Discovering the Way of Wisdom: Spirituality in the Wisdom Literature

Front Cover
Kregel Academic - Religion - 238 pages

Budgets, friendships, entertainment, and conversations--not things that immediately come to mind when we think of spiritual growth. However, according to the Old Testament wisdom books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs), the hundreds of little decisions we make every day are essential parts of developing godly character.

With clarity and depth, authors Curtis and Brugaletta explore essential principles for spiritual growth including developing self-control, nurturing good relationships, practicing fairness and justice, speaking appropriately, and responding properly to difficulty and suffering. This much needed, practical book will help you live in constant awareness of God's concern for every aspect of your relationship with Him.

"A rich, powerful, and weighty treatment of core biblical themes that constitute the very essence of a life well lived." --J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
Talbot School of Theology

"Without sacrificing scholarship or torturing the biblical text beyond recognition, [the authors have] shown that the Wisdom Literature contains more wisdom than we . . . had ever dreamed." --Ronald K. Tacelli, SJ, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Boston College

"A valuable and much needed complement to the emphasis in contemporary spirituality on developing a relationship with God through contemplation and spiritual disciplines." --Robert L. Saucy, Distinguished Professor of Theology
Talbot School of Theology

Edward M. Curtis (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania) is professor of biblical studies and theology at Talbot School of Theology. A specialist in Old Testament Wisdom Literature, he has written a commentary on Song of Songs and study notes for Job.

John J. Brugaletta (Ph.D., University of Missouri) is Professor Emeritus at California State University. He is a prolific writer of poetry, as well as the co-author with Edward Curtis of Transformed Thinking: Loving God with All Your Mind.

From inside the book

Contents

Preface
9
The Crucible of Wisdom
13
Logos and Old Testament Wisdom
25
Proverbs Portrait of a Wise Person
45
Discretion Balance and Priorities
65
Diligence and Resolve on the Path to Maturity
86
Interpersonal Relationships
104
The Fear of the Lord and the Knowledge of God
122
Scripture and Spiritual Transformation
137
Meditation as a Mechanism for Growth
152
Suffering and Spiritual Maturity
172
Ecclesiastes and the Mysteries of Life
192
Wisdom Faith and the Pursuit of Godliness
213
Scripture Index
228
Subject Index
233
Copyright

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Page 57 - Two are better than one ; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Page 128 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will make your paths straight.
Page 58 - For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Page 141 - A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Page 80 - Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Page 31 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
Page 80 - No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Page 196 - Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
Page 131 - I will mock when your fear cometh. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ; when distress and anguish cometh upon you : then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer ; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me : For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord : they would none of my counsel ; they despised all my reproof: therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Page 140 - And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul...

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