The Role of Wisdom Literature in Shaping Early Christian Theology: A Comparative Analysis of Proverbs, Sirach, and the Epistle of James

Łukasz Dudarski

lukaszdudarski7@wp.pl
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5511-3578

Abstract

This article explores how wisdom literature—particularly the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Sirach—contributed to the formation of theological and ethical themes in the Epistle of James. By focusing on literary, historical, and theological dimensions, the study demonstrates that early Christian writers, such as James, drew upon Jewish wisdom traditions to articulate new teachings that both aligned with and transformed existing moral and doctrinal frameworks. Using contemporary methods of biblical exegesis and hermeneutics, the article reveals how cross-textual connections illuminate a shared ethical vision focused on righteousness, humility, and active faith.


Keywords:

Wisdom Literature, Proverbs, Sirach, Epistle of James, early analytic philosophy, Christian Theology, Biblical Exegesis, Intertestamental Studies

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Published
2025-12-21

Cited by

Dudarski, Łukasz. (2025). The Role of Wisdom Literature in Shaping Early Christian Theology: A Comparative Analysis of Proverbs, Sirach, and the Epistle of James. Warsaw Theological Studies, 38(2), 46–67. https://doi.org/10.30439/WST.2025.2.3

Authors

Łukasz Dudarski 
lukaszdudarski7@wp.pl
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań Poland
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5511-3578

Lukasz Dudarski, M.A., is affiliated with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He conducts interdisciplinary research encompassing law, theology, and the medical sciences.



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