Proverbs: the Ways of Wisdom

Living Word Bible Studies

by Kathleen Buswell Nielson

A Living Word Bible study.

The Ways of Wisdom leads the reader in a detailed study of this book of wisdom literature. Each lesson s five days of questions (along with helpful comments and context) guide in a process of careful examination and application of the biblical text. Early lessons explore the background, shape, and theme of the entire book. The bulk of the lessons dig into Proverbs poetic kaleidoscope of words, work, neighbors and friends, marriage and family, sex, money, planning for the future. This study leads readers to listen well to God s inspired word in the book of Proverbs.

Genres: Devotional, Theology

200 pages, Spiral-bound

First published August 20, 2007

About the author

see also: Kathleen B. Nielson

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Kathleen Nielson holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in literature from Vanderbilt University and a B.A. from Wheaton College (Illinois). She has taught in the English departments at Vanderbilt University, Bethel College (Minnesota), and Wheaton College. She is the author of numerous Bible studies, and the book Bible Study: Following the Ways of the Word, as well as various articles and poems. Kathleen has directed and taught women s Bible studies at several churches and speaks extensively at conferences and retreats. She serves as director of women s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition and on the board of directors of The Charles Simeon Trust. Kathleen and her husband Niel (president of Covenant College 2002 2012, now leading an enterprise in global Christian education) have three sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren!

Reviews

[Leah Batchelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great guide to studying Proverbs. I like the simple structure and have come to like (by the end!) Neilson’s division of the Proverbs into topics. More application questions may have been helpful, but a discussion leader can add those. Passages outside of Proverbs are frequently referenced. Overall this is a great resource to survey Proverbs, dig into your heart and life, feel some “pricks”, and seek hope in Jesus.

[Mary Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really helpful book that works as a daily devotional, with good questions that facilitate digging further into Proverbs. It looks at themes within proverbs as well as a helpful overview. Can be adapted for use in group studies though this involves lots of dipping into passages across proverbs.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Nielson does a tremendous job opening up the book of Proverbs as literature, as a practical guide, as spiritual riches, and above all as the living Word of God.

I used this for my personal study, and would highly recommend it for that use or for small group study. Don't be deceived by the apparent simplicity of some of the questions... it all comes together richly and beautifully by the end. You will come away with a much greater understanding of and appreciation for the Lord's purpose for Proverbs.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Kathleen has a wonderful way of bringing literature of the Bible to life. This thematic study of Proverbs is so rich, yet so practical. I highly recommend it for personal study or for small group discussion.

[J M Reihing · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this Bible study.
The author discusses Solomon, but does not include verses which mention his end: "So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord." (1 Kings 11:6) She also does not mention Solomon's son, who "When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. " (2 Chronicles 12:1)
Her statement "Proverbs 8:22-31 is one of those many amazing Old Testament passages through which Jesus Christ seems to shine." is very non-committal; He either shines or He doesn't in the passage. This passage is very troublesome, depending on your view of Jesus Christ, as it is used to defend the position that Jesus was created which in my theology is not true. Jesus was and is eternal.
The chapter on "Proverbs; Words on Words" was very superficial. There was nothing about (2 Timothy 4:2) "reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." Almost all Christians know and try to apply the truths about love, honesty, listening, being nice, etc. Jesus called the Pharisees "hypocrites" (Matthew 23); and "But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!" (Matthew 16:23). Paul wrote: "you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 5:5) These verses and those similar to them are never discussed in women's Bible studies as far as I know including this one. Christians may have a bigger impact on the world if we didn't look so much like the world.
The other chapters that I completed were also very shallow.
I admit that I did not finish the Bible study. I completed the first 5 and the last chapters.

[Linda Faurer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. I am a firm believer that you cannot pick and choose verses in the Bible to prove your point. You have to take everything in context to understand what God is trying to say to you through his Word. While I understand that Proverbs does not lend itself well to this expository style, and it may be more useful to lump verses into different categories as she did, I did not appreciate that the she would also pick and choose verses from other passages in the Bible to support the point she was trying to make. This is a slippery slope, and I don’t feel like it was well navigated in this book. I will add that this is the first (and probably last) book I have read by this author, so I cannot speak to whether or not this is her typical style of writing, or if it was just her preferred way to simplify the book of Proverbs. Overall, I’d skip this one.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author digs deeply into Proverbs and takes a categorized approach for finding and applying the wisdom therein. There are eleven lessons in which each sub-division is pulled from verses throughout Proverbs to make a firmer more coherent application. For example: lessons 2, 3 and 4 search out the verses that apply to a relationship with God, wanting wisdom and lesson 4 is entitled "Proverbs' Words on Words". My favorite is "The State of the Heart" lesson 7.
Highly Recommended.

[Kimber Burgess · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Katarina Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on and off over the last six months and it was a great little devotional surveying the proverbs! Not too incredibly deep, but the scripture speaks for itself!

[Jeri Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of a Ladies Bible Story. I both liked and disliked the book. My biggest compliment is that this presents a reasonable way to work through the book of Proverbs using topics as the point of similarity (wisdom, family, finances, etc)) . My biggest criticism is that the format of the book does not lend itself to much discussion. At times the questions posed are so simple that it took me back to my catechism years; where answers were given in very rote fashion. There is a lot of "What Would Jesus do" aspects to answering the questions. At other time, the questions were so obscure I struggled with what concept the author was trying to convey. In addition, there were so many similar proverbs to discuss in the same lesson. Once discussion occurred on one proverb, I didn't find it necessary to comment on other very similarly worded proverbs. I think there could be better take-aways and "aha" moments if the format were changed to compare and contrast or to present similar proverbs before questions were asked.
Good not great

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Proverbs makes so much more sense now. This study groups verses by theme which helped me understand some of the big points God speaks to us through Proverbs. Before I was always kind of lost in the seeming random-ness.

[Margaret Kumma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study guide is fantastic! It has helped me to see the book of Proverbs in a fresh way. I love books that have the potential to change lives, and this is decidedly one of those. I HIGHLY recommend it.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

More interesting when it is discussed in a group than on my own. Good overview of Proverbs.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Bible study that is based on the Word of God, not stories or personal experiences. I would recommend this to anyone!!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Nancy takes us to dig deeper in to the lives of the people in the Bible to make us aware we’re not so different