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Bible Literature
III. wisdom literature
- Poetic features
Poetic features of parallelism in this poem include the use of repetition in phrases such as, “he makes me, he leads me, he restores my soul.” Another feature is the use of antithesis to bring together two opposite concepts, i.e., “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil.” There is a rhythm by the poem having two parts on each line.
- Parallelism
The poem has a similarity of ideas by using a rhythmic pattern that divides it into two parts. One side responds to the other or supports the ideas in the first part (Climactic parallelism) for a continuous flow of the intended message. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Alteration of sounds has been applied to show possession of the persona, i.e., “he makes me, he restores my, he leads me, my cup, my enemies…”
- Hebrew poetic style
Several books in the Hebrew bible adopted poetic styles to present sacred messages. The poems came out either as songs or chants. One poetic incident is in the book of Job;
“My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me…”
The above poem has climatic parallelism brought about by repetition and alteration of sounds.
- Wisdom literature
Wisdom literature in the Hebrew bible is in sapiential books that included the works of poetry, including Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs. The majority of the Sapiential books were themed around wisdom and praise, and wisdom, and ethics.
- Wisdom and praise
The scribers in psalms and songs of songs used poetic styles to praise divine power connecting to the wisdom of divine creation (God).
“…the Lord gave; the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:22)
- Wisdom and ethics
Wisdom literature was aimed at maintaining the ethics of worship and social life in the Hebrew era of scriptures.
“…for the Lord know the way of the righteous: but the way of ungodly shall perish.” (Psalms 1:6).
- Ancient prophecy
- Features
Ancient prophecies were under divine inspiration, which was written to predict a future or interpret a situation. The prophets` purpose was to have a convincing message which was sometimes contrary to the expectations or condemns people of their rebellion from God. The message could be of hope or doom from the Supreme Being (God). The majority of prophetic work was ecstatic and mystic.
- Social Justice
Amos and Isaiah are renowned prophets who strongly condemned social injustices among the Hebrews and their neighboring nations. They duo advocated for justices using their prophetic predictions about the consequences of social injustices or encourage justice acts during per-exile.
“… But let Justice roll down like waters…” (Amos 4:21-24).
“…woe unto those who make unjust laws.” (Isaiah 10:1-3)
- Repeated prophetic narratives
Prophetic messages in the Hebrew Bible changed to reality or the words repeated in the New Testament. Most prophetic works evident in the New Testament are about Messiah, who in the New Testament is Jesus.
Examples
- the focus of Jesus` crucifixion and death.
“…If ye think good, give me my price…so they weighed for my thirty pieces of silver.” (Zechariah: 11:12)
Repetition
“…what will you give me, and I deliver him unto you? And they converted him with thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:15)
- Focus on massacre events in search of the Messiah /Jesus.
“… A voice was heard in Ramah…Rahel weeping for her Children.” (Jeremiah 31:15)
“.. . He slew all children that were in Bethlehem…then there was a fulfillment that which was spoken by Jeremiah.” (Matthew 2:6-17).
- Paul and his letters.
- Strategies
Paul uses the normal literary and rhetoric techniques to pass his message to the intended audiences. He wanted to convey a feeling in his letters using petitioning tone, rejoice, and astonishment to address grievances. In rhetoric application, he employed chiasm, catechesis, and paresis. He used the target audience’s culture and linguistics to intensify his messages concerning social and spiritual lives.”
- Features of letter writing
In his epistles, Paul uses the letter-writing formulas, including the present-day structure. He salutes his readers and introduces himself and his purpose of the letter. He uses the direct address, i.e., Philippians, Ephesians, or Corinthians, to address the rightful audience’s correct message. Paul uses a rightful tone depending on the addressed issue.
- Authentication of the letters
Of all the fourteen Letters of Paul, some are authentic to him, while others are related to his ideas. The appropriate way to differentiate them is by verifying times they were written in, i.e., historiography methods or criticism, for instance, Paul wrote all his letters to address certain critical issues. As a result, Paul always intensified himself in his letters. Most authentic letters include the epistle to Thessalonians, Galatians, and First Corinthians, while pastoring epistles such as the first and second letters Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews.
The main reason why other authors opted to use Paul’s name is that Paul was known and accepted based on his background as a changed apostle of Jesus. His techniques to convert multitudes through letters were exemplary, so other authors had to pseudomize their letters for the audience to accept messages they tried to pass across.
- Thessalonians
The epistle is authentic Paul’s basing on the introduction, where he introduces himself and two others (Timotheus and Silvanus). The letter also seems authentic, judging from him addressing past issues in Macedonia and Achaia BC. Paul using the first narration form, makes this letter authentic. “we thought it be good to be left at Athens alone and sent Timotheus .” When compared to first Thessalonians, other letters are more of reprimanding ways of life than advising on what should be done.
Works cited
Kohl, Katrin M. Rhetoric, the Bible, and the origins of free verse: The Early “hymns” of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock. Vol. 92. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, 2018.
Leclerc, Thomas L. Introduction to the Prophets: Their Stories, Sayings, and Scrolls. Paulist Press, 2017.
Linafelt, Tod. The Hebrew Bible as Literature: A Very Short Introduction. Vol. 478. Oxford University Press, 2016.
Lucas, Ernest C. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms and Wisdom Literature. InterVarsity Press, 2016.
MaGee, Gregory S. Studying Paul’s Letters with the Mind and Heart. Kregel Academic, 2018.
Patte, Daniel. Paul’s faith and the power of the Gospel: A structural introduction to the Pauline letters. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2016.
Prabowo, Paulus Dimas. “Poetic Books of Old Testament.” (2019).
https://osf.io/preprints/inarxiv/ms7q8/
Scott, Douglas D. Is Jesus of Nazareth the Predicted Messiah?: A Historical-evidential Approach to Specific Old Testament Messianic Prophecies and Their New Testament Fulfillments. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2019.
Westfall, Cynthia Long, and Bryan R. Dyer, eds. The Bible and Social Justice: Old Testament and New Testament Foundations for the Church’s Urgent Call. Vol. 6. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2016.