The book of job is the story of a good man who suffers total disaster he loses all his children and property and is afflicted with a repulsive disease. It is possible that job is the oldest of any book of the bible written approximately 21001800 b. The main answer job does provide is that, in suffering, god is doing something beyond what our minds and logic can grasp. Introduction to the book of job society of gilbert keith chesterton. Elihu came from the buzites who lived next to the chaldeans in northeast arabia 4. We know the outline of the plot well enough, but the details not so well. Though assured by some of the best and brightest that the evolutionary concepts of.
It is also a book most christians have never studied carefully and have only a superficial acquaintance with. Job s friend, eliphaz, came from teman, a city in edom. Its author is unknown yet it is possible that job himself wrote it. Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain one work only, i should save job. At one point in history, perhaps somewhere around the sixth century a. The truth is that the eternal god has bound himself to work through the circumstances of the righteous man no matter what suffering and pain might come about. The book treats two major themes and many other minor ones, both in the narrative framework of the prologue chaps. An introduction to the book of job faithlife sermons.
So the book of job still has an attraction for the makers of traditions. Ultimately, though, job points us to jesus who suffered for us and provides ultimate answers to our pain in his death and resurrection. The author of the book of job broke out of the tight, logical mold of the traditional orthodox theology of his day. This lecture begins with the book of lamentations, a short book of dirges that laments the destruction of jerusalem and moves on to introduce the third and final section of the hebrew bible the ketuvim, or writings. Rlst 145 lecture 20 responses to suffering and evil. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. The unknown israelite author of this book presents job as a person living in uz. The book of job gives an account of a righteous man who faithfully responded to difficult trials. An introduction to the book of job authorship and date of composition jobs place in history.
Jobs final speech in his own defense is probably where the book originally ended. The underlying pain in this question has bothered the great. This is part one of an hourlong talk on the basics of what the book of job contains. Tips for writing a letter of introduction the most important tip to remember when writing a letter of introduction is to keep it short and to the point. Key personalities of this book include job, eliphaz the temanite, bildad the shuhite, zophar the naamathite, and elihu the buzite. The book of job is among the other old testament books both a philosophical riddle and a historical riddle. The experience of reading the book of job in this translation, then, is to rediscover an exceedingly eloquent masterpiece. Video video download options bible book introduction videos share. It is the philosophical riddle that concerns us in such an introduction as this. One of the most basic questions any person of faith must wrestle with is why bad things happen to good people. Does it know that youre already running late and it just wants to spite you. There is limited information in the book of job about its geographical and historical background.
Following a structural analysis, the commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Then what does it mean if the good things disappear from our lives. A letter of introduction can be a useful way to network and gain job search advice, or even possibly a job opportunity. This video lecture, part of the series exposition of the book of job by prof. Although most of the book consists of the words of job and his friends, job himself was not the author. Intro to job biblica the international bible society. Do we have faith that god is the source of all good things. The malbim, in the introduction to his commentary on this holy book, explains that the main purpose of the book of job is to expound upon one of the most perplexing phenomena in the human experience. Introduction to the book of job faith presbyterian church. Introduction to the book of job society of gilbert keith. Victor hugo the greatest poem, whether of ancient or modern literature. Free online bible classes introduction to the book of job.
Bible books introduction to job english introduction to job. He saw that it led to a dead end, that it had no way to cope with the suffering of godly people. The book of job is a book most christians think they understand, at least generally. And why does the subway train always leave just as you get through the turnstile. Then in three series of poetic dialogues the author shows how jobs friends and job himself react to these calamities. The contents of the book, together with its artistic structure and elegant style, place it among the literary masterpieces of all time. In greek lxx the name is transliteration of the hebrew consonants iwb. Be prepared to make a quick introduction to the person who greets you.
However, it can be helpful to understand general information about the geography and history of the area to give you a context for reading and studying the book of job. This summary of the book of job provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of job. Visit the presidents page to see his availability to speak at your church or ministry 523 ne everett st camas, wa 98607 888 3589998. Posted on september 23, 2016 by sabbath school lesson september 28, 2016. Orthodox interpreters have an especially hard time. The book of job introduction the book of job has long been praised as a masterpiece of literature. Jobs experience invites us to ponder difficult questions about the. The introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting and purpose. How does the book of job show that all intelligent creatures can contribute to the vindication of gods sovereignty. The fact that job was, indeed, a historical person is supported by the testimony of scripture. The book of job, like the books of joshua, ruth, and esther, gets its name from its main character rather than its author. 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. Job introduction, good news bible gnb the bible app. Introduction to the book of psalms, old testament seminary teacher manual 2014.
The book of job at once clears god of any charge of injustice and instead establishes the goodness of the righteous mans faith especially when he suffers. It has been supposed by some that the book of job is an allegory, not a real narrative, on account of the artificial character of many of its statements. When you arrive at the interview site, introduce yourself to the receptionist by stating your name and the reason for your visit. Thus the sacred numbers, three and seven, often occur. Job lesson 1 the book of job is an interesting story of a. The skeptical character of the symposium, with its challenge to timehonored views, most likely would have kept the book of job out of the canon of old testament writings had some additions not been made to the original book. Job is lacking references to historical events and reflects a nonhebraic cultural background which little is known about.
Bill mounce blogs on spiritual formation and on greek at. The book of job, named after its protagonist apparently not an israelite. It is the philosophical riddle that concerns us in such. The book of job belongs to what we call the wisdom literature of the old testament. In addition to rare words, the syntax is sometimes difficult, making it hard to translate.
Despite all the popular propaganda to the contrary, christians have very logical and rational reasons to believe in god. My name is tim jones, and i have an interview scheduled with john smith at 2 p. Like the other wisdom books job is primarily composed of poetry and job 28 consists of a. The book of job is part of the old testament collection of wisdom literature, along with proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of solomon.
Most of my talk comes from saint thomas aquinas commentary on the book, with a little extra peppered in as well. The book of job takes these questions headon but may not give us the answers we want. Video series bible book introduction videos english bible book introduction videos. Job is known for his righteousness and his persevering faith throughout all the calamities that befell him.
Introduction to the book of job roger hahn this introduction is lesson 1 in the voice bible studies on the book of job the book of job is part of the old testament collection of wisdom literature, along with proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of solomon. Some bible scholars debate whether he was an actual person or legend, but job is mentioned as a historical figure by the prophet ezekial ezekial 14. A key to understanding the first theme of the book is to notice the debate between god and satan in heaven and how it. All too often the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. It could only deny the reality of the experienced anomaly and add to the pain and inner turmoil of the sufferer. In the end, god himself, whose dealings with humanity have been a prominent part of the discussion, appears. The book of job is made up of a prologue and epilogue in prose chapters 12.
Whatever would possess the rabbis to include the book of job as one of the official books in the canon of holy writ. Introduction to the old testament seminary teacher manual. The introduction to this book in verse 1 lets us know that this is not to be connected to any of the previous books, and certainly does not belong. Ever notice that the guy in front of you always gets the last apple fritter at starbucks. If you have watched this lecture and know what it is about, particularly what religious studies topics are discussed, please help us by commenting on this video with your suggested description and title. Except for the first eleven chapters of genesis, which almost certainly were originally written by adam, noah, the sons of noah, and terah, then eventually edited by moses compare with introduction to genesis, the book of job is probably the oldest book in the bible. Introduction 5 job wants his story to be a book, and every interpreter has tried to be the bookbinder. Introduction to job bible commentary theology of work.