the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Bible Encyclopedias
Chanina ben-Dosa
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or a Jewish teacher of the 1st century, was celebrated for his piety. It was said that a voice from heaven daily declared that the whole world was only preserved for the sake of Chanina. Among his recorded sayings are these: "The wisdom of a man will be abiding if his fear of sin is greater than his desire after wisdom only; but where search after wisdom takes precedence of the fear of sin, the former also will only prove a temporary possession;" also, "The man whose works exceed his wisdom really possesses firm and lasting wisdom; but he whose wisdom excels his works, will find that the former also will prove unstable" (Pirke Aboth, 3, a). Many anecdotes are related to show this rabbi's power over angels. See Hamburger, Real- Encyclop. fur Bibel u. Talmud, 2, 130 sq.; Friedlander [M. H.], Geschichtsbilder aus der Zeit der Tanaaiten und Amoraer (Briinn, 1879), p. 53 sq.; Edersheim, Hist. of the Jewish Nation, p. 141; Friedlander [M.], Ben Dosa und seine Zeit (Prague, 1872). (B. P.)
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Chanina ben-Dosa'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/chanina-ben-dosa.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
