Humans, seeking to understand the nature of reality, have learned to discern life's patterns and to respond to life's vicissitudes by acting wisely, doing what brings happiness and success. The Bible is a record of that journey. It represents the inspired attempt to become wise at the deepest level, living harmoniously with one's community, the earth, and the Creator. Through their inspirational teachings, the sages of the biblical wisdom tradition offer time-honored advice about some of life's most difficult concerns, including the problem of pain, the suffering of the innocent, the nature of evil, the justice of God, and the pervasiveness of death. Wisdom Revealed, a survey of biblical wisdom literature, offers perspective on topics that arise as one follows the text, always with an eye on the big picture, namely, daily living. Those who read this literature will be exposed to a set of core values necessary for vital citizenship and effective leadership at all levels of life. They will also obtain time-honored advice about how to deal with life's uncertainties in a holistic and pragmatic manner, focusing on what it means to be human in the presence of God.

One of the most complete and in-depth books ever written on the subject of terrorism from a Spiritual perspective! In this book you will receive a full spectrum prism consciousness understanding from Spirit and the Ascended Masters' perspective on terrorism in general and specifically on the soul's perspective of the terrorist bombing of the twin towers on 9/11. This is one of the most comprehensive overviews ever written on this subject and brings forth an absolutely brilliant and clear understanding of the entire sequence of events from a Spiritual, psychological and political or Earthly perspective. In truth, must reading for everyone in the world given the magnitude of the events we are all now experiencing in our world!

This monograph interprets the theme of election in the book of Sirach. Previous scholarship has often understood Ben Sira s worldview to be dualistic, and has approached the sage's correlation of Wisdom and Torah as either a nationalization of Wisdom or a universalization of Torah. By probing Ben Sira s ideas about election, this book suggests that Ben Sira does not collapse the traditional sapiential dichotomy wisdom/folly into a dualistic worldview, and that his understanding of the relation between Wisdom and Torah proves to be far more subtle than previous interpretations have allowed. The study demonstrates that the concept of election enables a profitable discussion of the relation of Wisdom and Torah in the thought of this pivotal Second Temple sage.

This book examines four texts-1 Enoch, 4QInstruction, Matthew and 2 Enoch-and argues that in each the revealing of wisdom to an elect group inaugurates the eschatological period. This idea leads to the fusion of sapiential and apocalyptic elements.

The volume publishes papers read at the tenth International Conference on the Deuterocanonical Books, Budapest, 2013. The authors explore various aspects of this literature, with pre-eminent emphasis on their relation to diverse early Jewish texts and traditions; their reactions on Hellenism; and the way they treated as a canonical collection within their history of interpretation.

This collection of leading scholars presents reflections on both wisdom as a general concept throughout history and cultures, as well as the contested nature of the category of Wisdom Literature. The first half of the collection explores wisdom more generally with essays on its relationship to skill, epistemology, virtue, theology, and order. Wisdom is examined in a number of different contexts, such as historically in the Hebrew Bible and its related cultures, in Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as in Patristic and Rabbinic interpretation. Additionally, wisdom is examined in its continuing relevance in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian thought, as well as from feminist, environmental, and other contextual perspectives. The second half of the volume considers "Wisdom Literature" as a category. Scholars address its relation to the Solomonic Collection, its social setting, literary genres, chronological development, and theology. Wisdom Literature's relation to other biblical literature (law, history, prophecy, apocalyptic, and the broad question of "Wisdom influence") is then discussed before separate chapters on the texts commonly associated with the category. Contributors take a variety of approaches to the current debates surrounding the viability and value of Wisdom Literature as a category and its proper relationship to the concept of wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. Though the organization of the volume highlights the independence of wisdom as concept from "Wisdom Literature" as a category, seeking to counter the lack of attention given to this question in the traditional approach, the inclusion of both topics together in the same volume reflects their continued interconnection. As such, this handbook both represents the current state of Wisdom scholarship and sets the stage for future developments.

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'Jesus the Wisdom of God' brings together insights from wisdom literature and contemporary creation thought in a work that brilliantly illuminates an integrated ecological theology. Adding new depth to the ethical demands of our global ecological situation, Denis Edwards argues that commitment to ecological praxis springs from the very center of Christian identity in Jesus, Trinity, and humanity. Beginning with the wisdom tradition of the Hebrew scriptures, 'Jesus the Wisdom of God' explores what it means to recover the notion that Sophia-Wisdom became incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth, and shows how the universe is altered by this Incarnation. Wisdom Christology then opens out into a view of the trinitarian God at work in ongoing creation. Edwards considers the implications of the trinitarian theology of Richard of St. Victor and St. Bonaventure, centering on the insight that every creature - including humankind - is the free self-expression of the trinitarian God. In this context humanity is revealed as integrally related to all of creation, a part of a single cosmic story. While at one with creation in evolutionary history, humanity is, at the same time, creation come to self-awareness. This train of insights leads to principles for an ecological praxis that affirms human value while insisting that humanity is a part of nature. The whole reinforces commitment to sustainability and a Franciscan attitude of reverence toward God's creation. 'Jesus the Wisdom of God', in a disciplined yet clear way, crafts an alternative to the anthropocentrism and alienation of much of Christian tradition by finding in the very roots of Christian mysticism - and Christian identity - a truly ecological theology for our time. It is profound reading for students, theologians, and all Christians concerned with ecology, and with the interface of science and theology.

Wisdom for the Journey culminates years of periodic, miscellaneous writing. My desire to write spills over from my love for reading. Between reading fascinating books and creating writing projects, I began to say "Someday, I'll write a book." "Someday" dragged on into years. I finally chose a book title and began to write. Pages of dated manuscript filed away in folders attest to my periodic bouts of writing. Years go by without a completed manuscript. It seems like the write-a-book dream had faded. Then one day when I least expect it, the "write-a-book dream" returns resuscitated and stronger than ever. I hear a voice in my spirit say "You have a book, books to write before you sleep. You must begin to write now!" Immediately I am moved to start over again, and to forget the manuscript I had toyed around with for so long. Wisdom for the Journey is the title that erupts from that voice. With it comes a mandate, "Go all the way this time on to a published book. Suddenly, my self-talk is activated and I say to myself "Here I go again back to the writing track. How many times have I been here before? I must not allow history to repeat itself again" When the self-talk stops, I realize that I need some way to ensure that I stay on course, keep procrastination away, and finish the book this time. The idea floods my mind that making a writing vow to God would give me assurance. I search the Bible for wisdom on making vows. Many people of the Bible have made them. Some of their vows have been foolishly made and produced unfavorable consequences. The eleventh chapter of Judges records such a vow. Jephthah, a great warrior, made a vow that results in the death of his only child. Not wanting to make a mistake, I search the scriptures for more wisdom. Scriptures teach that: vows are voluntary, but very serious; carry as much force as a written contract ; and are unbreakable. (Deut. 23:21, 23) Wisdom's bottom line is: If you make a vow to God you must pay it. The Lord demands it. There are no excuses and no exceptions. I carefully consider the biblical cautions and warnings about making a vow. I prayerfully conclude that for me a vow is the assurance I need for getting the book finished. So I make this vow to God. "Every day that you allow me to live, I will write for at least one hour. The writing sessions will continue daily until I have a completed manuscript ready for publishing. Making that vow is the beginning of Wisdom for the Journey. A few months into the writing sessions, painful arthritis and carpal tunnel pain attack my hands and wrists. I begin to think that its okay to quit now. But I recognize that voice as Satan with a "buyout package". My response to him is "Get behind me Satan ! You must have lost your mind to suggest that I break my vow to God." I recite biblical scriptures for strength and courage. Galatians 6:9 reminds me that "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not". In the meantime, wearing arthritic gloves, and carpal tunnel wrist braces, I continue to write as I seek more wisdom. I apply Romans 4:17 to the situation that says "Call those things which be not as though they were." And the wisdom of Job 22:28 that says "Thou shall also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee." So believing and trusting God, I pray. Then I declare and decree that: "As I continue to write the manuscript my hands are healed and strengthened, and I am anointed and empowered to finish writing the book." The daily writing sessions continue as planned; the manifestation takes place as decreed; and Wisdom for the Journey is completed, fulfilling the writing vow I made to God.

The notion that wisdom and apocalypticism represent fundamentally different and mutually exclusive categories of genre and worldview in early Jewish and Christian literature persists in current scholarship. The essays in this volume, the work of the Wisdom and Apocalypticism Group of the Society of Biblical Literature, challenge that generally held view as they explore the social locations and scholarly constructions of these literatures and discover an ancient reality of more porous categories and complex interrelationships. The volume draws on a broad range of Jewish and Christian texts, including 1 Enoch, Sirach, 4QInstruction, Psalms of Solomon, James, Revelation, and Barnabas. --From publisher's description.