The Book of Proverbs' is a compilation that includes works representing several centuries of thought. The main body of the book consists of a collection of short aphorisms introduced as 'Proverbs of Solomon' with an appendix of 'sayings' of other wise men and a second collection of 'Further Proverbs of Solomon'. This part of the book can safely be dated before the Exile; much of it may well go back to Solomon's time and it may include some of the three thousand proverbs which the king is said to have invented.

Since then, the book represents several centuries of thought on the part of the sages, developments of doctrine are discernible in it. In the two primitive collections the dominant tone is that of human, worldly wisdom, disconcerting to the Christian reader though even here one proverb in every seven is religious in theme. This religious teaching is not speculative but practical; God rewards truth, charity, purity of heart, humility and punishes their contrary vices. The source and the sun of all these virtues is wisdom that is to say the fear of God, in whom alone people must put their trust.

The opening chapters offer the same principles of human and sacred wisdom; they emphasise vices of which the earlier sages do not speak such as adultery. The epilogue, too, bears witness to a greater respect for women. More important still, the prologue offers the first example of a logically ordered doctrine of wisdom, its worth and its function as guide and controller of behaviour. The speaker is Wisdom herself; she sings her own praise and explains her relationship with God in whom she has been from all eternity and whom she assisted when he made the world. This is the earliest of all the texts (listed in Introduction to Wisdom Books) to deal with Wisdom personified.

The teaching of the Book of Proverbs has undoubtedly been far transcended by that of Christ, the Wisdom of God; even so, several maxims anticipate the moral teaching of the gospel. It should also be remembered that true religion can only develop on the foundations of human decency; while the frequent use of the book (fourteen quotations and about twenty allusions) made by the New Testament, commands the respect of Christians for these thoughts of the ancient sages of Israel.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -