Biblical Wisdom, Then and Now

This volume examines biblical wisdom literature both in its historical context and as it relates to a host of contemporary themes, including overcoming social divisions, reading from a place of inclusion, healing from trauma, and challenging religious attitudes toward climate change and animals.

This volume delivers fresh insights on biblical wisdom texts, exploring ways in which wisdom literature speaks perennially to the human condition despite the differences in societies then and now. Employing both biblical studies and theological approaches, the diverse group of authors in this collection examine biblical wisdom literature from a variety of perspectives and methodologies to illuminate the relevance of wisdom for ancient audiences such as exiles, scribes, and leaders, as well as for contemporary audiences concerned with challenges such as climate change, social division, and healing from trauma. Its eleven chapters utilize an accessible style that brings erudite scholarship on biblical wisdom to a broader audience.

Biblical Wisdom, Then and Now will be an invaluable resource for undergraduates, graduates, and specialists in biblical studies, as well as the more general reader with an interest in biblical literature and its reception.

Frances Flannery is Professor of Religion at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA. She teaches courses in biblical studies, religion and culture, and intelligence analysis. She is a specialist in the intersection of biblical studies and contemporary challenges, especially as concerns climate change, violent extremism, peacebuilding, and intergroup dialogue. She has authored two monographs (Dreamers, Scribes and Priests: Jewish Dreams in the Hellenistic and Roman Eras, 2004; Understanding Apocalyptic Terrorism: Countering the Radical Mindset, Routledge, 2016), two other edited volumes (The Bible and Political Debate: What Does it Really Say?, 2016; Experientia, Volume One: Inquiry into Religious Experience in Early Judaism and Christianity, 2008), and over fifty peer-reviewed articles or chapters.

Nicolae Roddy is Professor of Theology at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. An Eastern (Romanian) Orthodox biblical scholar, Roddy teaches Hebrew Bible / Older Testament courses, as well as early Jewish and Christian history in Creighton’s Honors program. Roddy is a former Fulbright scholar to Romania. He currently serves as Visiting Professor for the Jewish Studies Center in the Faculty of Letters at the University of Bucharest, teaching ancient Jewish history and biblical archaeology. For twenty years, Dr. Roddy served as co-director and area supervisor for the Bethsaida Archaeology project. He is author of The Romanian Version of the Testament of Abraham: Text, Translation, and Cultural Context (2001) and three edited volumes, as well as numerous peer-reviewed book chapters, articles, and archaeological reports.