Our Thread

Pasa Graphe' Theopneustos Kai Ophelimos (Greek) is one of the most often-repeated passages from the Scriptures, ie, the Bible. The passage appears in the heading of our Facebook page. But what does it say to us in our various tongues? Well, for those of us who speak English, this passage is a bold testimony from the pen of one Paul, a first-century scholar from the Isrealite tribe of Benjamin. It is also a statement steeped in the thelogy of the Biblical narratives. So, Paul wrote to a young ethnic Jew named Timotheus: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable......"
At the time Paul wrote those words, there was not yet a codex known as the "New Testament." The scrolls of papyrus on which were written the Scriptures are what we call today the "Old Testament." In its immediate and limited interpretation, Paul is saying that the messages in the Old Testament are inspired by God. That being so, who is the man who would say that the record of the flood in Noah's day was simply an allegory, and not an historical account?

Proverbs

Solomon, famous for his wisdom, is thought by many to be the author of the book of Proverbs. The statement in 1 Kings 4:32 that Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs is just one of several facts which tend to support this conclusion.

Proverbs is not the kind of book most people would enjoy reading straight through. Its counsels are set down in highly concentrated, pithy statements. As Robert L. Alden puts it, they've “been boiled down, trimmed, honed, polished and sharpened to where a little goes a long way.”

In Proverbs, we find insights that deal with common sense and good manners; tips on family relationships, child rearing, and personal growth. Much is said about such qualities as humility, patience, concern for the poor, and loyalty to friends. Certain types of people are described in some detail, such as the wise person, the foolish person, the lazy worker, the skeptic, the good friend, and the bad woman.

Clearly, Proverbs is a book that has practical value for all of us. The wise will listen to its words.