“What is Wisdom?—Embracing Tensions” 何謂智慧？ --- 懷抱張力 (April 4, 2011)

Barbara Leung LaiSCBC Adult Sunday SchoolApril – June, 2011

I. Introduction—Proverbs, Job, Eccles.A. Engaging the Wisdom Books in

Times like this—against the chaotic world of the 21st century

B. Depth, ambiguity, and complexity of the Old Testament (J. Goldingay) all represented in the Wisdom Books

C. Intertextual tensions existing among the three books (Diagram A)

(a) The “Two-Way” Doctrine Prov 3:33; 13:21 Eccles 7:15; 8:12-14 

Prov 23:17 Job 22:13; 21:17

(b) The Incomprehensibility of God and the seeking of Humanity   Prov 8:17; 2:2-7 Job 42: 1-5; Eccles 8:16-17; Prov. 25:2

(c) Articulating the nature of the tension E.g., norm and exception; macro

and micro; eternal and temporal; and …

D. Bridging between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ (a) A Big ‘HOW’? (b) How to resolve? Or, How to be sustained in tension?

Diagram (A): A Text-anchored and Reader-oriented Model Leung Lai

聖經詮釋相互动力The text imposes intrinsic textual

constraints upon the reader

The reader brings extrinsic

Contextual constraints to the text

( III )

The Dynamics of the Reading Process

(The Merging of the Two Horizons) ( I ) ( II )

Text / Bible Reader/Interpreter

Tension

(Text-centered and Reader-oriented)

II. What is Wisdom? 一智慧的定義 A. Defining Wisdom (a) Criteria for definition: Concerns, thinking, genre/form 関注、智慧觀、智慧文体 (b) Content/theme of each book 智慧書卷主題 (c) Suggested Definitions(Common approach to reality): Understanding of Reality 对真实的認知 The art of living 生活的藝術

The ability to cope/master life 駕馭生命的能力 The way of wisdom (how to walk) 智慧之道 The Steering of life 生命的掌舵 The dynamics of life 生命的动力

The Search for order (two dimensions): God’s created order; the principle of God’s ruling 神的「律」之尋索

Murphy’s summary: Murphy, The Tree of Life (Millennium Supplement, p. 231) – “Wisdom is not a single action, nor the observation of a single proverb. It is the orientation to life that a person has, the core of one’s being or heart from which actions bring.”

Wisdom reflects a common approach to the understanding of reality: through reflection; faith seeking understanding; collective lived experience under the sun; experiential knowledge…..

God grant me the SERENITY

to accept the things I cannot change.

COURAGE to change the things I can.

And WISDOM to know the difference.

III. What is Wisdom Theology (Diagram B) (a) Wisdom and Creation 智慧神學＝ 創造神學 (b) The understanding of reality 智慧神學＝真实的尋求 (c) The Search for Order 「律」的尋索 (d) Experience as a means of God’s revelation 生活的經歷為神默示的媒介 (e) Faith seeking understanding 以信尋知 (f) Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord 对神的知識與敬畏

Diagram “B”Two-fold Hermeneutical Framework: God reaching-out/speaking to

Humanity & Humanity reaching-out/speaking to GodA New Dimension of God’s Revelation to Humanity

天路歷程、真实寫照

GOD

HUMANITY

UNIVERSE BIBLE

Hu

ma

n

Re

sp

on

se

Special Revelation

God RevealsHimselfthrough the history of humankind

Human Experience

under the sun

Rm 1:20Natural

Revelation

(Prov 6:6-8;10:29; 30:18-32;4:3-9; 7:6;11:24;17:27-28; 18:16;

Eccles, Job,Ps 73)

Job, Eccles, Psalms(Laments, praises, petitions)

2 Tim 3:16

N.B. This diagram illustrates the `essence’ and `combination’ of Theocentric and Anthropocentric

Leung Lai

Faith Seeking Understanding 以信尋知

IV. Appropriation: Current Approaches (interpretive Strategy) to the Wisdom Books 溶滙体現 (A) Paradigm Shift: purely theocentric 神本 radically anthropocentric 单重人本 (B) Recommended Current Approaches Trajectory: formation--deformation--reformation orientation--disorientation--reorientation (a) character formation & Proverbs 箴言與品格塑造 (b) The Nature of Job’s Suffering (Job 1:8)

(c) Eccles-- A paradigm of ‘faith seeking understanding’ (a treatise, reflection, self-

narrated life; journal, thinking-out-loud)