What Proverbs meant to its original audience—and what it means to Christians today On one hand, Proverbs is perfectly straightforward—a collection of short statements on how to live wisely
What Proverbs meant to its original audience—and what it means to Christians today
On one hand, Proverbs is perfectly straightforward—a collection of short statements on how to live wisely and well. On the other, the advice of Proverbs, written millennia ago, can seem disconnected from the realities of life today.
John Goldingay’s fresh commentary untangles Proverbs with an eye toward Christian formation. Working from his acclaimed English translation, Goldingay explains each verse in its original context without getting bogged down in technical detail. The commentary centers theological insights beneficial to preaching and pastoral work.
The wisdom of Proverbs can’t be reduced to platitudes. It requires something of the reader: thought, reflection, and openness to the Lord. The Commentaries for Christian Formation Proverbs guides us in the journey of faith seeking understanding.
“John Goldingay writes with characteristic verve, clarity, and readability. He not only makes accessible modern scholarly insights, but also utilizes the resources of classic Christian and Jewish interpretation. The wider implications of the biblical text for thought and life today are consistently developed. Here is wisdom, not only in Scripture but also in its interpretation.”
—Walter Moberly, Durham University
“The commentary, written in accessible style, wrestles incisively with the text, delighting the reader with (among other things) many memorable and quotable turns of phrase. I warmly commend this commentary!”
—Iain Provan, Regent College
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John Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fuller Seminary.
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Table of Contents
Series Introduction
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Proverbs as a Theological Work
The Composition of Proverbs
Proverbs as Scripture
Commentary
Proverbs A (Proverbs 1:1–9:18)
Proverbs 1:1–33
Wisdom, Ethics, Theology, Spirituality
Introducing Wisdom (1:1–7)
How Crime Doesn’t Pay (1:8–19)
Wisdom the Prophet (1:20–33)
Proverbs 2:1–22
Wisdom on the Road
The Nature and Purpose of Wisdom (2:1–11)
Stupidity Embodied by Men (2:12–15)
Stupidity Embodied by a Woman (2:16–19)
The Cost of Turning Away (2:20–22)
Proverbs 3:1–35
Wisdom and Yahweh
With Modesty (3:1–12)
With Good Fortune (3:13–20)
With Security (3:21–26)
With Neighborliness (3:27–35)
Proverbs 4:1–27
Be Attentive to Wisdom
Listening to Your Father (4:1–9)
Wisdom’s Walk (4:10–19)
Ear, Eyes, Mind, Mouth, Foot (4:20–27)
Proverbs 5:1–23
Marital Unfaithfulness and Faithfulness
Wisdom and Unfaithfulness (5:1–6)
What Follows from Adultery (5:7–14)
What Follows from Faithfulness (5:15–19)
Unfaithfulness and Stupidity (5:20–23)
Proverbs 6:1–19
Four Forms of Stupidity or Antisocial Behavior
Guaranteeing (6:1–5)
Sloth (6:6–11)
Provoking Arguments . . . (6:12–15)
. . . In the Family (6:16–19)
Proverbs 6:20–35
Torah, Unfaithfulness, and the Price You Pay
Pay Heed to Instruction (6:20–23)
Resist Enticement (6:24–25)
Rationales (6:26–35)
Proverbs 7:1–27
The Fatal Attraction
Pay Heed to My Words and to Wisdom (7:1–4)
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