Baruch 4:9-5:9; Isaiah 60:14; 2 Tim 4:8, Rev 21:1-4, 22-26, Isaiah 61:1-4, 9-10. The prophet Jeremiah, because of the hard judgments that he had to proclaim, and because of his book of Lamentations, became the inspiration for the term “Jeremiad” –a mournful complaint or list of woes. Baruch, his secretary, follows his master’s example forContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 21: Baruch and the New Name”
Tag Archives: Apocrypha
Light from the Readable Books 20: Glimpsing Baruch’s Mystery of Wisdom
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”
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 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 (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 the Readable Books 10: Prophecy and Prayer in Tobit
Tobit, Amos 8:10, Daniel 3:51-90, Revelation 21:18-21 The book of Tobit, with all its action and suspense, is studded with poignant prophecies and prayers. Its first section includes a pessimistic prophecy of Amos, and the book concludes with the hopeful prophecy of Tobit as his last will and testament. Throughout the narrative, key figures likeContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 10: Prophecy and Prayer in Tobit”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 9; Tobit: The Angel, the Dog, and the Humans
The book of Tobit, among the Old Testament Readables, instructs us even by means of its title, which is taken from the name of the father in the story. Tobit means “my good,” and his name is expanded in the name of Tobias, his son, which means “God is my good.” Throughout this engaging story,Continue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 9; Tobit: The Angel, the Dog, and the Humans”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 4: Susanna and the Enemies Within
Daniel Prologue or chapter 13 (dependent upon version), Daniel 3:17-18, Romans 4, Psalm 3:1-4. The story of Susanna contains all the things that are delightful in the Readable Books. It is a story that engages the mind, the imagination, and the spirit; from the beginning it has been attached to the mysterious book of Daniel. Continue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 4: Susanna and the Enemies Within”
Light From (And Upon) the Readable Books I
Daniel 3:25-36, Genesis 15, Psalm 79, Romans 3:4, Rev 16:7 One of the dividing points between Orthodox and Protestant, and to a lesser extent, between Orthodox and Roman Catholic, is the extent of the Old Testament. If we are perfectly candid, we must admit also that among Orthodox there is not complete uniformity in thisContinue reading “Light From (And Upon) the Readable Books I”
Edith M. Humphrey 