Wisdom in Theology (Didsbury Lectures) [Paperback]

R. E. Clements (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993 | Series: Didsbury Lectures

Respected Old Testament scholar Clements explores and elucidates a much-debated subject: the place and significance of the Old Testament wisdom writings in Jewish and Christian theology. He includes discussion of major wisdom themes in the areas of wisdom and the world, health, politics, the household, and the divine realm.

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About the Author

R. E. Clements is Samuel Davidson Professor of Old Testament Studies at King's College, London. His many books include 'Old Testament Prophecy,' 'Studies in the Book of Isaiah,' and 'Wisdom for a Changing World.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802805760
• ISBN-13: 978-0802805768
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,173,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Connects the development of wisdom theology with the demise of the Kingdom of Judah, April 14, 2006

By 

William T. Brewer (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wisdom in Theology: The Didsbury Lectures, 1989 (Paperback)

Clements does an good job of connecting the development of wisdom theology with the demise of the Kingdom of Judah in 587 BC.

Some Christians might be disturbed by the tensions he sees between wisdom and Zion theology, but a closer look reveals useful insights that would be helpful in harmonizing these competing strands for presentation to popular audiences.

For example, wisdom theology can be viewed as a providential development that expanded the religious horizons of Israelites in preparation for the advent of Christ. A relationship can be seen between the message of Ezekiel -- God dwells among his people despite the loss of the Temple -- and the message of the wisdom writer -- God's people can discern His presence through the orderly operation of human society and the material world.

A useful exercise would be to compare and contrast the interests of wisdom writers in relation to other OT theologies. For example,

*Zion theology focuses on Davidic rule while wisdom theology legitimates the rule of any righteous king

*Zion theology emphasizes nation and cult as central institutions but wisdom theology focuses on the family

*The Jewish cult treated disease monolithically but wisdom theology makes moral distinctions

*The Jewish cult focused on the immanence of God but the wisdom writers had a more deistic perspective

As a final point, Clements does us a service by noting the relative insignificance of occult wisdom in the OT, a phenomena that has had a profound impact on the direction of Judaism and Christianity.

-- Bill Brewer

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