Wisdomyou know it when you see it

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Wisdomyou know it when you see it

• Tôb em miemen tôba good reputation (name) is
  better than precious ointment Ecc 71
• Do horses run on rocks, or does one plow the sea
  with oxen? Am 612
• Those who restrain their words have knowledge
  those who have a cool spirit have understanding.
  A fool who keeps silent is considered wise a
  fool with closed lips is considered intelligent.

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Wisdom in the OT and the ANE

• Egypt Instructions offered by a father to his
  son, teacher to pupil. Life in accord with maat
  (justice, order, truth) brings blessingsand vice
  versa. Self-control a top virtue.
• Instructions of Amen-em-opet are similar to Prov
  2217-2422.
• Tale of the eloquent peasanta corrupt official
  robs a peasant later regrets his actions against
  such an eloquent person

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Wisdom in Mesopotamia

• I will praise the Lord of Wisdom. A person
  loses social status and health values are
  reversed where the gods are concerned. But he is
  visited by deity and recovers
• Babylonian theodicyremoteness of gods and
  inscrutability of their ways.
• Dialogue of pessimism. Master and slave. What
  is goodto have our necks broken and be thrown
  into the sea.

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More wisdom in Mespotamia

• Do not sacrificeit only makes your god follow
  you about like a dog.
• Do not make love, master. A woman is a pitfall,
  a ditch, a woman is a sharp dagger that slits a
  mans throat.
• Ahiqar three virtues one who drinks wine and
  gives it to others one who guards wisdom and
  one who hears a word and does not tell

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Wisdom Books in the Bible

• Proverbs
• Job
• Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth
• Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus)
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Psalms 1, 19, 37, 73, 119
• Elements of wisdom in Joseph, Deuteronomy, even
  prophets

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Definition of Wisdom

• How to accommodate ones life to the orderliness
  of the world, or what to do when that order
  fails. Being wise meant a search for and a
  maintenance of order
• God embedded truth within all of reality. Humans
  are to seek for that insight and live in harmony
  with the cosmos.
• In wisdom there is confidence in the world and
  in human potential. In humanity we trust.
  People do not need and cannot expect divine
  assistance.

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More definitions of wisdom

• Wisdom based on close observation and careful
  reflection on the world. There is a wisdom or
  order built right into the world
• Creation more prominent than saving history in
  wisdom literatureno Exodus, Davidic covenant,
  Mosaic legislation, divine control of history.
  God created universe and expected humans to
  figure it out. Job 38-41 Proverbs 8
• Experience more important than revelation
• Much of early wisdom secular but the fear of
  Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom

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More definitions of wisdom

• Wisdom is the reasoned search for specific ways
  to assure well-being and the implementation of
  those discoveries in daily existence.
• Israel did not keep faith and knowledge separate
• Is wisdom misogynist or a resource for feminism?
  Better to live in a desert than with a
  contentious wife. But experience valued.
• The wisdom through which God created the world is
  personified (Proverbs 8) Hokhmah sophia

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Wisdom

• Is Practicalknow how, judicial activity,
  composition of proverbs and songs
• Has limitsJob refutes his friends but he is
  refuted by God.
• Is a human task and a divine gift. Wisdom is
  acquired through experience and obedience and
  given by God.
• Is a reflection on wisdom. Wisdom is hidden with
  God wisdom is an attractive woman who shares
  with her friends the life she shares with God.

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Relationship of Wisdom/Saving History

• What is the relationship between nature and
  grace, creation and saving history?
• Sirach 24wisdom sought for a home everywhere and
  finally found it in Torah
• Sirach 44-48 famous menfrom Enoch to Hezekiah
  and Isaiah
• The canon finally joins wisdom and saving history.

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The Doctrine of Retribution Reward and
Punishment

• Life in harmony with the principles of the
  universe leads to health, wealth, fame, honor,
  longevity, progeny.
• Evil deeds produce evil results
• Canonical wisdom contains assertion of wisdom
  theologyand its rebuttal (Job, Ecclesiastes)
• Job broke through a simplistic understanding of
  divine justice, and Ecclesiastes guarded the
  inscrutability and freedom of God.

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Social Setting of Wisdom

• Royal court Solomon (author of Proverbs,
  Ecclesiastes and Wisdom of Solomonwealthy and
  wise), men of Hezekiah (Prov 251), international
  connections of wisdom. An elite phenomenon?
  Schools?
• Wisdom also among the clans and the elders and
  among parents.