Amazon.com: Wise Teaching: Biblical Wisdom and Educational Ministry (9781563381393): Charles F. Melchert: Books

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

This book seeks to be responsible both to biblical scholarship and to pedagogical inquiry. It focuses on the wisdom texts in the Bible (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, Wisdom of Solomon, and the Synoptic Gospels) and on inferences about teaching and learning that can be drawn from these texts. Acknowledging that we cannot reconstruct the practices of the wise teachers of the biblical tradition with historical methods, Melchert nevertheless argues that the wisdom texts presumably embody not only what these teachers wanted readers to learn but also how it was to be learned. What do the literary forms and content of these texts presuppose, entail, or imply about reader-learners and about learning and teaching processes? Are some teaching-learning approaches more suitable than others for these texts or more likely to foster engagement with particular themes? Using a variation of reader-response criticism (the "readerly approach"), Melchert engages the wisdom texts (whose authorship is anonymous and whose particular historical-cultural context cannot be reconstructed with any confidence) in an effort to determine why the sages said and taught as they did and what contemporary teachers and learners might pick up from them about teaching, learning, and being wisely religious in a postmodern world. Charles F. Melchert is currently Executive Secretary of the Professors and Researchers in Religious Education and Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } This book seeks to be responsible both to biblical scholarship and to pedagogical inquiry. It focuses on the wisdom texts in the Bible (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, Wisdom of Solomon, and the Synoptic Gospels) and on inferences about teaching and learning that can be drawn from these texts. Acknowledging that we cannot reconstruct the practices of the wise teachers of the biblical tradition with historical methods, Melchert nevertheless argues that the wisdom texts presumably embody not only what these teachers wanted readers to learn but also how it was to be learned. What do the literary forms and content of these texts presuppose, entail, or imply about reader-learners and about learning and teaching processes? Are some teaching-learning approaches more suitable than others for these texts or more likely to foster engagement with particular themes? Using a variation of reader-response criticism (the "readerly approach"), Melchert engages the wisdom texts (whose authorship is anonymous and whose particular historical-cultural context cannot be reconstructed with any confidence) in an effort to determine why the sages said and taught as they did and what contemporary teachers and learners might pick up from them about teaching, learning, and being wisely religious in a postmodern world. Charles F. Melchert is currently Executive Secretary of the Professors and Researchers in Religious Education and Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Melchert's book has been long awaited. Its coming, moreover, does not disappoint us. He has written an important and helpful book that is accessible for those who want to rethink and recharacterize teaching from one biblical perspective. Melchert has digested an enormous amount of scriptural scholarship, recognizing the vigorous research activity in biblical studies in wisdom material over the last several decades. He is completely at home in the material. He has carried his great learning toward a fresh understanding of Jesus as teacher and is attentive to the feminine aspects of this faith perspective. In the end, however, the voice of the book is that of an educator. Melchert attends to the pedagogical processes going on in the sapiential literature and draws from these important hints for our own pedagogy. His suggestions feature rich exposition of such openings as ‘to learn to read life,' ‘learning as receiving gifts,' ‘embodied character,' and ‘postmodern strategy.' I anticipate wide attention to the book." —Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary (Walter Brueggemann )

"Melchert has written a book that is erudite and wise. His comprehensive review of the literature on the wisdom tradition will be of interest to scholars and students alike. His educational insights reveal a keen grasp of the dynamics of pedagogy embedded in ancient texts. Wise Teaching should be required reading for educational researchers, policy makers, and practitioners sensitive to the spiritual potential inherent in the process of teaching. —Hanan Alexander, Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Judaism (Hanan Alexander )

Wise Teaching is itself a wisdom text, reflecting the mature work and careful scholarship of one of the wisest people in the educational ministry of the Church. Chuck Melchert will help us all to educate for wisdom. —Thomas H. Groome, Boston College (Thomas H. Groome )

"When Charles Melchert detailed these lectures in the Autumn of 1997 to a group of students from England, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Scotland, Taiwan, Turkey, and Zambia from Christian, Muslim, and Sikh traditions, we were all held together in a learning experience which was both profound and exhilarating. The book is no less successful than the spoken word in bringing its readers and listeners into a wisdom which both deepens the personal life and enlarges one’s vision of professional education." —John M. Hull, Professor of Religious Education, University of Birmingham, School of Education, England (John M. Hull )

"...lays out a model of education in a wisdom approach that is dialogical, self-disciplined, playful, character-oriented, and open to new possibilities...religious educators and pastors alike can find much to learn from this readable book." — Interpretation (Naoto Kamano, Ph.D. candidate Interpretation )

"[Wise Teaching] is enjoyable, a lively introduction to the wisdom books..." — Catholic Biblical Quarterly (Roland E. Murphy Catholic Biblical Quarterly )

"...offers a fascinating way of studying several Wisdom books and the Synoptic Gospels, from the perspective of the ministry of education.This book will appeal to teachers of all kinds as well as students of the Wisdom tradition." —The Bible Today, May 1999 (Bible Today, The )

"...a unique work...offers an encyclopedia of information and resources." — Peter C. Hodgson, reviewing for Religious Studies Review, April 1999 (Peter C. Hodgson Religious Studies Review )

"This is an unusual and fascinating book. It casts the contemporary teacher as the modern 'wise man' and treats the biblical Wisdom texts not as examples of ancient wisdom to be studied objectively but as Scripture, offering guidance for life today, especially to those engaged in teaching. M. makes the ancient wise men come alive. He addresses people in 'educational ministry' and offers a useful material on teaching method as well as the voice of considerable experience." —M. Barker, reviewing for Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (M. Barker Journal For The Study Of The Old Testament )

"The book shimmers with judicious observations, both about ancient wisdom and about modern pedagogy... His appeal to notice the hints and shadows of a text added greatly to the satisfaction of reading this book." — James L. Crenshaw, reviewing for Teaching Theology and Religion (James L. Crenshaw Teaching Theology and Religion )

"...a fine book that begins by extolling the virtue of the biblical wisdom tradition...helps church folk understand the wisdom tradition in a way that directly impacts how and why we do Christian education in our contemporary churches." — David Neil Mosser, Sr, reviewing for The Clergy Journal (David Neil Mosser, Sr. Clergy Journal )

"Melchert's book has been long awaited. Its coming, moreover, does not disappoint us. He has written an important and helpful book that is accessible for those who want to rethink and recharacterize teaching from one biblical perspective. Melchert has digested an enormous amount of scriptural scholarship, recognizing the vigorous research activity in biblical studies in wisdom material over the last several decades. He is completely at home in the material. He has carried his great learning toward a fresh understanding of Jesus as teacher and is attentive to the feminine aspects of this faith perspective. In the end, however, the voice of the book is that of an educator. Melchert attends to the pedagogical processes going on in the sapiential literature and draws from these important hints for our own pedagogy. His suggestions feature rich exposition of such openings as ‘to learn to read life,' ‘learning as receiving gifts,' ‘embodied character,' and ‘postmodern strategy.' I anticipate wide attention to the book." —Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary (, )

"Melchert has written a book that is erudite and wise. His comprehensive review of the literature on the wisdom tradition will be of interest to scholars and students alike. His educational insights reveal a keen grasp of the dynamics of pedagogy embedded in ancient texts. Wise Teaching should be required reading for educational researchers, policy makers, and practitioners sensitive to the spiritual potential inherent in the process of teaching. —Hanan Alexander, Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Judaism (, )

"When Charles Melchert detailed these lectures in the Autumn of 1997 to a group of students from England, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Scotland, Taiwan, Turkey, and Zambia from Christian, Muslim, and Sikh traditions, we were all held together in a learning experience which was both profound and exhilarating. The book is no less successful than the spoken word in bringing its readers and listeners into a wisdom which both deepens the personal life and enlarges one’s vision of professional education." —John M. Hull, Professor of Religious Education, University of Birmingham, School of Education, England (, )

"...lays out a model of education in a wisdom approach that is dialogical, self-disciplined, playful, character-oriented, and open to new possibilities...religious educators and pastors alike can find much to learn from this readable book." — Interpretation (, Interpretation )

"[Wise Teaching] is enjoyable, a lively introduction to the wisdom books..." — Catholic Biblical Quarterly (, Catholic Biblical Quarterly )

"...a unique work...offers an encyclopedia of information and resources." — Peter C. Hodgson, reviewing for Religious Studies Review, April 1999 (, Religious Studies Review )

"This is an unusual and fascinating book. It casts the contemporary teacher as the modern 'wise man' and treats the biblical Wisdom texts not as examples of ancient wisdom to be studied objectively but as Scripture, offering guidance for life today, especially to those engaged in teaching. M. makes the ancient wise men come alive. He addresses people in 'educational ministry' and offers a useful material on teaching method as well as the voice of considerable experience." —M. Barker, reviewing for Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (, Journal For The Study Of The Old Testament )

"The book shimmers with judicious observations, both about ancient wisdom and about modern pedagogy... His appeal to notice the hints and shadows of a text added greatly to the satisfaction of reading this book." — James L. Crenshaw, reviewing for Teaching Theology and Religion (, Teaching Theology and Religion )

"...a fine book that begins by extolling the virtue of the biblical wisdom tradition...helps church folk understand the wisdom tradition in a way that directly impacts how and why we do Christian education in our contemporary churches." — David Neil Mosser, Sr, reviewing for The Clergy Journal (, Clergy Journal )

From the Back Cover

This book seeks to be responsible both to biblical scholarship and to pedagogical inquiry. It focuses on the wisdom texts in the Bible (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, Wisdom of Solomon, and the Synoptic Gospels) and on inferences about teaching and learning that can be drawn from these texts. Acknowledging that we cannot reconstruct the practices of the wise teachers of the biblical tradition with historical methods, Melchert nevertheless argues that the wisdom texts presumably embody not only what these teachers wanted readers to learn but also how it was to be learned.

What do the literary forms and content of these texts presuppose, entail, or imply about reader-learners and about learning and teaching processes? Are some teaching-learning approaches more suitable than others for these texts or more likely to foster engagement with particular themes? Using a variation of reader-response criticism (the "readerly approach"), Melchert engages the wisdom texts (whose authorship is anonymous and whose particular historical-cultural context cannot be reconstructed with any confidence) in an effort to determine why the sages said and taught as they did and what contemporary teachers and learners might pick up from them about teaching, learning, and being wisely religious in a postmodern world.

Charles F. Melchert is currently Executive Secretary of the Professors and Researchers in Religious Education and Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA.

See all Editorial Reviews