The Sentences of Sextus

Wilson (New Testament, Emory U.) offers text, translation, and commentary on the Sentences of Sextus, nearly 500 Greek aphorisms that originated in the late second or early third century CE and represent one of the earliest and longest examples of Christian Wisdom literature. In line with the conventions of the genre, he says, it addresses stock moral topics such as speech, moderation, education, marriage, wealth, and death. It draws on scripture, of course, but he shows how it also draws from two sets of aphorisms that are distinctly Pythagorean. The Society of Biblical Literature publishes the paperbound edition; Brill publishes the hardbound. Annotation 2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)