"The Godhead is beautiful material for
Trinity Sunday: it is not some decrepit, removed
passionless, patriarch, but 'God nursing'?this intimate
loving delighting-in that spills out to all of creation,
'rejoicing in the inhabited world and delighting in the
sons of men.'"
Proverbs 8:1-31
You can sponsor this page of The Text This Week
- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and Comparative
Texts:
- Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
- Chapter LXI, Chapter CXXIX, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
- Chapter 10, Apology for the Christians, Athenagoras of Athens. (c 177)
- IV.XX.3, V.XXIV.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
- Chapter VIII, Exhortation to the Greeks, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- I.10, II.1, III.6, III.12, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- I.13, II.18, III.17, VI.15, VII.2, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter XVIII, Chapter XX, Chapter XXXII, Chapter XLV, Against Hermogenes, Tertullian (c. 205)
- Chapter VI, Chapter VII, Chapter XIX, Against Praxeas, Tertullian (c. 213)
- I.II.1, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
- VI.IX, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
- I.11, I.22, I.39, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
- III.LIV, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
- II, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.247)
- Book I, Chapter 2, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
- Statement of Faith, Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 330.
- Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
- From the Geneva Notes.
- "Solomon declares that man is the cause of his own perdition and that he cannot pretend ignorance, for God calls all men by his word and his works to follow virtue and flee from vice."
- From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
- "Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold."
- From
Wesley's
Notes.
- "Some understand it of the Divine wisdom; others of the second person in the Godhead: and it cannot be denied that some passages best agree to the former, and others to the latter opinion. Possibly both may be joined together, and the chapter may be understood of Christ considered partly in his personal capacity, and partly in regard of his office, which was to impart the mind and will of God to mankind."
- From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "Contrasted with sensual allurements are the advantages of divine wisdom, which publicly invites men, offers the best principles of life, and the most valuable benefits resulting from receiving her counsels."
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
-
- "One of my struggles with the text ? and, I suppose, with parenting! ? has to do with ethics and justice."
-
"Wisdom
Calls," commentary by Kate Huey at SAMUEL, i.ucc.org: Sermon
Seeds, lectionary citations, weekly theme, lectionary texts, bulletin back page.
- "We also read in this text a message that is universal, for Wisdom speaks not to insiders but "to all that live," and she makes her appeal in the most public of places, where everyone could hear her."
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
-
-
- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series C, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
-
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Trinity Sunday,
The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common
Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church,
Melbourne, Australia.
- "In the passage from chapter 8 set down for Trinity Sunday, wisdom is personified as Woman Wisdom (or ?lady wisdom?, as the older commentaries suggest). She stands in marked contrast to ?the strange woman?, or ?Dame Folly?, who represents the other choice a young man might follow in the patriarchal culture of the day, to his destruction."
-
"Wisdom Transformed by Love,"
study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Where Wisdom is Found," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2009. (Proverbs 8) Focus article,
"Wisdom Transformed by Love," Thomas S. Hibbs.
-
"The Person of Wisdom," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
- "...no matter how people interpret the author's meaning of "wisdom," there can be no doubt these passages (and those like them) were critical in the development of Christian view for God as three persons."
-
"Weaving
Wisdom," Expository Essay,
Proverbs 8:22-31, Dr. William R. Long.
Part 2.
- "...as Proverbs promises, wisdom is there for those who seek it diligently. Ask wisdom. She will tell you."
-
- "In verse 30, one word 'amown identifies three different ways of being with G*D: 'master worker', 'nursing child' or 'confident'."
- "The
Claims of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:1-36," William C. Davis, in Kerux:
The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
- "The ancient church controversy over the deity of Christ involved the church fathers in a discussion of the implications of Proverbs 8:22-31 for Christology. Their formulation located Christ, the Wisdom of God (I Cor. 1:24,30), in the Proverbs account of creation. However, the Christological import of Proverbs 8 is not exhausted in the references to Christ as creator."
-
- Articles & Background:
- "Wisdom Transformed by Love," Thomas S. Hibbs, Baylor University Christian Ethics, 2009.
- "Nursling, Advisor, Architect? אמון and the Role of Wisdom in Proverbs 8,22-31," V. A. Hurowitz, Biblica 1999.
- "Character
Deficiency Syndrome," Garry D. Nation. Leadership
U.
- "The ultimate responsibility for social order is personal and individual. Disorder in society is a symptom of a crisis of character."
- Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
- Brown, William P.,
"Proverbs 8:22-31, Between Text & Sermon," Interpretation,
2009.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Dahood,
Mitchell, S.J.,
"Proverbs 8:22-31, Translation and Commentary," The Catholic
Biblical Quarterly, 1968.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Carr, William W.,
Jr., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series C - Old Testament," Concordia
Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 194)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Clark, Ronald R., Jr.,
"Schools, Scholars, and Students: The Wisdom School Sitz im
Leben and Proverbs,"
Restoration Quarterly, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Fox,
Michael V., "The Epistemology of the Book of Proverbs," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 2007.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Fox,
Michael V.,
"Ideas of Wisdom in Proverbs 1-9," Journal of Biblical
Literature, 1997.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Habel,
Norman C., "The Symbolism of Wisdom in Proverbs 1-9," Interpretation,
1972.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Lenzi,
Alan,
"Proverbs 8:22-31: Three Perspectives on Its Composition,"
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Mack,
Burton L.,
"Wisdom Myth and Mytho-logy: An Essay in Understanding a Theological
Tradition," Interpretation,
1970.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Matlack,
Hugh,
"The Play of Wisdom," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - McKenzie,
Alyce M.,
"Wisdom as a Resource for Preaching in a Time of War," Journal
for Preachers, 2004.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Murphy,
Roland E., O.Carm.,
"Wisdom and Eros in Proverbs 1-9," The Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Murphy,
Roland E., O.Carm.,
"Wisdom and Creation," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1985.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Pentiuc,
Eugen J.,
"A Self-Offering God and His Begotten Wisdom (Proverbs 8:22-24),"
Greek Orthodox Theological Review,
2001.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Perkins,
Pheme,
"Beside the Lord," The Christian Century,
1989.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Scott,
R.B.Y.,
"Wisdom in Creation: the
'AMÔN of Proverbs 8:30," Vetus Testamentum, 1960.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Skehan,
Patrick W.,
"The Seven Columns of Wisdom's House in Proverbs 1-9," The
Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1947.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Steinmann,
Andrew E.,
"Proverbs 1-9 as a Solomonic Composition," Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society, 2000.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Van Leeuwen, Raymond C., "Liminality
and Worldview in Proverbs 1-9," Semeia, 1990.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Webster,
Jane S.,
"Sophia: Engendering Wisdom in Proverbs, Ben Sira, and the Wisdom of
Solomon," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament,
1998.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Weeks,
Stuart,
"The Context and Meaning of Proverbs 8:30a," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Whybray,
R.N.,
"Proverbs 8:22-31 and Its Supposed Prototypes," Vetus
Testamentum, 1965.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Whybray,
R.N.,
"Some Literary Problems in Proverbs I-IX," Vetus Testamentum,
1966.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Williams,
Daniel H.,
"Proverbs 8:22-31, Between Text and Sermon," Interpretation,
1994.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Yee, Gale
A.,
"'I Have Perfumed My Bed with Myrrh': The Foreign Woman ('i??â
zārâ) in Proverbs 1-9," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament,
1989.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Brown, William P.,
"Proverbs 8:22-31, Between Text & Sermon," Interpretation,
2009.
- Reviews:
- Review: Rolf Schäfer, Die Poesie der Weisen: Dichotomie als Grundstruktur der Lehr- und Weisheitsgedichte in Proverbien 1-9. (Review is in English) (Neukirchener Verlag, 1999) Reviewed by William P. Brown in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
- Review: Christine Roy Yoder, Wisdom as a Woman of Substance: A Socioeconomic Reading of Proverbs 1 - 9 and 31:10-31. (Walter deGruyter, 2001) Review by Christl Maier in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
- Sermons:
-
"Wisdom: A
Gift or a Task?" Sr. Joan Chittister, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago
Sunday Evening Club, 1996.
- "Those who follow God down circuitous paths wherever life steers become a torch for others. It is that kind of wisdom each of us celebrates and each of us prays for in our own lives."
-
"Wisdom: A
Gift or a Task?" Sr. Joan Chittister, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago
Sunday Evening Club, 1996.
- With Children:
- "It Happened Long Before God Had Made the Earth or Any of Its Fields or Even the Dust," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- Drama:
- "The Seven Deadly Sins," Ron Vandenburg, dramatix.
- "Confessing Other People's Sins," Glenn A. Hascall, dramatix.
- "Life's Choices: A Play Based on Eight Characters in Proverbs," Robin Gallaher Branch, Society of Biblical Literature Forum, 2006.
- Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Clip Art, Proverbs 8:27, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
- Hymns and Music:
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Proverbs 8:17, 22. The Cyber Hymnal.
- At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of Proverbs
