( Many are rising against me)

·         V.3 – Trust

·         V.7 – Petition

·         V.8 – Praise

Please Note:

I.                   Psalm 6: Why should God save? – For his steadfast love. ( hesed)

II.                Imprecatory Psalms: Every human has yearning for vengeance. In these moments these can do 3 things.

1.                  Act it out.

2.                   Deny it. Yearning will come out in many and various ways.

3.                  Give it over to God ( The desire for vengeance)

III.             Beasts are demoniac powers in the ancient near eastern cultures.

IV.             Psalm 22: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

·         Jesus said this (Recited) from the cross.

·         In this there is a – Lament- praise – trust-Hope – Petition.

·         Forgiveness of Sins:

·         For St Paul: the death of Jesus brought the forgiveness of sins to Humans.

·         In the gospel – it’s with incarnation.

·         Also with his healing ministry, Jesus forgave sins.

·         Now there is a link between the St Paul says – and the gospels about the forgiveness of Sins with Ps 22.

Faith – Reason – Wisdom

Intro: James 1,5-8

1.      Faith in the OT:

·         Acceptance of the Fact of God and our dependence on God (Gen 1; Creator God)

·         Faith is the fear of God. (Exodus)- God of History.

·         Faith is a moral response to God. (Covenant God)

2.      Faith in the NT:

Teachings of Jesus – Trust in God ( Fr & King) & himself( Mk 1:15)

Apostolic church believes in Jesus Christ( God is identified in Jesus)- Dynamics & Semiea

Faith that includes work( James 2 : 14-22)

3.         Integration:

Faith( Yamuna) ------ Mystery

Reason ( Rib&John 4) – Dialogue

Wisdom ( Skill) --------Praxis