Intro to Wisdom Lit in the Bible

There is a ton of Wisdom literature in the Bible.  We find it primarily in the books of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.   However, Wisdom, as a literary form, hides in all areas of the Bible, such as within sections of Isaiah, portions of the book of Hebrews, and the beatitudes of Jesus.  That’s where Wisdom Literature resides, but what is it, exactly?  In the rest of this post, we will sketch out the basic properties of Wisdom literature in the Bible.

What is it?

At first glance, a lot of the Wisdom lit seems like mere practical advise for secular living.  However, this is only skims the froth.  In reality, Wisdom literature is primarily concerned with how to use God’s creation and to enjoy life under His present care.

Wisdom Literature is about living life by God’s rules.

The God-centered focus of Wisdom literature fused with its concern with the lived aspect of life means that Wisdom literature can help us create a relevant religion.  It is no small coincidence that the Hebrew word for wisdom, hokmâ, caries with it a heavy emphasis of skill.

Where did it come from?

As with most of the Bible’s stories, no one really knows for sure.  The first appearance of Wisdom literature shows up in Egypt and Mesopotamia.    A lot of the same biblical forms, structures, themes, and word-for-word sayings show up in older civilizations in Egypt and Mesopotamia.  And we know that the Israelites had much contact with both geographic regions. 

So, is the Wisdom literature in the bible just rip-off of pagan Wisdom literature?  Yes and no.  It is true that the Israelites used a lot of other people’s Wisdom literature.  However, they infused and transformed it with a Yahweh-centered theology, effectively forging a new strain of Wisdom Literature.

Key Themes (with examples)

i. Dependence upon God
    1) The fear of the lord is the beginning of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:10)
ii. Role of Wisdom in life
    1) Wisdom reminds one of the centrality of God’s covenant
    2) Wisdom reminds that the divine presence is not just for priests
    3) Wisdom is an extension of God Himself
        a) Craftsman standing alongside God @ creation (Proverbs 8:29-30)
        b) Female teacher inviting students to learn at the gates of the city (Proverbs 1:20-21, 8:1-36)
    4) Wisdom is not the acquisition of cognitive knowledge, but a lived ethical concept
    5) Active opposition to evil
       a) Wise <—————————->wicked
iii. Creation theology
    1) God has created the world as he saw fit and we have no place to object to it.
    2) Humans must take their proper place in the universe
    3) Life is often uncertain
    4) Other aspects
        a) The principle of retribution governs the universe
        b) The principle of divine justice
        c) Our inability to comprehend the divine order is the answer to theodicy

Next:

Next we will look at the various forms Wisdom lit takes in the Bible.  Stay tuned – Subscribe to our Rss feed and use google reader to stay upŧođate.

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