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Volume 8 Issue 2 Article 11

1-1-2000

Biblical Wisdom for Preaching and Teaching

Alyce M. McKenzie

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Recommended Citation McKenzie, Alyce M. (2000) "Biblical Wisdom Literature for Preaching and Teaching," Leaven: Vol. 8 : Iss. 2 , Article 11. Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/leaven/vol8/iss2/11

This Resource Guide is brought to you for free and open access by the Religion at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Leaven by an authorized editor of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. McKenzie: Biblical Wisdom Literature for Preaching and Teaching

100 Leaven,Spring 2000

Biblical Wisdom Literature for Preaching and Teaching

A Reader's Guide

BY ALYCE M. McKENZIE

The self-help shelf is packed of steering through daily life. Two from , the Mosaic covenant, the tight with appealing titles at the mall wisdom writings appear in the centrality of Jerusalem and the bookstore. There is a lot of talk about : the Wisdom of Jesus Ben Davidic dynasty, and the prophetic character, or the lack thereof, from Sira (Ecclesiasticus) and the Wisdom word. Wisdom literature is devoid of politicians, and there is a full menu of Solomon. explicit references to God's election of New Age seminars from which to After decades of neglect, biblical of Israel and other saving events. For choose in most communities. Yet wisdom literature is finally receiving this reason many scholars in the first 's question still haunts preachers the attention it deserves. This is good several decades of the twentieth and people alike. "Where shall news for ministers. We desperately century incorrectly theorized that wisdom be found? And where is the need guidelines from biblical wis- wisdom was the result of the Hebrew place of understanding?" (Job 28:12 dom for faithful living in times of nation's disillusionment and distrac- NRSV). Our people crave wisdom good fortune as well as bad within a tion in exile. As this theory went, the without quite being able to identify theological context of a gracious, yet theological witness was diluted as and define it. Our culture is far better mysterious, God. But a scholarly wisdom literature that focused on at defining fortune and recognition explosion of articles and books, while day-to-day survival. than wisdom. enriching, can also be overwhelming. In 1923 an Egyptian "Instruction In such a cultural context, This reader's guide offers a map of of Amenernope" was discovered and ministers, in our varied roles as the recent terrain. These are the published. It bore an uncanny teachers, preachers, leaders, evange- books and articles I have found most resemblance to Prov 22:17-24:22. lists, and counselors, need all the helpful in my years of pastoral This opened scholars' eyes to the fact wisdom we can get! In the biblical experience, my research into preach- that biblical wisdom was a Hebrew context, wisdom (hokmah in Hebrew; ing wisdom literature, and my version of an intercultural phenom- in Greek) refers to an order ministry of teaching seminary enon shared with Egypt and placed by God in the natural world students, pastors, and lay people. Mesopotamia. In the years that by which we discern truth and live The wisdom literature stands out followed World War II, scholars our lives. Within the , from the narrative and legal material uncovered a wide range of wisdom literature generally refers to of the Pentateuch, as well as from extrabiblical connections with the books of Job, , and prophetic and . Ecclesiastes and Job, as well as Proverbs, of which the latter is It is silent with regard to the promise Proverbs. They began to appreciate concerned with the practical business to the patriarchs, the deliverance the theological context of biblical wisdom rather than to deny it.

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Wisdom 101

Scholars began to see biblical achievements, of wisdom research meaning of Ecclesiastes. Crenshaw wisdom literature as a whole, with over that fifty-year period. He also deals with the Wisdom of Ben patterns of theme and literary forms, surfaces insights that continue to Sira, the , and the Wisdom of rather than as isolated books. As inform our present-day understand- Solomon, as well as the influence of wisdom's distinctive, pragmatic ing of wisdom literature. Second, Egyptian and Mesopotamian wis- voice began to be heard, scholarship Maurice Gilbert, in his introduction dom traditions on that of the Israel- began to recognize wisdom elements to La Sagesse de l'ancien Testament, ites. A new edition published in 1998 in the Psalms, the , and BETL 51 (Leuven: Leuven University updates this helpful classic. elsewhere in the . Press, 1990) presents a brief sum- Roland Murphy has written two Wisdom scholarship over the mary of wisdom publications from introductory overviews of the past thirty years has progressed by 1979 to 1989. And last, James wisdom literature. The first is leaps and bounds, enriched by Crenshaw, "Wisdom Literature: Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ruth, parallel studies in literary criticism, Retrospect and Prospect," in Urgent Canticles, Ecclesiastes, and Esther folklore studies, and archaeology. Advice and Probing Questions: Collected (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981). New insights have been unearthed Writings on Old Testament Wisdom After an introduction that deals with regarding the social location of the (Macon, Ga.: Mercer University basic wisdom genres, the setting of sages and the literary forms of Press, 1995; pp. 78-89) brings the wisdom literature, and the signifi- wisdom, particularly the proverb. reader up to date on the status of cance of extra biblical literature of the Theologians have explored the wisdom research in the mid-1990s. , Murphy offers a centrality of wisdom for counseling Beyond these three articles, there treatment of individual wisdom and preaching, and the significance are a number of works dealing with books. A second overview by of personified Wisdom for contem- general treatments. David L. Bartlett, Murphy is The Tree of Life: An Explora- porary christological reflection. "The Authority of Wisdom," in The tion of Biblical Wisdom Literature, scholarship has Shape of Scriptural Authority (Phila- Anchor Reference Library moved wisdom to the center just as delphia: Fortress, 1983; pp. 83-111) (Doubleday: New York, 1990). This surely as has that of the Old Testa- presents a study of the authority of introduction deals with the identity ment. For many years the consensus wisdom's insights in relation to other of the sages and the language and was that apocalyptic was primary in biblical genres and honors biblical literary forms of wisdom literature. Jesus' message. Scholars incorrectly wisdom as an experiential, yet Murphy includes a brief chapter on assumed that wisdom in the New uniquely authoritative, form of Lady Wisdom, which traces her Testament was the early church's revelation. He includes an illuminat- appearance beyond Proverbs in response to the cold reality of the ing treatment of wisdom in the New apocryphal works. An appendix lists delay of the parousia. Recent re- Testament. James G. Williams, Those nonbiblical wisdom literature of the search has revealed that the wisdom Who Ponder Proverbs: Aphoristic ancient Near East. Murphy depicts element was integral to Jesus' Thinking and Biblical Literature wisdom as a gift of God and as a teachings and that the role of (Sheffield,England: Almond, 1981) human search to which God sum- was part of his own self-identifica- characterizes Proverbs as a wisdom mons us. tion. of order. Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Two essays by James Crenshaw, synoptic Jesus, he believes, are "Wisdom Literature: Biblical Books" Bibliographies and General wisdoms of counterorder. and "The Wisdom Literature," Treatments James L. Crenshaw, Old Testament provide insightful overviews. They Three key articles follow the Wisdom:An Introduction (Atlanta: are included in a compendium of history of wisdom scholarship from John Knox, 1981) offers insights into thirty-seven of his essays published the 1920s to the end of the 1980s. the basic dynamics of wisdom between 1969 and 1994 entitled First, R. B. Y. Scott,"The Study of literature, the differences in emphasis Urgent Advice and Probing Questions: Wisdom Literature," Interpretation 24 between the confident search for Collected Writings on Old Testament (1970) traces the progress of wisdom knowledge of Proverbs, the relentless Wisdom (Macon, Ga.: Mercer Univer- research from the 1920s to 1970. He demand for Divine Presence of Job, sity Press, 1995). The former article offers reasons for the neglect, as well and the plaintive chasing after features a bibliography of recent as a charting of the themes and studies in the field of wisdom.

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An article by R. E. Clements, What was the social setting of the Robert Tannehill, The Sword of His "Wisdom and Old Testament Theol- sages? Most interpreters acknowl- Mouth: Forceful and Imaginative ogy," in Wisdom in Ancient Israel: edge an early period in which Language in Synoptic Sayings, Semeia Essays in Honour of]. A. Emerton, ed. wisdom's origin and transmission Supplements 1(Missoula, Mon.: John Day, Robert P. Gordon, and H. occurred within family units and a Fortress and Scholars Press, 1975) G. Williamson (Cambridge: Cam- later period in which wisdom was examines the rhetorical force and use bridge University Press, 1998), is an taught by teachers in private schools, of hyperbole in Jesus' . excellent thematic overview of the with a possible intermediate stage of Several other articles explore the latest thinking on wisdom. It covers royal court wisdom. I suggest three proverb and the parable in the such topics as wisdom as a compre- writings for those interested in the teachings of Jesus and offer invalu- hensive worldview, wisdom and the social setting of the sages. The first able insights for preaching on texts Hebrew canon, and wisdom's role in two writings are essays: R. Norman from the Synoptic . Included theology. Whybray, "The Social World of the are the following: The Woman's Bible Commentary, Wisdom Writers," in The World of William A. Beardslee, "Uses of ed. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ancient Israel, ed. R. E. Clements the Proverb in the ," Ringe (Louisville: Westminster /John (Cambridge: Cambridge University Interpretation 24 (1970): 61-73. Knox, 1992) contains entries on each Press, 1989; pp. 227-50); and G. I. of the wisdom books by contempo- Davies, "Were there schools in Charles Carlston,"Proverbs, rary biblical scholars. ancient Israel?" (pp. 199-211), in Maxims and the Historical Jesus," Wisdom in Ancient Israel, mentioned Journal of Biblical Literature 99 (1980): Wisdom Influence in the above. The third writing, Claus 87-105. Broader Canon Westermann, Roots of Wisdom: The Wisdom's canonical influence Oldest Proverbs of Israel and Other John Dominic Crossan, In extends beyond the primary texts Peoples (Louisville: Westminster / Fragments: The Aphorisms of Jesus (San already mentioned to several Psalms John Knox, 1990), argues for the Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983). (1,19,33,39,49,127) and various prominence of the family in early other books. The essay collection wisdom instruction. Bernard B. Scott, Hear Then the Wisdom in Ancient Israel, ed. John Parable:ACommentary on the Parables Day, Robert P. Gordon, and H. G. Wisdom Genres of Jesus (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1989). Williamson (Cambridge: Cambridge For preaching and teaching, it is University Press, 1998) contains a crucial to understand the various John S. Kloppenborg, The Forma- helpful array of treatments of the literary forms within the wisdom tion of Q: Trajectories in Ancient relationship of wisdom to individual genre. For this we can turn to James Wisdom Collections (Philadelphia: prophets (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Crenshaw's chapter, "Wisdom," in Fortress, 1987). Jeremiah) and the psalms. Especially Old Testament Form Criticism, ed. John noted is the article "The Wisdom H. Hayes (San Antonio: Trinity James G. Williams, "Parable and Psalms" (pp. 152-60) by R. N. University Press, 1974; pp. 225---64). Chreia: From Q to Narrative ," Whybray. Two other related works Among the forms Crenshaw defines Semeia 43 (1988): 85-114. are Donn F. Morgan, Wisdom in the are the proverb, the riddle, the fable, Old Testament Traditions (Atlanta: the allegory, the hymn, the prayer, The Role of the Sage John Knox, 1981) and Gerald T. the dialogue, the confession, the list, The office of sage offers a helpful Sheppard, Wisdom as a Hermeneutical and the didactic poem. model for the pastoral ministries of Construct: A Study in the The book by James L. Bailey and preaching and teaching. Excellent Sapientializing of the Old Testament, Lyle D. Vander Broek, Literary Forms historical background is available in BZAW 151 (New York: Walter De in the New Testament (Louisville: The Sage in Israel and the Ancient Near Cruyter, 1980). Westminster/John Knox, 1992), East, ed. John G. Gammie and Leo G. examines the structure and rhetorical Perdue (Eisenbrauns: Winona Lake, The Social Setting of the intentions of a number of New 1990). This is a collection of essays Sages Testament literary forms, including that deals with the sage in Israel, A question that has occupied aphorisms and parables. surrounding cultures, rabbinic scholars over the past few decades is,

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Judaism, and Jesus' ministry. It also Alan P. Winton, The Proverbs of of Wisdom" provides a helpful deals with the phenomenon of Jesus:Issues of History and Rhetoric, introduction and overview to the female sages in various settings. In JSNTSup 35 (London: Sheffield volume. Several articles by contem- this vein I recommend especially Academic Press, 1990) analyzes the porary women scholars deal with the Claudia Camp's helpful article proverbial form and, in chapter 6, images of women in wisdom litera- entitled "The Female Sage in Ancient deals with its use in the context of ture, the role of women as counselors Israel and in the Biblical Wisdom Jesus' kingdom teachings. Other in ancient Israel, and the identity of Literature." relevant books and articles include the" woman of worth" of the con- Blekinsopp, Sage, Priest, Bernard Brandon Scott, Jesus, Symbol cluding poem of the book of Prov- : Religious and Intellectual Maker for the Kingdom (Philadelphia: erbs. Leadership in Ancient Israel (Louis- Fortress, 1981); William A. Beardslee, [ann Aldredge-Clanton, In Search ville: Westminster /John Knox, 1995) "Uses of the Proverb in the Synoptic of Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive contains a lengthy treatment of the Gospels," Interpretation 24 (1970): 51- Christology for Liberating Christians role and function of the sage (pp. 9- 76; and William A. Beardslee, "The (Mystic, Conn.: Twenty Third 65). and the Synoptic Publications, 1997) focuses on the Two explorations of the piety of Gospels," Journal of the American resurrected Christ-Sophia rather than the sages of Proverbs, "The Contem- Academy of Religion 35 (1967): 231-40. on the maleness of the historical plative Life" (pp. 250-64) and "The Jesus. She understands the image of Restraint of Reason,The Humility of Personified Wisdom Wisdom as a bridge between Old Prayer"(pp. 206--21), are found in the Claudia V. Camp, Wisdom and the and New Testaments, between the previously mentioned essay collec- Feminine in the earthly Jesus and the resurrected tion, Urgent Advice and Probing (Decatur, Ga.: Almond, 1985) is a Christ. Clanton's work affirms a Questions. groundbreaking study that offers Wisdom christo logy intended to insights into how wisdom became reclaim the inclusivity of God and Jesus as Sage personified as female in a patriarchal Christ for men as well as women. Ben Witherington III, Jesus the culture. Camp locates the collation of Sage: The Pilgrimage of Wisdom Proverbs in the postexilic period, Preaching Wisdom (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994) sheds when traditional male institutions of The following six articles deal light on Jesus' self-understanding in authority were in disrepair.The with preaching wisdom themes in relation to Wisdom. It also deals with home became the locus of wisdom contemporary pulpits: christological reflection in Paul, the teaching and community stability. Pastoral , and Hebrews. Images of women as subtle and Duane Garrett, "Preaching Bernard Brandon Scott, "Jesus as courageous, but often indirect, Wisdom," in Reclaiming the Prophetic Sage: An Innovating Voice in Com- communicators and as nurturers of Mantle: Preaching the Old Testament mon Wisdom," in The Sage in Israel hearth and home informed notions of Faithfully (Nashville: Broadman, and the Ancient Near East, ed. John G. wisdom. Camp points out how 1992),89-104. Gammie and Leo G. Perdue (Winona personified Wisdom is both a literary Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1990; pp. 399- device and a religious symbol that Donald E. Gowan, "Preaching 415) illustrates how Jesus both was draws these female roles to herself. A from Wisdom Literature," in Reclaim- indebted to and diverged from Old Feminist Companion to Wisdom ing the Old Testament for the Christian Testament wisdom. Literature, ed. Athalya Brenner Pulpit (Edinburgh, Scotland:T. & T. Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, (Sheffield, England: Sheffield Aca- Clark, 1980), 100--118. Gowan's Jesus, Miriam's Child, Sophia's Prophet: demic Press, 1995) is a collection of inadequate understanding of prov- Critical Issues in Feminist Christology essays by women. The work sheds erbs as self-evident punch lines mars (New York: Continuum, 1995) light on the social roles of women in his helpful insights on general examines Jesus' embodiment of the ancient Israel and their influence on wisdom themes. tradition of personified Wisdom in the depiction of Wisdom's personifi- Proverbs and his New Testament cation and precepts in both Proverbs Elizabeth Achtemeier, "Preach- identification as a prophet of Sophia and Job. Carole R. Fontaine's "The ing from the Wisdom Literature," in for contemporary reflection on the Social Roles of Women in the World Preaching from the Old Testament identity of Christ.

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(Louisville: Westminster /Iohn Knox, the text shape the sermon. His essay Tllt'oloSiCilI Rcuiet» 37 (Easter 1994): 1989), 165-87. on preaching proverbs paved the \S\-62. way for future homiletical reflection Ronald E. Clements, "Preaching on this neglected genre. Finally, Alyce Robin Maas,"Wisdom Calls to from the Wisdom Literature," in M. McKenzie, Preaching Proverbs: Her Children: A Practicum on the Biblical Preaching: An Expositor's Wisdom for the Pulpit (Louisville: Feminine Dimension in Christian Treasuri], ed. James W. Cox (Philadel- Westminster/John Knox, 1996) deals Spirituality," Church and Society 84 phia: Westminster, 1983). with the genre of proverbs through- (May-June 1994): 94-103. out the entire Bible as well as con- Kathleen M. O'Connor,"The temporary cultures. McKenzie Donald Capps, Reframing: A New City Square and the Home: defines the structure and function of Method in Pastoral Care (Minneapolis: Wisdom's World," Journal for Preach- biblical and contemporary proverbs Fortress, 1990). Capps uses the ers 10, no. 4 (1996): 10-15. and distinguishes between proverbs biblical notion of wisdom/ folly as a of order and of subversion. There are method for pastoral counselors to Kent Sparks,"In the Footsteps of separate chapters on the book of help people open their lives to the the Sages: Interpreting Wisdom for Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the unexpected. Preaching," Faith and Mission 13 (fall sayings of the synoptic Jesus. The 1995): 70-84. book concludes with six sample It is obvious that there is no sermon forms, along with sample shortage of materials that offer the A more specialized focus on sermons. A chapter on contemporary pastor and preacher wisdom about preaching specific wisdom forms is proverbs provides the preacher with wisdom. The answer to Job's ques- offered in three works. First, Mike an incisive look at contemporary tion, "Where is wisdom to be Graves, Sermon as Symphony: Preach- culture. found?" is, "Everywhere we look!" ing the Literary Forms of the New In theological terms, wisdom is a gift Testament (Valley Forge: Judson, Wisdom beyond the Pulpit and a search, a divine initiative and a 1997) develops Bailey and Vander Finally, I mention four works lifelong, moment-by-moment human Broeks categories (Literary Forms in pertaining to wisdom beyond the response.One of the most exciting the New Testament, mentioned above) pulpit: things about ministry is that an ever- and makes them accessible for deepening grasp of wisdom awaits preachers.His chapters on aphorisms Ronald E. Clements, Wisdom for a us-e-Cod's, our own, and that of and parables are each followed by a Changing World: Wisdom in Old others. It is my hope that this de- sample sermon and a bibliography of Testament Theology (Berkeley: BIBAL scription of resources for the search additional sermons. Second,Thomas Press, 1991). Clements develops a will assist all of us in being and G. Long, Preaching and the Literary provocative study of the wisdom becoming the sages sorely needed by Forms of the Bible (Philadelphia: tradition with special emphasis on its our world and our church. Fortress, 1989) includes a seminal relationship to contemporary society. chapter entitled "Preaching on ALYCE M. McKENZIE is assistant Proverbs" (pp. 53-65). Long demon- "Searching for Biblical Wisdom: professor of preaching at Perkins strates a sermonic method by which Recent Studies and Their Pertinence School of Theology, Southern Meth- the structure, style, and situation of for Contemporary Ministry," Sewanee odist University, in Dallas, Texas.

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