Rather, the focus is gods revelation of himself during jobs suffering. Reflections on suffering from the book of job 437 gested that theodicy is the theme of the book of job. The book of job has incited diverse interpretations ranging from explorations of its basic morality to extensive philosophical discussions concerning human suffering and divine justice. The book of job is the first document in history to. Now, job will answer the words of eliphaz the temanite. But according to the traditional interpretation job suffers less from the loss of his health through various diseases, and the loss of his wealth and family, than he suffers because he is just. This treatise may be studied from several vantage points. According to the sacred writer, the truly wise man should realize that the fear of the lord, that is wisdom.
Gustavo sees jobs authors as emphasizing jobs faith which is disinterested, for nothing. Main characters job and his friends eliphaz, bildad, zophar, and elihu divisions of the book description of job s trials ch. The story has a fairly simple structure, but most biblical scholars agree that the book, as it has reached us, is the result of two separate strands of literature, written by at least two distinct authors kee, meyers, regerson. Archer and others see the book of job as the oldest book in the bible gleason l. He was a faithful servant of god, he owned thousands of animals, and had many servants and friends. Jul 06, 2020 the book of job is said to be set around the 4th century b. Before, people had tended to think suffering was a punishment for sin.
The book of job dramatically sets forth a colossal war between god and satan, and we are. Guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job. Suffering is filled with meaning when associated with a divine calling and an understanding that all events are ordained for gods purposes hall, et al. For job to deal with the devils temptations and still remain faithful to god, shows great wisdom. J ust about everyone has heard of the suffering of job in the old testament. According to biblical scholars, the book of job is the oldest book in the bible.
Set in uz, an obscure land far from israel, during an unknown time period, the book of job focuses on questions about gods justice and why good people suffer. Pdf the arguments of jobs three friends david clines. He is tempted in the effort to challenge his perspective of god. Making sense of the suffering of job free essay example. This perspective is the key to dealing with common interactive problems, such as adversarial relations between patient and provider in face of death and suffering, and more imp. The book of job is not primarily about one mans suffering and pain.
Only part of the truth had been revealed at that time. The book of job was an important influence upon blakes writings and art. In fact, god designed this book as a pattern to aid us for the testing and strengthening of our faith. The book presents a deep view of suffering, and job s experience teaches that humanity must rest in faith and be resigned to the incomprehensible ways of god. In analysis of this old testament book, gutierrez makes the beginning observation that job s story, though written with a specific purpose in mind, seems written with a faith that has been drenched in tears and reddened by blood. Pick 10 books and well guess whether youre an introvert or an extrovert. The book of job, book of hebrew scripture that is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Parsons it is common knowledge that the book of job is universally admired as a literary masterpiece in world literature.
Critical analysis the book of job is usually dated in the 5 th to 4 th centuries bce, but seems to be an adaptation of an earlier akkadian writing from around the year bce. To this speech, eliphaz replies that righteous people do not suffer. Job and three of his friends debate the cause of job s tremendous loss and illnesses. A comparative and critical analysis of the story of job as. There was of course some reason behind job s suffering but the only ones privy to this are god, his court, and the reader. The book of job supports a spiritual perspective in oncology practice, indicating that patient care is a holistic endeavor. Blake apparently identified with job, as he spent his lifetime unrecognized and impoverished. We are given a unique behindthescenes look at the battle that goes on for our loyalty and souls. Analysis of the book job, the idea of sin and suffering 1608 words 7 pages. Jul 26, 2009 how adequately does the book of job deal with the problem of innocent suffering. Does god have the right to control events according to. Gods answer to the problem of undeserved suffering grand rapids. The issue of suffering is used to demonstrate the authority of god in his universe.
God lets wicked people prosper while he and countless other i. Library the father william most theological collection. Job speaks of foundational themes every human being contends with, especially in times of suffering. His speeches neither explain jobs suffering, nor defend divine justice, nor enter into the courtroom confrontation that job has demanded, nor. That pattern reflects certain assumptions with respect to the book of job job 1, not the least of which is the supposition that job. Job showed us a great model of what we should all look like in the face of the storms and tragedies of this life. You might have heard someone say, they have the patience of job. One of these is to examine some of the penetrating questions that are posed in the book. Job explores the difficult question of gods relationship to human suffering, and invites us to trust gods wisdom and character. Job and three of his friends debate the cause of jobs tremendous loss and illnesses. Reflections on suffering from the book of job gordon college faculty. In this story, the question isnt whether pain exists, but how to react to it. The debate is about god, his attributes and how he interacts with humankind. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel coalition.
In the last chapter, job summarized what he learned about god. Patience in suffering 3 lessons by rob harbison and so then in this marvelous book we are privileged to gather the facts for a more complete cosmology. The book of job teaches the same lesson that god tests his people that they may learn to rely upon him, and him alone for all things. But to say this is not to limit the relevance of the book, for joblike suffering is. In case youre not familiar with his story, job was a good man who was afflicted with an unimaginable amount of suffering. His speeches neither explain jobs suffering, nor defend divine justice, nor enter into the courtroom confrontation that job has demanded. The book of job is a fulllength argument about whether the misfortunes that befall ostensibly good people come to them from the hand of.
This is why the book of job is considered the most theological book of the old testament. Jun 02, 2008 the lesson from the big book of job is 1 that god is sovereign over all our suffering. Habel has contributed a small but helpful study for preaching the whole book of job. The book of job opens with a scene in heaven where satan comes to accuse job before god. Therefore i despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
But the book of job focuses on the futility of explanations. Analysis of the book job as a work on human suffering and divine sovereignty 1678 words 7 pages. Suffering and the book of job essay 1690 words bartleby. Again there was a day when the sons of god came to present themselves before the lord, and. This prepares people for christs sufferings that would otherwise be rejected. Elihu contends that god punished job to humble him job 32. Alfred smith has contributed prac tical insights for lessons and sermons on the book of job. The books theme is the eternal problem of unmerited suffering, and it is named. There is a mistaken assumption that personal sin is always the cause of suffering. Job s first response to the words of eliphaz were to complain about the greatness of his suffering, because eliphaz only made his suffering worse, with his wellintentioned but wrong analysis of job s problem. Job s burden, reconciling unimaginable suffering with the idea of a just god, is a task one that few preachers or academics are bold enough to tackle. Jul 22, 2011 in this paper well look for a response from the christian and muslim scriptures to the question of human suffering through the story of job, and examine it for validity and coherence. Centuries of analysis since it first appeared in the bible, the story of job a victim of suffering he cannot understand has been a defining myth of western civilization, according to susan schreiner, associate professor in the divinity school.
William blakes illustrations of the book of job wikipedia. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. Job s problem is not so much financial or social or medical. The book of job, one of the wisdom books of the bible, deals with two issues crucial to every person. The book s theme is the eternal problem of unmerited suffering, and it is named after its central character, job, who attempts to understand. The book of job is included among the wisdom writings precisely because it teaches man that pain and suffering are a mystery of divine wisdom. Summary the book of job is often referred to as one of the great classics of world.
The book portrays job as a faithful man who honestly tried to do right before god, and who acknowledged his errors and sought to correct things when he faltered 42. In the book of job, we learn how god tested the faith of job by allowing satan to inflict all manner of suffering on his life. The book of job is a fulllength argument about whether the misfortunes that befall ostensibly good people come to them from the hand of god, he writes. God reveals his power and sovereignty to job job 38. God scolds jobs friends and restores jobs family and fortune job 42. The book of job does not present concrete solutions about why innocent people suffer. Job asked, but he got an answer he was not expecting. The reader of course knows what is behind job s suffering, but job never discovers this. God allows satan to torment job to test this bold claim, but he forbids satan to take jobs life. We are not to assume god has rejected all those that suffer.
Jun 25, 2019 job is one of the most famous people in scripture, yet he is rarely listed as a favorite bible character. According to many stories in the old testament, without sin there is no suffering. The importance of suffering in the book of job 1446. In teaching that piety must be unselfish and that the righteous sufferer is assured not of tangible reward but of fellowship with god, biblical thought about justice, retribution, and providence reaches a climax. In the book of job, the idea of sin and suffering are correlated. Kenneth boa, talk thru the old testament nashville. The book of job was written like a historical poem, but was treated as an actual event in the bible. Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain one work only, i should save job.
Although most of the superlatives have been exhausted to describe its literary excellence, it seems to defy more than a superficial analysis. Everything he possessed, both health and wealth, is gone. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Ive been studying job on and off for the last 3 years. The book of job is one of the most magnificent documents of literary history. As far as the symposium is concerned, the authors purpose seems to be none other than to challenge the view presented by both prophets and historians to the effect that suffering is in itself evidence of wrongdoing. But to say this is not to limit the relevance of the book, for job like suffering is. The book of job 3 the book of job introduction to the book the book of job has long been praised as a masterpiece of literature.
Finally, god enters the narrative in the ending chapters to confront job. I have learned something from all of them but this book clearly stands out. He gives two reasons on the purpose of the book of job. The book of job defends the character of a loving and righteous god in spite of earths obvious evils and injustices. He loses his family, servants, home, and good health, left behind with a nagging wife and friends who claim job brought this suffering upon himself. Over the past centuries, scholars have regarded the book of job as the seminal and quintessential work on human suffering and divine sovereignty. Book of job explained at its beginning, job seems to be a book about human suffering. The book of job consists of a prose prologue and epilogue narrative framing poetic dialogues and monologues. In this months feature, wayne jackson explores some of these queries. It is found in the third section of the biblical canon known as the ketuvim writings. The difficulty in the book of job is over the nature and the cause of his afflictions, it touches on the philosophical discussion about the problem of evil, and human suffering which is a classic problem that has yet to be given a classic answer. I shall revisit the book of job, the personality and some of its meaning for. The book of job is concerned with the problem of suffering.
Dec 17, 2019 job certainly did suffer, but there is more to his story than just his suffering. It would seem, however, that the question raised by job is both deeper and broader than the question of how to account for the infliction of physical adversity on the innocent. Gustavo gutierrez, a leading liberation theologian, in on job. Timmer the book of job presents a number of challenges to its readers. The importance of suffering in the book of job 1446 words. Job and his friends deliver multiple, lengthy speeches that seem to say less and less that is new as they go on. Jul 01, 2004 the book of job represents job s suffering in excruciating detail. The central figure in the book of job, job s intense suffering supplies the framework for the primary theme of the book, which deals with the role of suffering in the life of a believer. The book of job provides a vivid illustration of the theology of suffering. Its subject matter is the allimportant question, why, in a world over which yahweh has jurisdiction, should innocent persons have to suffer when at the same time the wicked escape suffering and are permitted to have comfort and security.
He possesses a large family, good health, many servants, flocks of multiple species of livestock, and is considered the greatest of all men in the east job 1. In the beginning of the book, job s blessings are apparent. Harold bloom has interpreted blakes most famous lyric, the tyger, as a revision of gods rhetorical questions in the book of job concerning behemoth and leviathan. Oct 02, 2012 then there are books that completely undo your understanding and open a whole new world of thought. The poetic discourseswhich probe the meaning of jobs sufferings and the. God lets wicked people prosper while he and countless other innocent people suffer. Gustavo says that this disinterested religion alone is true religion. Godtalk and the suffering of the innocent by gustavo gutierrez and wow, was this one a doozy. Because of this, the book of job is not one of the places most people. I wont narrate the complete story, but in summary job had. By its conclusion, the true subject of the book emerges. Analysis the book of job does not present concrete solutions about why innocent people suffer.
The book of job the book of job challenges the simple equation of suffering with punishment, by telling the story of one righteous mans confrontation with overwhelming misfortune. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. Job does not believe he has sinned and doesnt understand why he is suffering. The book of job is often referred to as one of the great classics of world literature. I shall revisit the book of job, the personality and some of its mea. The book of isaiah, which dates back to 8 th century bce, mentions the suffering righteous servant in chapter 53 ii. The chief purpose of the book of job through careful analysis and thought poses the main purpose of the book of job. Analysis of jobs and odysseus 822 words essay example. Godtalk and the suffering of the innocent by gustavo. It teaches humility as god reminds job who is really in control, steadfastness as job refuses to curse god despite his circumstances, and joy and reward when the latter part of jobs life is more blessed than the former. It is common to view the narrative frame as the original core of the book, enlarged later by the poetic dialogues and discourses, and sections of the book such as the elihu speeches and the wisdom poem of chapter 28 as late insertions, but recent trends have tended to concentrate on the.
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