Baruch 3:9-4:8, Deuteronomy 3:11-14, Romans 10:5-13, 1 Cor 1:30-31. With Baruch 3:9-4:8, we come to the inner mystery of his prophecy. To this point in the book, we have heard of the tragic exile of the bulk of the people of God, of the exiles’ fondness for ravaged Judea and those few who still remainContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 20: Glimpsing Baruch’s Mystery of Wisdom”
Category Archives: A Lamp for Today
Light from the Readable Books 19: Baruch’s Confession
Baruch 2:1-3:8; Dan 9:7-19, Deuteronomy 28:15-69; Deuteronomy 30; Jeremiah 24:1-10; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. As we saw in the last episode, Baruch is a short but important book, composed of three major parts: the first (1:1-3:8) focusses upon confession, the second (3:9-4:29) commends wisdom to the people in exile, and the last (4:30-5:9) comforts the exilesContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 19: Baruch’s Confession”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 18: Baruch in Babylon
Most of the Readable Books that we have been studying are found in our section of the Old Testament where other “wisdom” books are found—Psalms, Proverbs, Solomon, and so on. Like the tales of Daniel, however, the book of Baruch is found amidst the prophets, because it picks up the narrative from the book ofContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 18: Baruch in Babylon”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 17: Sirach and the Fathers
Sirach 44-50, Wisdom of Solomon 10, Hebrews 11, 2 Cor 3-4. Sirach is, as we have seen, a “wisdom” book. Because wisdom concerns all of creation, it is encyclopedic, giving instruction and wise words about almost every situation and condition of humanity. In this episode, we will find enrichment in its long hymn of praiseContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 17: Sirach and the Fathers”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 16: Sirach and Lady Wisdom
(Sirach 24:1-23, 51:13-29, 5:1-2; Psalm 18 (LXX)/19 (MT): 8-10; Ezekiel 3:3; Mat 11:19b, 28-29; John 4:14, 6:35, 6:51-57; 1 Cor 1:30; Rev 22:17; Isaiah 55:1) Sirach, along with the book of Proverbs, Wisdom of Solomon, and other Jewish books, says a good deal about “Wisdom,” often picturing her as an honored Lady who is to beContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 16: Sirach and Lady Wisdom”
Light from the Readable Books 15: The Wisdom of Sirach and the Fear of the Lord
Sirach Prologue, 1-2; Job 38-40; Proverbs 9; James 1-3; Ephesians 1-4 Our Scriptures are full of different genres, that is, different kinds of literature—poetry, visions, parables, narratives of various sorts, sermons. The book of Sirach, or in its full title, The Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach (Jesus the son of Sirach) is a series ofContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 15: The Wisdom of Sirach and the Fear of the Lord”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 14: Wisdom, Word, and Spirit of God
Wisdom of Solomon 10-19; Luke 9; Romans 1; 1 Corinthians 15 As we have worked our way through the Wisdom of Solomon, we have meditated upon the close connection of righteousness and wisdom (chapters 1 through 5), and have been charmed in chapters 6 through 9 by a vibrant picture of Wisdom as a spouseContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 14: Wisdom, Word, and Spirit of God”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 13: Wisdom Found by those who Seek
Wisdom of Solomon 6-9, Proverbs 8, Romans 1 & 10-11, John 1, Colossians 1, Hebrews 1 In the first episode on the Wisdom of Solomon, we saw that the author is appealing specifically to rulers, warning them of the Fall of humanity, and commending to them the righteousness and wisdom of God, as they fulfillContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 13: Wisdom Found by those who Seek”
Light From and Upon the Readable Books 12: Solomon, Righteousness, and Wisdom
Wisdom of Solomon; Proverbs 8:8-18; 1 Cor 1:30-31 We move from the lighter and more entertaining Readable Books of Tobit, Judith, and extended Esther to a weighty work that was considered by several fathers to be part of the innermost canon, rather than in the outer core of the Readable Books. This book, though likelyContinue reading “Light From and Upon the Readable Books 12: Solomon, Righteousness, and Wisdom”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 11: Judith the Wise
Judith; 1 Cor 2:10-11; Gen 27; Gen 28; Ruth; Judges 4. The book of Judith has always been included in the extended collection of the Orthodox church, though some notable Church fathers questioned its inspiration. In comparison to the other Readable books, it was not studied extensively by Church fathers in terms of commentary andContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 11: Judith the Wise”
Edith M. Humphrey 