A Spiritual Journey

A Look at Wisdom and Apocalyptic Literature

CHAPTER NINE

- During Roman domination, two literary responses to faith emerged in the Jewish community

1.) Wisdom Literature

• Collections of wise-sayings that offer insights into the proper way to live

2.) Apocalyptic Literature

• Symbolic style of writing in which hidden truths are revealed

Introduction

Wisdom Literature

- Purpose is to gain wisdom

• The wisdom described is moral in character involving lessons in truth, moderation, prudence, and kindness

- Messages are universal and timeless

• Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise

• The limits of art are not reached; no artist’s skills are perfect

Wisdom Literature

Wisdom LiteratureA wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother (Prv 10:1)

Wisdom builds her house, but Folly tears hers down with her own hands (Prv 14:1)

Wisdom Books

- Central themes and characters in the Old Testament scarcely appear in Wisdom Literature

- Wisdom literature focuses on God as Creator and on creation itself

• Describes God by what he has made

• Similar to modern science (rational and based on observations)

Wisdom Books

Why wisdom literature was popular:

1.) Inspired by other cultures to collect their own wise sayings

2.) Shared with people of other cultures (area of common ground)

Wisdom Books

Wisdom Books

3.) Comforting to a minority people; reminded Jews how to live

4.) Parents concerned about kids staying grounded in faith; intended to train young people

Wisdom BooksBooks of Wisdom literature:

1.) Job

2.) Proverbs

3.) Ecclesiastes

4.) Song of Songs

5.) Wisdom

6.) Sirrach (Ecclesiasticus)

Wisdom Books1.) JOB

- Rejects the idea that good is rewarded and evil is punished

2.) PROVERBS

- Teach three types of Wisdom• Knowledge of God’s created world

• Skill of making the right choices

• Art of living before God

Wisdom Books3.) ECCLESIATES

- Value of human life; determining what brings us happiness

4.) SONG OF SONGS

- Love poems

Wisdom Books5.) WISDOM

- Divided into three sections• Book of Eschatology

• Praise of Wisdom• God’s Special Providence

6.) SIRACH

- Sayings, laments, psalms of praise, moral maxims; updated Proverbs

Apocalyptic Literature

- Means “Literature of Revelation”

- Written in the same time period as Wisdom literature

- Rather than looking back on creation, looks forward to what God was about to do in history

Apocalyptic Literature

Characteristics:

• Written in a style of spiritual and social unrest

Apocalyptic Literature

• Sense of urgency that changes are coming soon

• History is coming to an end

Apocalyptic Literature

• Beyond the catastrophes is a paradise

• Writing features a mediator

• Describes visions populated by beasts

Characteristics Continued:

Apocalyptic LiteratureCharacteristics Continued:

• Images are consistent across works

• Written under a pseudonym or pen name

Daniel:

Three main divisions

1.) Daniel 1-6: Includes six stories about a young Jewish boy

2.) Daniel 7-12: Contains four symbolic visions that center on the “heavenly battle” with Israel’s enemies

3.) Daniel 13-14

Apocalyptic Literature

Both wisdom and apocalyptic literature teach people to live in the present and behave as members of God’s Chosen People