Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of wisdom literature?
To help people determine how to best live their lives.
What is the core message of wisdom literature?
One's relationship with God is the beginning of all wisdom.
Which books are included in wisdom literature?
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Sirach, and Wisdom.
What are the main themes of the Book of Job?
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What are Psalms used for?
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What is the definition of Proverbs?
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What does Ecclesiastes focus on?
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What do the Song of Songs represent?
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What does Wisdom literature emphasize?
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What is the main goal of Job, Psalms, and Proverbs?
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What are the four rulers of the Jews after the Babylonians?
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What are the three types of Jewish responses to foreign rule?
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What is wisdom literature?
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What is apocalyptic literature?
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What does the term diaspora refer to?
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What is the Hebrew term for wisdom?
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What does the Greek term 'apokalypsis' mean?
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What characterizes Hellenistic culture?
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What is parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
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What is a historical psalm?
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What does eschatology study?
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What is Koine?
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What is the Septuagint?
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Study Notes
Purpose of Wisdom Literature
- Aims to guide individuals in living their lives effectively.
Core Message
- Establishing a relationship with God is fundamental to acquiring wisdom.
Key Books of Wisdom Literature
- Includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Sirach, and Wisdom.
The Book of Job
- Addresses suffering and the dilemma of good people facing adversity.
- Features a debate among Job's friends about the nature of divine justice.
- Ultimately shows that Job loses everything but is later restored abundantly.
The Book of Psalms
- Consists of religious songs and poems directed to God.
- Used as prayer books in Jewish liturgies and during Mass.
- Integral to various parts of the Liturgy of Hours.
The Book of Proverbs
- Comprises concise sayings that provide practical advice for daily living.
Ecclesiastes
- Centers on the futility of superficial living, emphasizing meaning found in a relationship with God.
Song of Songs
- Features love poems that symbolize the relationship between God and humanity through human love.
Wisdom
- Highlights traditional Jewish teachings in a Greek cultural context.
Sirach
- A collection of proverbs encouraging faithfulness to religious traditions amid secular influences.
Steps of the Psalm Cycle
- Reorientation, Disorientation, and Orientation.
Types of Psalms
- Includes Lament, Praise, Instruction, and Liturgy.
Purposes of Wisdom Literature
- To acquire wisdom, develop moral character, and provide guidelines for living.
Areas Addressed in Wisdom Literature
- Focuses on Money, Family, Good Reputation, and Farming.
Main Themes of Wisdom Literature
- Affirms that God's creation is fundamentally good, God's order prevails, a hopeful future, and explores existential 'why' questions.
Types of Wisdom Knowledge in Proverbs
- Understanding God's creation, making right choices, and living righteously before God.
Types of Parallelism
- Repetition of thoughts, contrasting thoughts, and progressive enhancement of ideas.
Elements in Psalms
- Look for Creedal Statements, Merisms, Anthropomorphism, and Repetition.
Main Goal of Job, Psalms, and Proverbs
- Aiming to master life through understanding and wisdom.
Rulers of the Jews Post-Babylonian Exile
- Governed by Persians, Greeks, Seleucids, and Romans.
Jewish Responses to Foreign Rule
- Included Cooperation, Political Resistance, and Spiritual Resistance.
Wisdom Literature Defined
- Encompasses collections of wise sayings, proverbs, and narratives offering life guidance.
Apocalyptic Literature
- Characterized by symbolic writing revealing hidden truths within a narrative framework, often conveyed by angelic beings.
Diaspora
- Refers to Jewish communities living outside their homeland.
Hebrew Term for Wisdom
- "Hokma" signifies wisdom in Hebrew.
Greek Term for Revelation
- "Apokalypsis" translates to revelation or unveiling in Greek.
Hellenistic Culture
- Pertains to the influence of Greek culture post-Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC.
Concept of Parallelism in Hebrew Poetry
- A foundational feature where two lines express similar or opposing thoughts sequentially.
Historical Psalm
- A type of psalm that recounts significant events in Israel's history.
Eschatology
- The study concerning final matters such as death, judgment, immortality, heaven, and hell.
Koine Greek
- The common Greek language used in Palestine introduced by Alexander the Great, persisting until Latin took over around 500 AD.
Septuagint
- The oldest complete edition of the Old Testament, a Greek translation of Hebrew texts, traditionally attributed to 70 scholars.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key concepts of wisdom literature, including its purpose, core messages, and the significant books that comprise this category. This quiz focuses on the essential definitions and relationships outlined in Chapter 9, helping you prepare for assessments on this vital topic.
