Proverbs and the Formation of Character

"Dave Bland has written a compelling study of the book of Proverbs to which attention will be paid. His discussion is closely text-based and the reader will learn a great deal both about the Bible and about current scholarship on the Bible. Bland engages critically with contemporary analyses of narcissistic autonomy in our society, and advocates 'character formation' as a definitive antidote to the collapse of the responsible self. He has written a book that is pedagogically alert, that invites us into the thickness and dynamism of the Proverbs as a guide for our work of nurture. His book pivots on the important interface between the biblical offer and the crucial human issues that we face in our society."

--Walter Brueggemann, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary



"The proverb has hit hard times. Compared to story, many think that the proverb is trite, boring, and unhelpful in terms of forming our moral and spiritual life. In Proverbs and the Formation of Character, Dave Bland presents the power of the proverb to change our thinking and our actions in such a way as to form healthy and virtuous habits that transform our character to one that pleases God. I strongly recommend this book to all who want their lives to reflect their love for God."

--Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College