Wise words in the Bible

[Zzyzx]

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It is not uncommon to hear that the Bible contains ‘universal and timeless wisdom’ or words to that effect.

My response:

The Bible is said to contain almost a million words -- perhaps 850,000(?). How many of them constitute 'universal and timeless wisdom'? What percentage? One percent would be 8,500. Are there that many?

A tenth of one percent would be 850 . . . (which I would not contest)

What are examples of biblical wisdom – quoting verbatim without padding or fluff.

Can we list one hundred?

Here's a start -- three words: "Love one another" (said in various forms, here without padding)

Another eleven words: "Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them" (truncated to eliminate unnecessary verbiage)

Another eleven: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Ethic of Reciprocity; common in many ideologies). Needs revision to be universal.

[JehovahsWitness]

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Indeed. And perhaps shallow people lacking critical thinking skills don't see wisdom when it's staring them in the face...
Critical thinking should enable one to identify words of little or no wisdom being presented as words of wisdom.

If Critical thinking is identified as "the process of independently analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information as a guide to behavior and beliefs" (www.thoughtco.com/what-is-critical-thinking-1689811), that requires analysis and evaluation of information.

Contrast that with:

Hebrews 11:1 NIV Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Key terms are 'what we HOPE for' and 'assurance about what we do not see'

Emphasis MINE


Are you suggesting that "faith" and "hope" cannot be based on "analysis and evaluation of information"? If not what point are you trying to communicate?



JW