The Wisdom Books

1. Chapter 10: The Wisdom Books By: Veronica Marano, Shane Yaller, Corinne Otto, Jackie LaPorte, Frankie Calabro & Megan Zelner

3. Proverbs: What Is a Good Life? Books of Proverbs appeared sometime after the Babylonian Exile. It consisted of several collections of wisdom teachings, intended to instruct the young especially. Proverbs, like other wisdom writings, is concerned with how to live a good life. According to Proverbs, success and prosperity, rightly gained, are the reward for a virtuous life.

4. Wisdom’s Feminine Voice Proverbs’ image of God’s wisdom as a woman… Adds a feminine voice and quality to the traditional Jewish image of a masculine God. Lady Sophia is the feminine image of wisdom. God is neither man, nor woman. Transcends the human categories of gender Biblical writers used male & female images to describe God.

5. Ecclesiastes: Is Life Lived in Vain? The sage’s response on the meaning of life during the time the Jews under Greek rule was the Book of Ecclesiastes. It is a Greek word for the name “Qoheleth,” which is Hebrew for “teacher.” It’s known for what appears to be a pessimistic outlook on life. He came to the conclusion that life was a mystery that he couldn’t solve.

6. Wisdom: What Is Our Final Destiny? The author was a scholarly Jew, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. He refused to accept the conventional wisdom that God rewards goodness and punishes sin in that life. Believed that at final judgment, wicked will see that wealth and success aren’t rewardable for eternal life.

7. Afterlife The author joins the other Jewish biblical writers, who asserted the existence of the soul’s life after the physical body’s death. Jews saw the person as a whole. When physical life ended, they only lived in memories. Greeks introduced concepts of body and soul to Judaism. The sage saw the possibility of life beyond death.

8. Sirach Jesus benSirach ran a school for scriptural study and Jewish wisdom. He wrote between 200 and 175 BC Wanted to instruct fellow Jews, who were confused. Depicts wisdom as a woman, who was with God at creation.

9. In Paradise of Wisdom & Wisdom’s Testing Wisdom came from the mouth of God to make her dwelling with Jacob’s people. God’s wisdom is far above the wisdom of the world. Wisdom tests us with difficulties; times of difficulties can be seed times, times for growing strong, which tells us that we need to struggle sometimes to become stronger.

10. The Song of Songs Rather than a book, it is a collection of love poems written by unknown authors. Some of the most beautiful and passionate poetry in the world can be found in this book. The ancient Jews & Christians recognized that God designed human love as a powerful and holy bond. Human love is good and a gift from God.

11. Stories of Enchantment: Faith and Goodness And Triumph The tales of the Babylonian Empire was inspired courage and faith in time Reminded the people good would overcome evil in the end. The people treated these books as just historical events. The book of Tolbert are wisdom tales and are about nobles that face personal disasters.

12. Stories of Enchantment (cont.) The Book of Judith defied all stereotypical notions. The Book of Esther was about naturally timid women and modeled brave women. The Book of John was a humorous portrayal of fictitious prophets; tried to get across important messages of God’s love and mercy. The Book of Tolbert has an unknown author and encouraged faithfulness.

13. Jonah: A Parable Mercy God’s love is so strong and his mercy extends to all people. In the Book of Jonah, Jonah’s boat is shipwrecked and he is then swallowed by a fish and is in there for 3 days. The Book of Jonah is all fiction. Jonah is a prophet.

14. We Are All “Insiders” & Wisdom and Virtue: Then and Now A period in time when Ezra and Nehemiah work to purify Judaism for 8 elements & build the boundaries of Jewish identity. Book of Jonah reminds us that no one religion, culture, nation, etc. is beyond God’s reach. The Church and it’s beliefs weren't as strong as they are today. The virtues encourage generosity, faithfulness, trust, steadfastness, piety, courage, & mercy.