Final Exam Flashcards
- Define a proverb, knowing the characteristics listed in McCabe’s definition [possible essay].
“A proverb is a concise, memorable saying, usually in poetic form, expressing a generally accepted observation about life as filtered through biblical revelation”
-Robert McCabe
- Know the three dangers in interpreting Proverbs and what each means [possible essay].
Subjectivism – “What it means to me”
Isolationism – Failure to compare with other Scriptures
Absolutism – Taking them as commands or promises rather than as proverbs.
- What are the three sources of OT revelation?
Law – called to obey
Prophets – called to believe
Wisdom – called to think
- What are the three principal books of OT wisdom literature, and what is the theme of each?
Job – Why do the righteous suffer? Does God rule the world fairly?
Ecclesiastes – Is life worth living? Is there a life worth living?
Proverbs – How to live in a world ruled by God. How to live the life worth living.
- How did we address the liberal objection to the optimism of Proverbs as compared to Job and Ecclesiastes?
The error of Job’s 3 friends was that they applied these truths to a particular person’s situation as though they are absolutes.
- What are the five major categories of poetic parallelism in Hebrews? Be able to identify each.
Contrast/Antithetic Parallelism
Comparison/Emblematic Parallelism
Synonymy/Synonymous Parallelism
Subordination/Formal Parallelism
Intensification/Climactic Parallelism
- What is the danger of ignoring parallelism, and how did we explain Proverbs 29:18 in light of its parallelism?
We will likely misinterpret the proverb if we don’t consider the whole thing.
Vision = divine revelation (paralleled with “law”)
Perish = cast off restraint (cf. Exod. 32:25)
Note parallelism
In the absence of revelation from God, people will be uncontrolled. But the man who keeps God’s law will be happy.
- What is the outline of Proverbs (seven major points with references).
I. Father’s Praise of Wisdom (1:8-9:18)
II. First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs (10:1- 22:16)
III. Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:22)
& More Sayings of the Wise (24:23-34)
IV. Solomonic Proverbs Collected by Hezekiah (25:1-29:27)
V. Words of Agur (30:1-33)
VI. Words of Lemuel (31:1-9)
VII. Wife of Noble Character (31:10-31)
- Who are the named authors of Proverbs?
Solomon, unnamed wise men (22:17-24:34), Agur (30), King Lemuel (31:1-9)
- What is the literal meaning of the word proverb?
comparison (literal meaning)
- What are the two purposes of Proverbs?
- To train in wisdom
- To develop discernment
- What is wisdom?
- “Knowing and choosing the best means for the best ends” (Jim Berg)
- The skill to live life as God intends it io be lived.
- Seeing life from God’s perspective and making choices in accordance with that perspective.
- What is the Good Path Trilogy, and what does each element mean?
The Good Path Trilogy is the result of choosing properly.
Justice = what is right (conformance to God’s standard)
Judgment = what is just (in dealings with others)
Equity = what is fair (a life that is pleasing to God and others)
- Who needs the wisdom of Proverbs and why?
- The simpleton who is naïve and undecided
He needs wisdom to close the door to sin - The Wise Man
Everyone needs more wisdom
- Proverbs gives the skill to interpret what four kinds of wisdom sayings?
- Proverbs
- Parables (interpretation) = ambiguous, allusive statements (cf. Hab. 2:6)
- Sayings
- Riddles (dark sayings) = puzzles and paradoxes (cf. Samson’s riddle and the puzzles of the Queen of Sheba.
- What is the “motto” of Proverbs?
The fear of the Lord
- What is the fear of the Lord – what does it include and exclude? [possible essay]
Yes:
Jonah 1:10 - Strong fear (terror) of a controlling power – Just like fear of a parent when they are going to punish you.
1 Kings 3:28 - Awe of one’s greatness (or wisdom)
Leviticus 19:3 - Respect or reverence for one’s parents
Reverence for God because of His position of authority
Awe of God’s power and greatness
Strong fear that He is in control, not I
No:
Deuteronomy 1:21 – Dread of enemies
For the believer, dread of God as an enemy is dispelled by love and faith.
- What does it mean that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom?
We must have a right relationship with God to begin living wisely. The beginning of wisdom = is the source of wisdom, the spring that bubbles up with wisdom
- What does it mean that fools despise wisdom?
Fools consider wisdom and instruction as worthless and not worth the trouble: they despise them.
- How many lectures are there in the “Father’s Praise of Wisdom”? How many interludes are there, and what characterizes the interludes? In which chapters are the interludes?
There are 10 lectures and 2 interludes. Interlude 1 involves Lady Wisdom crying out, and interlude 2 is Wisdom’s invitation and description. The interludes are in chapters 1 and 8.
- What phrase is used 13 times in this section to get the reader’s attention?
“My son” (1 my children)
- The first lecture contrasts what two sources of information?
Instruction = discipline
Law – comes from root meaning “direction”
- Parents’ teaching is described using what two words, and what do these words indicate?
Instruction and discipline
- What word describes the youths that may tempt Solomon’s son?
overconfident
- What is the nature of the temptation?
Easy money through crime
- What is the meaning of Solomon’s aviary analogy?
Don’t be more stupid than a bird
- What son of Solomon ironically failed this very first test?
Rehoboam
- Why does Lady Wisdom cry out in the marketplace?
She is valuable for daily life
- Who are the three groups of people she addresses?
- The simple – morally naïve
- The scorners – morally defiant
- The fools – morally insensitive
- What does it mean when we read that Wisdom will laugh at the fool in the day of calamity?
Years of squandering decisions does not leave room for becoming wise when they need to in a whirlwind. Nobody will actually laugh, but it is laughable to think one can become instantly wise just because he needs to be.
- What is the progression in seeking wisdom in lecture 2?
- Receive the words of wisdom
- Treasure these words
- Incline your ear and apply your heart
- Cry out and lift up your voice
- Seek and search diligently
- Result: when we seek wisdom, we find God
- What is the relationship between our seeking wisdom and God giving wisdom?
Seeking wisdom causes us to get to know God better and better. As we get to know God more, we pursue wisdom more. We find because God gives.
- What does “strange woman” mean in this context?
The strange woman is an Israelite woman to lives like a foreigner. Literal meaning of the word means foreigner. Acting contrary to God’s covenant with Israel.
- Who, most likely, is the “guide of her youth”?
Her marriage contract. She is cheating on her husband.
- What is the structure of lecture 3?
It is 12 verses long
- What are the six imperatives of wisdom, and what is the promise attached to each?
Remember (1) = Long life and blessing (2)
Not always true because it is a Proverb, but a general rule.
Commit (3) = Grace and understanding (4)
Loving kindness (unfailing love) and faithfulness
Trust (5-6a) = Direction from the Lord (6b)
Life will not necessarily be easy, but it will be Godly and moral.
Be Humble (7) = Spiritual health (8)
Admit you need help! The world does not want us to do this!
Honor (9) = Abundance (10)
The firstfruits of your stuff.
- What kinds of sins against our neighbor are warned against?
Sins of omission (27-28)
Sins of commission (29-30)
- What are the four contrasts in lecture 4?
An enemy of God or a close Friend of God
Cursed by God or Blessed by God
Scorned by God or Graced by God
Shamed by God or Honored by God
- How is wisdom transmitted in lecture 5?
It is transmitted through generational instruction in verses 1-4a.
- What are two reasons to avoid evil?
It enslaves (16-17)
It endangers (18-19)
- What metaphor shows the danger of evil in lecture 6?
The righteous who walk in the light of the sun and the wicked who walk in the darkness and stumble over obstacles they are unaware of.
- What is the point of all the anatomical references in lecture 7?
Total devotion