The Great Courses offers hundreds of on-line courses featuring skilled professors exploring a wide variety of subjects. We recently stumbled on a course entitled Reading Biblical Literature. The skilled professor/lecturor is Dr. Craig Koester. We have been enjoying one of these lectures most evenings during Lent. Below are the apps leading to free access on the Roku Channel.
One of the thirty or so half hour episodes in Reading Biblical Literature is on Old Testament Wisdom Literature, a subject I know little about. I was inspired to spend a little time on summarizing the key points made by Dr. Koester on the three books he discussed, Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, and Job. Below is what I would characterize as a view from 50,000 feet of the three books.
Reading the Bible
We faithful Catholic Mass attendees may believe that we read Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiasties at Mass. However, according to data published on the Fr. Felix Just Website, copied below, we read less than 2% of the verses in these books on Sundays and Major Feasts and less than 8% on all Masses. So, we miss a lot if we depend only on the Mass readings. Suggestions and introductions below on easy online access using Biblegateway.com.
Reading Proverbs Online
For the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSVCE), go HERE.
Topics in the Bible Gateway post for ProverbsWarnings Against Evil Companions
The Value of Wisdom
The True Wealth
God’s Wisdom in Creation
The True Security
Parental Advice
Admonition to Keep to the Right Path
Against Impuriituy and Infidelity
Practical Admonitions
False Attractions of Adultery
The Gifts of Wisdom
Wisdom’s Part in Creation
Folly’s Invitation and Promise
Reading Ecclesiastes Online
For quick access to Ecclesiastes in the NRSVCE, go HERE.
Topics in the Bible Gateway post for Ecclesiastes
The Futlity of Seeking Wisdom
The Futility of Self Indulgence
Wisdom and Joy Given to One Who Pleases God
Everything Has it’s Time
The God0Given Task
Judgment and the Future Belong to God
The Value of a Friend
Reverence, Humility, and Contentment
The Fruistration of Desires
A Dissilusioned View of Life
Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself
God’s Ways Are Inscrutable
Take Life as it Comes
Wisdom Superior to Folly
The Value of Digilence
Youth and Old Age
Reading Job Online
For quick access to Job in the NRSV Catholic Edition (NRSVCE), go HERE.
Topics in the Bible Gateway post for Job – Note the hot link on Elihu
Job and His Family
Attack on Job’s Character
Job Loses Property and Children
Attack on Job’s Health
Job’s Three Friends
Job Curses the Day he Was Born
Eliphaz Speaks: Job Has Sinned
Job is Corrected by God
Job Replies: My Complaint is Just
Job: My suffering is Without End
Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent
Job Replies: There is No Mediator
Job: I Loathe My Life
Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment
Job Replies: I Am a Laughingstock
Job’s Despondent Prayer
Eliphaz Speaks: Job Undermines Religion
Job Reaffirms His Innocence
Job Prays for Relief
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
Job Replies: I know That My Redeemer Lives
Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution
Job Replies: The Wicked Often Go Unpunished
Eliphaz Speaks: Job’s Wickedness is Great
Job Replies: My Complaint is Bitter
Job Complains of Violence on the Earth
Bildad Speaks: How Can a Mortal be Righteous Before God?
Job Replies: God’s Majesty is Unsearchable
Job Maintains His Integrity
Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found
Job Finishes His Defense
Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends
Elihu Rebukes Job
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
Elihu Exalts God’s Goodness
The Lord Answers Job
Job’s Response to God
God’s Challenge to Job
Job Is Humbled and Satisfied
Job’s Friends Are Humiliated
Job’s Fortunes Are Restored Twofold
Summing Up
Hopefully, those topics will whet appetites and result in more folks reading these incredible, divinely inspired documents of a few thousand years ago! They whet mine. I’m as guilty as anyone of failure to carefully read these books.
I do plan to follow my own advice, expecting to find some interesting, challenging, and quotable divinely inspired words along the way. Well, I’ve already learned quite a bit just writing this blog without reading them!