Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Brittany Kim, and Hakeem Bradley from BibleProject dive into the complexities of scripture as wisdom and meditation literature. They explore how wisdom literature guides moral formation and character transformation, allowing readers to flourish. The trio emphasizes the beauty intertwined with wise living and the importance of meditative reading for deeper engagement. They also discuss the multidimensional nature of biblical narratives, encouraging listeners to embrace the communal journey of understanding scripture and reflecting on its profound insights.
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insights INSIGHT
Wisdom Literature's Scope
Wisdom literature encourages internalizing God's values for flourishing.
It's not just a few books, but a theme throughout the whole Bible.
insights INSIGHT
Wisdom and Jesus
Second Temple scholars connected wisdom to Jesus, foreshadowing his incarnation.
The apostles used wisdom imagery from the Hebrew Bible to describe Jesus.
insights INSIGHT
Defining Wisdom
Biblical wisdom is skill and know-how, applied to daily life.
It's understanding materials and intuitively knowing how to work with them.
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In 'East of Eden', John Steinbeck tells the story of the Trask and Hamilton families, set against the backdrop of California's Salinas Valley. The novel is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel, focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Cal and Aron Trask, and their struggles with their father, Adam. The book delves into themes of love, rejection, and the choice between good and evil, symbolized by the Hebrew word 'timshel', meaning 'thou mayest'. The narrative is rich with characters like Samuel Hamilton, a kind and wise patriarch, and Kate, the embodiment of evil, whose past and actions significantly impact the lives of the Trasks.
The Covenant of Water
Abraham Verghese
The Covenant of Water, set in Kerala on South India's Malabar Coast, spans the years 1900 to 1977. The novel revolves around three generations of an Orthodox Saint Thomas Christian family, particularly the life of Mariamma, a twelve-year-old girl who marries a 40-year-old widower and becomes the matriarch known as Big Ammachi. The family is plagued by 'The Condition', a mysterious affliction where at least one member of each generation dies by drowning. The story intertwines with the life of Digby Kilgore, a Scottish doctor, and explores themes of family, faith, love, loss, and medical progress. The novel is a testament to the hardships of past generations and the interconnectedness of lives through time and space[2][4][5].
John Mark and BibleProject’s Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Brittany Kim, and Hakeem Bradley discuss what it means to approach Scripture as “wisdom literature” and “meditation literature.”
Wisdom literature encourages readers to internalize God’s values, making decisions that promote flourishing for themselves and others. Meditation literature invites readers to slow down, immerse themselves in Scripture, and allow its truths to permeate us to the extent that they transform how we interact with others.
This podcast accompanies the Scripture Practice, a four-session experience designed to help your community read the Bible as apprentices of Jesus. Learn more at practicingtheway.org/scripture.
Our Practices are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. Learn more about The Circle at practicingtheway.org/give. Run a Practice with your community and find other resources at practicingtheway.org/resources.
Rule of Life 
