The Book of Sirach raises many questions: philological, exegetical, literary, historical, theological. There were even confessional questions which divided the traditions of synagogues and churches. It is, therefore, a fascinating book, located on the edges of the canon. Does the book attempt to repair the harm done by the erosive criticism of Job and Qoheleth, or is it the work of a thoughtful interpreter who, in a time of change, seeks to bear the tradition towards the new situation emerging from the Hellenistic Diaspora? Is it a book which aims at the restoration of the true faith against the autonomous questing of human wisdom, or is it merely a sincere, if shrewd, experiment at dialogue between the legitimate reasoning of the world and the wisdom given in the Law? According to a well-tried methodology of juxtaposing the specialists of different schools, this volume presents an up to date consideration of historical, exegetical and theological research.
Author(s): Passaro, Angelo
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 411
Frontmatter......Page 2
Contents......Page 10
Abbreviations......Page 12
Methodological and hermeneutical trends in modern exegesis on the Book of Ben Sira......Page 16
Searching for structure and redaction in Ben Sira. An investigation of beginnings and endings......Page 36
An historico-anthropological reading of the work of Ben Sira......Page 64
Ben Sira and Qumran......Page 94
The hymn to the creation (Sir 42:15–43:33): a polemic text?......Page 134
“Full Wisdom is from the Lord”. Sir 1:1-10 and its place in Israel’s Wisdom literature......Page 154
The secrets of God. Investigation into Sir 3:21-24......Page 170
The true sage or the Servant of the Lord (Sir 51:13-30 Gr)......Page 188
A common background of Ben Sira and the Psalter. The concept of hrAT in Sir 32:14-33:3 and the Torah Psalms......Page 212
The interpretation of the Wisdom tradition of the Torah within Ben Sira......Page 224
Ben Sira’s doctrine on the discipline of the tongue. An intertextual and synchronic analysis......Page 248
The metaphor of “falling”: hermeneutic key to the Book of Sirach......Page 268
Christian interpretations in the syriac version of Sirach......Page 292
Blessing of the sage, prophecy of the scribe: from Ben Sira to Matthew......Page 324
Sirach, or the metamorphosis of the sage......Page 370
Authors
......Page 390
Index of Modern Authors
......Page 392
Index of References
......Page 398
Index of Subjects
......Page 424
