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Proverbs and Ecclesiastes: A Theological Commentary on the Bible
In this new volume in the Belief series, Amy Plantinga Pauw reveals how the biblical books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, while often overlooked, are surprisingly relevant for Christian faith today. Both biblical books probe everyday human experiences. They speak to those who seek meaning and purpose in an uncertain world and encourage us to look for God's presence in human life, not in divine visions or messages. They show openness to wisdom insights from many sources, urging us to find the commonalities and connections of our wisdom with those of our religious neighbors. Ultimately, these books affirm that true wisdom, whatever its human source, comes from God. Pauw includes reflections for preaching and teaching throughout her study.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 16, 2020
I have been using this commentary while teaching a church Bible study on the Wisdom Books. This has been a very helpful guide, particularly in Ecclesiastes. Pauw brings to her commentary a rich theological understanding of the tradition, so that the ancient Hebrew work is in dialogue with Augustine, Luther, Kierkegaard, Barth, and Niebuhr, while also drawing insights from a wide set of references including the Epic of Gilgamesh, the poems of Wendell Berry, and the philosophy of Martha Nussbaum.
January 25, 2018
NOT (!) Meaningles
A superb preacher's commentary on these enigmatic books. Dr. Plantinga-Pauw has combined her abundant scholarly work along with a cinnematographer's eye and a gracious sense of humor to give us this re-visit of these long-ignored books of God's Word.
A superb preacher's commentary on these enigmatic books. Dr. Plantinga-Pauw has combined her abundant scholarly work along with a cinnematographer's eye and a gracious sense of humor to give us this re-visit of these long-ignored books of God's Word.
April 11, 2015
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are two representatives of ancient Israel's wisdom literature. The two books of Scripture have similar roots, and yet they are also very different from one another. As Amy Plantinga Pauw, with whom I was a student at Fuller Theological Seminary in the 1980s, suggests these two books have been deemed by many as not being very promising for modern theological reflection. In the course of her work on these two books she found that while very different in their perspectives, the two books of Scripture lend themselves to contemporary reflection.
This commentary is another contribution to the Belief series, which she is also the editor (originally the co-editor with the late William Placher). It is a series devoted to theological interpretation of scripture. Of course the interpreters must engage the critical scholarship, but this is not the focus. As I've been impressed earlier contributions, I was disabused of that view in my reading of this commentary.
There are a number of reasons why we might want to attend to these works. First, Proverbs is key to understanding the role of Woman Wisdom in the formation of later Christological formulations. While the core of the book, the chapters from 10 through 30, represent a basic word of advice to people living practical lives, it is encased in this ode to wisdom. The danger is to read these words as if we are Job's friends, using them to beat down those who suffer. In conversation with theological interpreters, especially Augustine along with Bonhoeffer and the Niebuhrs, she helps us see a broader focus. There is more here than meets the eye. While it is a very patriarachal book, with the writer contrasting two kinds of women -- one to engage with (Wisdom) and one not to (the loose woman), it offers us a new vision of the role of women in the story.
Ecclesiastes is even more intriguing, and speaks clearly to the existential issues of our day. In her engagement with this text she turns to Kierkegaard as conversation partner. The key word in this text is "hebel" often translated as vanity. Life is vanity. It is, ephemeral. The word of advice here is to slow down and enjoy life. This is all there is. If there is more, well then so be it, but enjoy life now. That might be an important word for an age in which we find it difficult to slow down and smell the roses.
There is another reason why we might want to attend to these books. Pauw writes that "Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak to our context of religious pluralism. They are both the products of a complex international quest for wisdom in the ancient Near East. The sages of Israel exhibited a willingness to learn from their cultural and religious others. In our own pluralistic context, it is a willingness that we need to cultivate as well." (pp. 1-2) These two books help us find ways of engaging the religious others, finding resources and conversation partners outside the faith tradition.
So, as I have we previous commentaries in this series -- this is a keeper. I especially believe it should helpful for preachers!
This commentary is another contribution to the Belief series, which she is also the editor (originally the co-editor with the late William Placher). It is a series devoted to theological interpretation of scripture. Of course the interpreters must engage the critical scholarship, but this is not the focus. As I've been impressed earlier contributions, I was disabused of that view in my reading of this commentary.
There are a number of reasons why we might want to attend to these works. First, Proverbs is key to understanding the role of Woman Wisdom in the formation of later Christological formulations. While the core of the book, the chapters from 10 through 30, represent a basic word of advice to people living practical lives, it is encased in this ode to wisdom. The danger is to read these words as if we are Job's friends, using them to beat down those who suffer. In conversation with theological interpreters, especially Augustine along with Bonhoeffer and the Niebuhrs, she helps us see a broader focus. There is more here than meets the eye. While it is a very patriarachal book, with the writer contrasting two kinds of women -- one to engage with (Wisdom) and one not to (the loose woman), it offers us a new vision of the role of women in the story.
Ecclesiastes is even more intriguing, and speaks clearly to the existential issues of our day. In her engagement with this text she turns to Kierkegaard as conversation partner. The key word in this text is "hebel" often translated as vanity. Life is vanity. It is, ephemeral. The word of advice here is to slow down and enjoy life. This is all there is. If there is more, well then so be it, but enjoy life now. That might be an important word for an age in which we find it difficult to slow down and smell the roses.
There is another reason why we might want to attend to these books. Pauw writes that "Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak to our context of religious pluralism. They are both the products of a complex international quest for wisdom in the ancient Near East. The sages of Israel exhibited a willingness to learn from their cultural and religious others. In our own pluralistic context, it is a willingness that we need to cultivate as well." (pp. 1-2) These two books help us find ways of engaging the religious others, finding resources and conversation partners outside the faith tradition.
So, as I have we previous commentaries in this series -- this is a keeper. I especially believe it should helpful for preachers!
September 20, 2016
I've really enjoyed the Belief series of commentaries and Amy Plantinga Pauw's commentary on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is both insightful and very readable.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews