The wisdom of ancient sages, many of whom predate the Christian era, particularly historians, philosophers, playwrights, and poets of Greece, but also many of the wise early church fathers and mothers continue to be a source of insight into life well lived. This book of poems gleans some of their gems of wisdom and views them through the lens of contemporary language and experience. In addition to the wisdom of early Greek sages, there is here a significant number of quotations from the apostolic fathers and the post-apostolic fathers/mothers: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. From the so-called “Golden Age” of Christianity (fourth to eighth centuries) there are comments from Basil (bishop of Caesarea), Gregory (bishop of Nazianzus), Gregory (bishop of Nyssa), Isidore (bishop of Pelusium), and Maximus the Confessor. From the Latin fathers of the same period there are selections from Tertullian, Augustine (bishop of Hippo), and from the Syriac fathers Ephrem the Syrian and Isaac (bishop of Nineveh). From the desert fathers and mothers there are excerpts from Symeon the New Theologian and Amma Theodora. These poetic paraphrases of ancient wisdom are shared with the hope that they are faithful to these servants of knowledge and faith, and that they will continue to enhance life’s meaning today.

What can we learn from looking at the world around us?According to King Solomon, quite a lot. Solomon was a man of faith who took his readers on a voyage through some of the backwater regions of life that we all think about but rarely discuss in public. He wasn't afraid to ask the hard questions or to admit when there were no easy answers.In Something New Under the Sun, Pastor Ray Pritchard walks readers through Ecclesiastes, a book written by King Solomon from an earthly perspective. Solomon examines those things available to us in this life and invites us on a search for ultimate truth. Pastor Pritchard adds poignant and revealing stories to the words of this great king of old to bring this book crashing into our reality as we approach the 21st century.In short, bite-sized devotionals, Ray Pritchard brings us face to face with such topics as:the meaning of lifethe reality of deaththe instability of powerthe futility of richesFor a generation desperately searching for reality - and not knowing where to find it - God wrote a book that sets our feet in the right direction. Join Ray Pritchard as he follows Solomon on his journey to truth through the book of Ecclesiastes.

Drawing on Greek myth, Plato, Shakespeare, and a wide range of modern literature and movies, the author invites readers into a deep appreciation of timeless ancient wisdom through reflecting on their own powers for love and their susceptibility to desire. The two aspects of Plato's erotic vision, androgyny and creativity, lead readers to a sense of grateful wonder and sacred awe at our own erotic powers.

The wisdom of ancient sages, many of whom predate the Christian era, particularly historians, philosophers, playwrights, and poets of Greece, but also many of the wise early church fathers and mothers continue to be a source of insight into life well lived. This book of poems gleans some of their gems of wisdom and views them through the lens of contemporary language and experience. In addition to the wisdom of early Greek sages, there is here a significant number of quotations from the apostolic fathers and the post-apostolic fathers/mothers: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. From the so-called “Golden Age” of Christianity (fourth to eighth centuries) there are comments from Basil (bishop of Caesarea), Gregory (bishop of Nazianzus), Gregory (bishop of Nyssa), Isidore (bishop of Pelusium), and Maximus the Confessor. From the Latin fathers of the same period there are selections from Tertullian, Augustine (bishop of Hippo), and from the Syriac fathers Ephrem the Syrian and Isaac (bishop of Nineveh). From the desert fathers and mothers there are excerpts from Symeon the New Theologian and Amma Theodora. These poetic paraphrases of ancient wisdom are shared with the hope that they are faithful to these servants of knowledge and faith, and that they will continue to enhance life’s meaning today.

Many today find the Old Testament a closed book. The cultural issues seem insurmountable and we are easily baffled by that which seems obscure. Furthermore, without knowledge of the ancient culture we can easily impose our own culture on the text, potentially distorting it. This series invites you to enter the Old Testament with a company of guides, experts that will give new insights into these cherished writings. Features include • Over 2000 photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams and charts provide a visual feast that breathes fresh life into the text. • Passage-by-passage commentary presents archaeological findings, historical explanations, geographic insights, notes on manners and customs, and more. • Analysis into the literature of the ancient Near East will open your eyes to new depths of understanding both familiar and unfamiliar passages. • Written by an international team of 30 specialists, all top scholars in background studies.

Robert Alter's bold new translation of the "wisdom books" of the Old Testament.