Who is the author?
When the question, who authored Proverbs comes up, most people think of Solomon. However, King Solomon is one of several authors. The reason it is considered Solomon’s book is, as R.C. Sproul put it, “Solomon’s general influence on the book of Proverbs is considerable, and his direct authorship of much of the material …”[1] In other words, there is not a part of the book that Solomon did not influence, even if he was not the direct author of it.
What is the Book Proverbs?
The introductions to Proverbs in the ESV reads, “[p]ractical wisdom for living is the central concern of the book of Proverbs.”[2] The Book of Proverbs is commonly understood to give advice that helps the reader live a successful life. The intent of the authors is written into the text, “[t]o know wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:2, ESV). For sure, there are practical pieces of advice that can help a person make better choices in daily life. However, the book is more than just advice for good living. R.C. Sproul explains,
Because the book of Proverbs is often thought of as a practical manual for wise living, the work does not usually come to mind immediately when one thinks of where to turn in the OT for teaching about God. While the book is a practical manual, the practicality is rooted in rich biblical theology. The fact that God’s covenant name (Hb. YHWH) occurs eighty-seven times in the book of Proverbs leads us to perceive that here we find a rich repository for teaching about God and our relationship with Him.[3]
The Book of Proverbs is more than just sage advice for living well. It is a glimpse into God as the source and progenitor of all wisdom. James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5, ESV) James tells us to ask God for wisdom because God is wisdom.
How should I read this book?
It is essential to ask how should I read this book with every book of the Bible. Some principles apply to every book of the Bible; such as, it is God’s word, there is only one meaning to the text, always keep everything in context. However, there are different genres, types of literature, in the Bible. These types of literature help us understand the text. For example, the Bible contains poetry, narrative, teaching, wisdom, biography, and other literary types. Proverbs is wisdom literature. Many items go into interpreting wisdom literature, and the most important is that wisdom literature makes generally applicable statements. The Book of Proverbs teaches general principles more than specifics. Or, put a different way, Proverb advises on what to do, not necessarily how to do it.
Conclusion
The takeaway from all this needs to be two things. First, when we are reading Proverbs, we understand that there is practical and good advice for living well. Second, Proverbs is more than just advice. When reading and studying Proverbs, it is important to see beyond the practical element and into what God is revealing about Himself.
[1] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1009.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Pr.
[3] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1011.