Wisdom Literature

From ReformedWord

Jump to: navigation, search
This is a page is in the Brainstorming stage. This means we are collecting ideas and facts. We have not yet isolated the important themes nor the overarching moral lesson. You are strongly encouraged to edit it! You can:
  • Add new ideas
  • Site Scripture references
  • Improve, clarify and classify the ideas already here

Remember, right now we're trying to accumulate knowledge and find the better half of wisdom. Please help us determine the Godly, moral focus of the article on the talk page: it's the crucial component!

Wisdom Literature is a genre which attempts to impart to the reader Wisdom, that is, seeing reality for what it is and acting accordingly. Wisdom is often devalued in culture, though not always so. Ancient Near Eastern texts that are word-for-word identical to some of the Biblical proverbs have been found. Earlier in Western Society, Philosophy and Science were not differentiated (Natural Philosophy) and was the study of Man's relationship to natural.

In the Bible we find Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs in this genre. Other books (such as the Epistle of James) are technically in another form, but share this kind of approach towards knowledge. Conversely, while the Psalms are in the genre in general, not all the Psalms neatly fit in this tradition. Apocryphal books in this genre include Ecclesiasticus and the Wisdom of Solomon.