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fredsbend
fredsbend
18:25
Narnian posted this answer:
12
A: Doesn't Proverbs 2: 21-22 disprove "once saved, always saved"?

NarnianIt is problematic to spiritualize verses too quickly. Recall that the Proverbs were written by Jewish people living in the Jewish homeland of Israel under the Mosaic Covenant--not the New Covenant spoken of by Ezekiel and identified by Jesus at the Last Supper. This proverb is speaking about up...

Which led to my comment:
Right, the verses, and all of Proverbs in fact, are wisdom for this life. There is little in the Proverbs about the next one. — fredsbend 22 hours ago
I meant to imply that the Proverbs are not meant to define doctrine. In simplest terms, I would call the Proverbs a definition of Godly Wisdom.
Read the comments after mine to see the start of the discussion.
@fredsbend Interesting. Maybe this needs to go to chat -- but just to go back briefly to the concrete context here: When I hear "the land" in an Old Testament verse I find it nearly impossible to limit my thinking to the physical land of Israel. Obviously the physical Promised Land is the starting point, and any other sense has to be grounded in that literal sense, but stopping at the literal sense just doesn't fit in any way with my thinking about the Old Testament. I guess maybe I am wondering why one would want to stop there, or perhaps what more fundamental principles govern that choice? — Ben Dunlap 15 hours ago
@fredsbend This is not really a matter of "stopping at the literal interpretation. The purpose of the Proverbs is clear in the first seven verses:
> 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&version=NIV
fredsbend
fredsbend
18:42
There is little in the way of doctrine there. Six times the beginning says, basically, so that you may gain wisdom, then, in verse 7, perhaps we could make a minor doctrine there that you cannot gain Godly Wisdom without fear of the Lord; but I think that does not need to be written to reason that. If the Proverbs were meant to give us doctrine we would see something more like the epistles.
Take [1 Cor. 1] for example. It starts with the address and greeting, a simple thanksgiving, then straight into doctrines (specifically, the importance of unity under Christ, then, coincidentally, it gives doctrine on wisdom, which is that we are completely incapable to understand God's Wisdom).
Proverbs is like a plate of appetizers, giving you little samples of what are actually very complicated dishes. Doctrinal Scripture, like 1 Cor. is like straight meat and potatoes; they are only meant to nourish you where the Proverbs are meant to edify your life (add spice to it, if you will).
@fredsbend Cor 1

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