Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentarty | TOTC)
Overview
In many ways, Proverbs is similar to the wisdom literature of the wider ancient Near East. However, while the book initially appears to consist primarily of practical advice, wisdom is grounded in a relationship with God.
In this replacement Tyndale Commentary, Lindsay Wilson shows how the first nine chapters provide a reading guide for the many proverbs in subsequent chapters; and how the fear of the Lord, choosing wisdom not folly, and having our characters formed by wisdom are crucial for understanding Proverbs as Christian Scripture and living out our faith in daily life.
The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties.
In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
The complete collection of Tyndale commentaries, including both the Old and New Testament is also available in the Tyndale Commentaries (49 vols.) collection.
Key Features
- Introduction to authorship, date, and historical background for each book
- Links directly to original language texts and English Bible translations
- Part of the Long-trusted Tyndale Commentary Series from IVP
Top Highlights
“Verse 5 urges the pupil to have wholehearted trust in God rather than being self-reliant. This dependence on God is the obvious corollary to having your foundation built on the fear of the Lord, and is again an issue of character leading to action. The pairing of trusting God and not leaning on your own understanding seems to be referring to the specific choice that needs to be made when your insight points in a different direction from God’s instructions.” (Pages 81–82)
“The proverb helps us to see that parental training has a strong impact, not that it bears sole responsibility. So the proverbs impart godly wisdom to us when they are rightly understood as proverbs, not promises.” (Page 7)
“Yet, this is not a promise to ‘claim’, but an observation that this sequence typically happens.” (Page 6)
“In light of verse 5’s call to trust in him rather than be self-reliant, this would mean to act consistently with trusting God. The outcome of this mindful trust is that God will make straight your paths. The intensive form of the verb ‘to be straight’ has the force of ‘to make (morally) straight’. It is not describing a smooth or easy path through, one free from obstacles or hardship, but rather a life that is righteous, morally straight and worthwhile.” (Page 82)
“‘Personification in Proverbs 8 is almost certainly a poetic way of highlighting the important characteristics of wisdom as being both a gift of God and an activity of man.’ Wisdom is best seen here as an attribute of God, one that he used as he wisely made the entire creation.” (Pages 126–127)
Product Details
- Title: Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary
- Author: Lindsay Wilson
- Series: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (TOTC)
- Publisher: IVP
- Publication Date: 2018
- Pages: 336
- Christian Group: Evangelical
- Resource Type: Commentary
- Topic: Proverbs