Bible
The Moral Vision of Proverbs A Virtue-Oriented Approach to Wisdom Timothy J. Sandoval Wisdom literature is an unfamiliar genre to modern readers and presents many interpretive challenges. In this major new work, re- spected wisdom scholar Timothy Sandoval argues that the book of Proverbs, though difficult to access for some, provides a coherent moral vision for human flourishing. The approach Sandoval argues for in The Moral Vision of Proverbs is that of virtue ethics, or character ethics, particularly that which emerges from the classical tradition of Aristotle (as opposed to reading the book, intentionally or unintentionally, through the lenses of modern ethical systems). Sandoval engages with specialists in this ethical tradition as well as biblical scholars to make his case that Proverbs is an ancient, virtue-oriented moral discourse. This comprehensive critical study of Proverbs analyzes the book’s major topics and strives to discern the moral and philosophical presuppositions and logic of its rhetoric, all the while engaging past and present interpretive approaches. Although authored by a Christian scholar, this text will be of great interest to a broadly ecumenical audience, whether students of the Old Testament/ Tanakh/Hebrew Bible, biblical scholars, or Christian ethicists and moral theologians. “This study will be essential for serious students of biblical wisdom traditions, in the academy and also in the church.” —ELLEN F. DAVIS, Duke Divinity School “In a rich and incisive contribution to a burgeoning debate on Prov- erbs as a book of virtue ethics, Sandoval claims that it is indeed an ancient, virtue-oriented moral discourse. Picking up on Proverbs’ concern with character ethics, Sandoval discovers more profound aspects of its moral rhetoric and wider moral vision, including natural law, social virtues, and practical wisdom that together embody a coherent model for promoting human flourishing.” —KATHARINE J. DELL, University of Cambridge “In this substantial and engaging study, Sandoval sheds light on why biblical scholarship has largely relegated Proverbs to second-tier status as a source of theological and ethical insight. Sandoval redresses this balance and reveals Proverbs’ merits as such an intellectual resource by examining its moral perspective in light of ancient virtue ethics. I have learned much from this book and recommend it to others.” —GILBERTO A. RUIZ, Saint Anselm College
APRIL 2024 • 432 pp. • paper • $49.99 • 9781540967206
Timothy J. Sandoval (PhD, Emory University) is associate dean of academic administration and associate professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. His teaching and scholarly work has focused on the book of Proverbs and the Bible’s wisdom literature with special attention to questions of ethics, justice, and poverty in the biblical world. He is the author of Money and the Way of Wisdom and The Discourse of Wealth and Poverty in the Book of Proverbs as well as numerous articles. He has also coedited five other books.
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