A Study of Wisdom Literature and the Sages for Educational Ministry

James Crenshaw explains “wisdom” in terms of four points. The first point has relation to a scholarly convention. He categorizes a collection of Wisdom texts: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, Sirach, and Wisdom of Solomon. The second point is that ancient Near Eastern parallels provide a significant indication that helps one in deciding correctly what forms wisdom. The third point is that wisdom is a specific perspective toward reality, a world view on what is good for men and women. The last point deals with ancient sages. On the basis of these perspectives of the Wisdom Literature, this article explores the world of wisdom including definitions of wisdom and Wisdom Literature. Then, it investigates the sages in Wisdom Literature. Then, it analyzes the relationship between wisdom and Old Testament theology and investigates the sages in Wisdom Literature. Finally, it generalizes the findings from the study to educational ministry.