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Imagine that you could really understand the Bible...that you could read, analyze, and discuss the book of Genesis not as a compositional mystery, a cultural relic, or a linguistic puzzle palace, or even as religious doctrine, but as a philosophical classic, precisely in the same way that a truth-seeking reader would study Plato or Nietzsche. Imagine that you could be led in your study by one of America's preeminent intellectuals and that he would help you to an understanding of the book that is deeper than you'd ever dreamed possible, that he would reveal line by line, verse by verse the incredible riches of this illuminating text -- one of the very few that actually deserve to be called seminal. Imagine that you could get, from Genesis, the beginning of wisdom. The Beginning of Wisdom is a hugely learned book that, like Genesis itself, falls naturally into two sections. The first shows how the universal history described in the first eleven chapters of Genesis, from creation to the tower of Babel, conveys, in the words of Leon Kass, "a coherent anthropology" -- a general teaching about human nature -- that "rivals anything produced by the great philosophers." Serving also as a mirror for the reader's self-discovery, these stories offer profound insights into the problematic character of human reason, speech, freedom, sexual desire, the love of the beautiful, pride, shame, anger, guilt, and death. Something as seemingly innocuous as the monotonous recounting of the ten generations from Adam to Noah yields a powerful lesson in the way in which humanity encounters its own mortality. In the story of the tower of Babel are deep understandings of the ambiguous power of speech, reason, and the arts; the hazards of unity and aloneness; the meaning of the city and its quest for self-sufficiency; and man's desire for fame, immortality, and apotheosis -- and the disasters these necessarily cause. Against this background of human failure, Part Two of The Beginning of Wisdom explores the struggles to launch a new human way, informed by the special Abrahamic covenant with the divine, that might address the problems and avoid the disasters of humankind's natural propensities. Close, eloquent, and brilliant readings of the lives and educations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's sons reveal eternal wisdom about marriage, parenting, brotherhood, education, justice, political and moral leadership, and of course the ultimate question: How to live a good life? Connecting the two "parts" is the book's overarching philosophical and pedagogical structure: how understanding the dangers and accepting the limits of human powers can open the door to a superior way of life, not only for a solitary man of virtue but for an entire community -- a life devoted to righteousness and holiness. This extraordinary book finally shows Genesis as a coherent whole, beginning with the creation of the natural world and ending with the creation of a nation that hearkens to the awe-inspiring summons to godliness. A unique and ambitious commentary, a remarkably readable literary exegesis and philosophical companion, The Beginning of Wisdom is one of the most important books in decades on perhaps the most important -- and surely the most frequently read -- book of all time.
The School of Nisibis was the main intellectual center of the Church of the East in the sixth and early seventh centuries C.E. and an institution of learning unprecedented in antiquity. Fear of God and the Beginning of Wisdom provides a history both of the School and of the scholastic culture of the Church of the East more generally in the late antique and early Islamic periods. Adam H. Becker examines the ideological and intellectual backgrounds of the school movement and reassesses the evidence for the supposed predecessor of the School of Nisibis, the famed School of the Persians of Edessa. Furthermore, he argues that the East-Syrian ("Nestorian") school movement is better understood as an integral and at times contested part of the broader spectrum of East-Syrian monasticism. Becker examines the East-Syrian culture of ritualized learning, which flourished at the same time and in the same place as the famed Babylonian Rabbinic academies. Jews and Christians in Mesopotamia developed similar institutions aimed at inculcating an identity in young males that defined them as beings endowed by their creator with the capacity to study. The East-Syrian schools are the most significant contemporary intellectual institutions immediately comparable to the Rabbinic academies, even as they served as the conduit for the transmission of Greek philosophical texts and ideas to Muslims in the early 'Abbasid period.
DeMoss gathers insights for living wisely from history, Scripture, and a lifetime of listening. The result is a handy, accessible book that gives readers a new way to enjoy lasting success in the work world and beyond.
A user-friendly guide to the study and interpretation of the Psalms.
Learn what's at the heart of the difference between the wise and the foolish life. (7 Bible studies)
Whether you’re planning an individual or group study of the book of Proverbs, Woman of Wisdom is the place to start. This in-depth guide by Bible teacher and author Myrna Alexander will help you discover how to make wise choices by applying the timeless principles of Proverbs. Helps you discover how to make wise choices Covers every chapter of Proverbs Shows the way to live life with skill Designed for small group and individual Bible study
Old ideas. New insights. Timeless relevance for the church. Studying the views and lifestyles of your forerunners in the faith can provide incredible guidance for how you live out your spiritual convictions today. In Wisdom from the Ancients, author and scholar Bryan Litfin paints a vivid portrait of the first five centuries of the Christian church, packed with fascinating history and applicable insights for modern believers. As you encounter the wisdom of early Christians, you’ll be challenged to revisit the building blocks of your faith in light of ancient beliefs and spiritual practices. This book will help you reframe common evangelical ideas, including questions Christians face today, such as when it makes sense to read the Bible literally and when God’s truth shines through symbolism how the beliefs and practices of early believers should inform your worship whether the church should cooperate with political power or resist it Wisdom from the Ancients reveals life-changing lessons from the early church that you can take to heart today. When you set aside your modern perspectives and approach ancient truths with an open mind, the beliefs of the early Christians will illuminate your faith in a brand-new way.
The 1970s cult TV show Kung Fu introduced an entire generation of Americans to the ways of eastern philosophy. Its central appeal rested with the lead character, Kwai Chang Caine, whose graceful ways and respect for all life, attracted viewers of all ages, creeds, and colors.The over four hundred quotes of The Kung Fu Book of Wisdom are gathered from the words of Caine and Master Po and Master Kan, the Shaolin monks who were Caine's teachers. Arranged by notable topics that the show addressed: courage, discipline, freedom, and harmony--to name a few--this book offers clear insights of eastern wisdom.
The Bible says fear of the Lord is the “beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10) and the “beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Proverbs 14:27 even calls it a “fountain of life”! But do people really understand what is meant by the “fear of the Lord”? Drastically different from the frightful trembling we feel in response to a threatening person or dangerous situation, the “fear of the Lord” is a deep sense of reverence and awe of the One who created us, loves us, and saved us. With comforting words of instruction, renowned Bible scholar Derek Prince explains… How the fear of the Lord differs from other types of fear How to gain wisdom and understanding, which are rooted in the fear of the Lord How to overcome pride in order to submit to Christ and to others How to stand in awe of God’s holiness Experience peace and confidence by cultivating the fear of the Lord, the place Where Wisdom Begins!
Reshit Chochmah, one of the classics of East European and Sephardic Jewry, has appeared in numerous editions. A combination of spiritual and moral advice in a deeply kabbalistic framework, it provides an irresistible model of personal redemption that is integral to the process of cosmic redemption. By improving oneself, one redeems the world. The popularity of Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas's work has continued into modern times, and it was one of the first Hebrew books reprinted after the Holocaust. The current translation from the original Hebrew of one of its most significant parts, The Gate of Love, now appears together with an extended introduction. This introduction defines vital kabbalistic terms and concepts, and sets the entire work within its kabbalistic context. With these aids, this classic of Jewish spiritual guidance will be accessible to the modern reader who might otherwise find Rabbi de Vidas's exposition very difficult to follow.