Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
bribes & coming to terms w/ related terms | Solomon’s wisdom, pt. 6

bribes & coming to terms w/ related terms | Solomon’s wisdom, pt. 6

Last updated on: June 8, 2022 at 1:36 pm by Rev. Jared V. Ingle

bribes & coming to terms w/ related terms | Solomon’s wisdom, pt. 6 2022-06-08T13:36:02-04:00 Rev. Jared V. Ingle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wycliffe Bible Translators say one who refuses a bribe: “boweth away from evil by the dread of the Lord.” Again, this is abstaining from bribes.

I mention a Stephen Garber concept, who has ministered as a scholar in residence, taught at a number of schools, and I can refer interested students to:

Harvard: https://www.harvard.edu or Yale: https://www.yale.edu

I thought it was Harvard. He currently teaches at Regent College: https://www.regent-college.edu/#/

He has written other works, including: The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior

making law & sausage

You would be surprised in Proverbs to read how bribes can be used to ease situations. Sometimes they are not bribes in the way we bribe today, or the way someone strong-arms us into bribes today.

I have generally taken the stance that it’s just wrong. In mosts cases in Proverbs, bribes are wrong, like we view them today.

At other times, bribes are really more like peace offerings between people. It depends on the context. I haven’t posted on Proverbs in the last couple days, so I thought it might be a tip.

A politician I know of accepted a bribe, but I admired him for admitting it publicly, and apologizing.

I’ve never accepted one in our cultural sense, that I know of, from this guy or that guy. I refuse to operate this way with those around me.

Does it mean I’m better than the politician?

Let me put it to you this way, I sat in a men’s fellowship and listened as some of the men “talked” about basic men’s issues 101. Then I realized they were condescending, and “talking” about one of the men in particular. Finally one guy exclaimed, “I may have my sins, but I don’t have that guy’s sin!” The one who brought the gavel down was the men’s leader, unfortunately…

personal sin is oft times a competition between the pharisee’s sin & the publican’s

Don’t read me wrong, because I’m neither as judgmental nor sinful as you may guess, for picking this thought out of the blue from Proverbs.

With decent and acceptable bribes, at least in ancient Hebrew Biblical context if not grammar, my educated guess is the language in Proverbs is closer to a horizontal peace offering than a vertical one.

Look it up in another translation if you need assistance with clarity. Many translations use the term bribe, but consider a translation where: the read is easy, one you truly like. At this point, I’m reading out of the NLT.

translations are not too different, but various ones will speak your lingo at times

The Writings, or the Wisdom Literature, which include Proverbs can be a little strenuous to decipher in the KJV.

There seem to be two words at play when bribes are mentioned in Proverbs, possibly others (shochbad: bribe || kheyk: lit. bosom, for ex. keeping secrets). However, The Writings use either term for good or bad forms of bribes. The immediate context is key.

Eugene Peterson says about both individuals or systems who do not use bribes, that they are, “those who refuse to exploit…”
It is interesting to relate refusing to participate in a bribe to abstaining from exploitation.

Wycliffe Bible Translators say one who refuses a bribe, “boweth away from evil by the dread of the Lord.” Again, this is abstaining from bribes.

For a bribe, the terms gifts, presents, and an expectation received (noun form) are examples of transliteration. These terms point to decent and acceptable gifts, like the horizontal peace offering concept.

The general idea of paying someone to do wrong is why I am somewhat adamant about offering a little clarity.

Is wrong also a failure to stand up and do right, or not?

in some ways, bribery also means a failure to run your race to your full potential

This is most often the case because of a fear of performance-based comparisons from others, even if they are attempting to coach you out of kindness.

This isn’t about participation trophies either.

Competition is necessary, but there’s also something to be said for the love of the game. Some athletes have it, and it motivates their self-discipline long after others lose interest.

I recently was with a group of athletes talking about a lot of sports they had played. We were all multi-sports athletes in our day. One still is, playing multiple sports per year. We were throwing around a football, kicking a soccer ball, all just hanging out more than anything. We were talking about college sports.

Finally I asked the athlete, what one sport would you play all day every day if you could?

Without hesitation, the answer is golf.

Run your race… or hike your trail… (whatever metaphor suits your taste) to your full potential. Don’t allow someone to bribe you out of being your best.

waldron-park-roanoke-virginia-trail

en Septiembre

As promised in my lead-in video, here’s a semi-related video and a tie-in. When difficult times arise, perhaps hopeless times, turning to our human devices like bribery really isn’t a viable solution.

The song may be about some wayward souls, but a key is mentioned, the key of St. Jude. This is important for some reasons Evangelicals may not be familiar with. We surely recognize that St. Jude could be the half-brother of our Lord, perhaps the author of the Biblical book.

St. Jude is also the patron of lost causes or lost souls.

Instead of reaching for a human device to change a relationship, like a bribe or manipulation, the name of St. Jude is mentioned.

I certainly cannot explain the depth of meaning this song holds for some who are from a faithtribe that recognizes this type of communion of the saints. However, I know for some, calling upon the prayers of a saint (or even alluding to the prayers) is very similar to when Evangelicals go to the altar on Sunday for prayer from someone on the prayer team. To some, it is simply another form of intercession.

Again, when all seems lost, is it better to turn to forms of manipulation or our human devices like bribery?

Sure a good gift goes a long way at the right time, especially to ease relations, as The Writings say.

On the other hand, is it better to turn our gaze upward when we really can’t seem to look down any further?

Live from Here with Chris Thile or there’s also a Live from Hollywood

Previous Post

March 8, 2022

make room | it’s metaphysics, not physics

Next Post

March 21, 2022 Freud vs. Jung | lines of succession

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Communion Cruz Ingle Crystal Ingle Early Church Engaging Culture Ethics & Society Family Formation History In Dialogue Jared & Crystal Kingdom of God Majority World Church Mateo Ingle Messenger College Mission Narrative Pentecostal Church of God Prayer Shepherding The Sermon The Writings Theology Theology & Psychology Traverse City Uncategorized Vernell Ingle Word Study

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 May 2017 March 2017 March 2014 February 2013 January 2013 October 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What root attitude does Paul say is the "root of all kinds of evil"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Love of wisdom Love of animals Love of music Love of money