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A comprehensive study of the themes and meanings of Wisdom Literature in the Bible and Apocrypha (the books of Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Ben Sira, and The Wisdom of Solomon) by a world-renowned scholar. Throughout the Bible, Wisdom remains an elusive and allusive figure, but Wisdom is crucial to our understanding of human life and underlies much of the common sense and practical knowledge that guide us today.
Murphy sees three of the six books (Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes) as being technically 'wisdom literature.' The others are either love poems or historical narrative that fit well within the context of the subject presented here. In this volume previous form-critical work is carefully evaluated, and the result is a thorough-going form-critical treatment of this part of the Old Testament. The work is enhanced by bibliographies for each Old Testament book and a glossary of general terms.
An succinct introduction to the book of Job, in the form of reflections, that win prompt a more intense but leisurely reading, & therefore a greater understanding of this work.
A compact, one-volume guide to reading each of the 150 psalms that includes an essential introduction along with a mini-commentary on the psalms, written by a distinguished Old Testament scholar.
The Understanding the Bible Commentary Series helps any reader navigate the strange and sometimes intimidating literary terrain of the Bible. These accessible volumes break down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers. The contributors tackle the task of interpretation using the full range of critical methodologies and practices, yet they do so as people of faith who hold the text in the highest regard. Pastors, teachers, and lay people alike will cherish the easily understandable truth found in this commentary series.
Renowned biblical scholar Roland E. Murphy has written The Gift of the Psalms to make their rich and deep messages accessible to everyone.In Part One, Murphy first discusses the various types of psalms, the major literary features of the psalms, and Christian interpretation of the psalms over the centuries. A second chapter examines important terms and theological concepts in the psalms such as God, creation, salvation, enemies, and suffering. A third chapter explores how the psalms can foster conversation with God for contemporary readers in the context either of public worship or private meditation.In Part Two, Murphy comments concisely on each psalm, illuminating key words and phrases and explaining allusions to events in Israelite history.The Gift of the Psalms is an ideal starting point for those who want to study the psalms--alone, in adult Bible study groups, or in prayer groups. It is for anyone who wishes to explore this important resource for contemporary believers.
Since 1990 Roland Murphy's Tree of Life has been a standard introduction to the wisdom literature of the Bible. Now The Tree of Life is available in a third edition, complete with a new preface by the author and a special supplement that surveys the latest developments in wisdom research. This superb study thoroughly explores the wisdom writings of the Bible, interpreting this literature in a way that illumines the development of Israel's search for wisdom throughout its tumultuous history. Murphy looks at each wisdom book individually -- Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, and Wisdom of Solomon -- and adds to them a discussion of wisdom from other parts of the Old Testament. His careful investigations expose the various guises that wisdom adopts -- the "fear of the Lord," moral formation, the universality of human experience, the mysteries of creation, and others.
Since 1990 Roland Murphy's Tree of Life has been a standard introduction to the wisdom literature of the Bible. Now The Tree of Life is available in a third edition, complete with a new preface by the author and a special supplement that surveys the latest developments in wisdom research. This superb study thoroughly explores the wisdom writings of the Bible, interpreting this literature in a way that illumines the development of Israel's search for wisdom throughout its tumultuous history. Murphy looks at each wisdom book individually -- Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, and Wisdom of Solomon -- and adds to them a discussion of wisdom from other parts of the Old Testament. His careful investigations expose the various guises that wisdom adopts -- the "fear of the Lord," moral formation, the universality of human experience, the mysteries of creation, and others.