Illuminating Counsel: How the Least Holy Books of the Hebrew Bible Explore Life's Most Important Issues

by Jonathan Teram

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2020

Overview

Illuminating Counsel: How the Least Holy Books of the Hebrew Bible Explore Life's Most Important Issues is a study of eleven books of the Hebrew Bible, known collectively as the Ketuvim, or "Writings." Judaism considers these books to be less holy than the other books of the Hebrew Bible. Most people don't even know the Jewish order of the books of the Hebrew Bible is different than the Christian order. Many people seem to think the Hebrew Bible is antiquated and has little relevance to modern life. Even Christians, who value the Hebrew Bible as "Holy Scripture," tend to favor the New Testament. Herein it is argued that the least holy books of the Hebrew Bible are life-changing pieces of literature. Their poetry and prose cover virtually every emotion, every behavior, and every aspect of the human condition. They are as relevant to the committed nonreligious as they are to the religious. So, if you want to plunge the depths of literary sublimity; if you want to explore what it means to be human, to struggle with your mortality, to go through death's dark valley and come out on the other side, to confront your pain and in so doing find healing, then I invite you to read on and discover how the Hebrew Bible illuminates counsel.

Praise for Illuminating Counsel

“This engaging introduction to the biblical ‘Writings’ is the best in a decade. The author’s passionate and broad erudition flows through a clear and insightful presentation of the ‘least holy books’ of the Bible. Whether you are an educated beginner or a long-time reader of Scripture, you will find added depth in the amazing analogies in these pages. Teram’s ‘concerto’s finale’ comparison resounds beautifully!”

—James K. Bruckner, Paul W. Brandel Professor of Biblical Interpretation, North Park University



“This is the way to write about the Bible: Teram’s crisp, conversational prose blends the most relevant Jewish and Christian scholarship with honest, down-to-earth devotion. Reading the Writings as an interactive collection, he shows how each book offers a unique response to human suffering—often in debate with each other. Teram talks with readers like a passionate teacher, sharing his delight in Hebrew language discoveries so we catch his enthusiasm, even for Lamentations and Chronicles!”

—Paul Koptak, Professor Emeritus of Homiletics, North Park University



“Jonathan Teram has written a thoughtful, and often quite personal, introduction to the Ketuvim, . . . Throughout, Teram helps his readers reflect on the canonical relationship between these books in helpful ways. . . . Above all, Teram encourages his readers to observe how each book represents varying responses to the perennial issue of human suffering—such as the response of humility in Job or of worship in Chronicles. . . . Teram has an irenic and engaging writing style. Especially undergraduate students, beginning seminary students, engaged lay readers, and pastors and religious leaders would all benefit from a careful reading of this work. I warmly recommend this well-crafted book.”

—J. Nathan Clayton, Old Testament Teaching Fellow, North Park Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Illuminating Counsel: How the Least Holy Books of the Hebrew Bible Explore Life's Most Important Issues
• Author: Jonathan Teram
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781532672521, 9781532672385, 9781532672453, 1532672527, 1532672381, 1532672454
• Resource ID: LLS:9781532672521
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T14:51:56Z

About the Author

Jonathan Teram is a lecturer in Bible at North Park University. He is the author of You are Israel: How Isaiah Uses Genesis as a Means of Identity Formation and his self-published memoir RESET: The Bittersweet Saga of My Transformation from Obese to Fit. He is currently earning a second master’s degree in classical Hebrew at the University of Oxford. For more information on his work, see jonathanteram.com.