Ancient Wisdom in Modern Verse
Based on Texts from Greek and Latin Poets, Philosophers, Playwrights, Historians, and Apostolic and Early Church Fathers/Mothers
- Arts & Literature
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
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.
Endorsements (3)
Foreword
“In some ways the chronological arrangement according to the dates of those quoted reminds me of Erasmus’s Adagia and other Renaissance collections of wise sayings, except that instead of prose mini-essays, S T Kimbrough Jr. has given his readers poetry. With careful consideration of the meters and rhyme schemes most appropriate for each saying, he turns ancient epigrams into meditations.”
“S T Kimbrough Jr. has the unusual gift of taking words of ancient and medieval wisdom and rendering them into very contemporary verse. He even renders a few moderns like Ludwig Wittgenstein and St Teresa of Calcutta, and whoever thought they’d end up next to each other? This is deeply insightful wisdom. Keep it close at hand.”
“These poetic paraphrases illuminate and sometimes expand upon ancient wisdom with insight, perspicacity, and often with great charm.”
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