The book of job tells the story of a man called job. This commentary on job follows in the tradition of the nicot series by providing an uptodate evangelical commentary based on thorough scholarship. Yet very few have taken the literary dimensions of the text into account in their exegetical analysis. The most hurtful comments of jobs friends bible study. Job proves faithful to god in prosperity and in adversity. The author, date, and place of the book of job are all uncertain.
With the literary sensibility we have come to expect from him, robert alter the voice from the whirlwind, january has noted cadences and resonances. The book of job, which carlyle without hyperbole described as the grandest book ever written with pen, will never cease to disclose new insights to sensitive and sympathetic readers. The book of job is considered being part of the poetic books job, psalms, proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of songs in todays bible editions. The book of job is rightly understood to be a masterpiece of hebrew poetry and western literature. In the introduction to this commentary, therefore, we provide a preliminary exploration of the literary characteristics of the book of job and their significance for interpreting the major theological. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is. Why we can worship god at the time of the death of our loved ones job 1 admin. Job, in the bible knowledge commentary, old testament, ed. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of perspectives. Rowland deems bishops commentary on jungs answer to job as a text no serious reader of jung should be without and hails it. One of the achievements of this remarkable and scholarly book is to illuminate jungs entire opus though its comprehensive attention to one of the most striking and distinctive of the collected works. Book of job overview insight for living ministries.
We also saw the multiple blessings that god had bestowed upon him. The lord said, behold, all that he hath is in thy power i give thee full power to do with his property, his servants, his children, and his wife, whatsoever thy craft or malice shall prompt thee to do. The wisdom that is found in the book of job is not communicated in the form of proverb. As the first poetic book of the english bible, job introduces the reader to the idea of hebrew poetry, which involves the repetition and combination of ideas more than sounds. Habel has contributed a small but helpful study for preaching the whole book of job. The book of job is the first document in history to take seriously the question of why. Read job commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so humbly to god at the end. Job here gives a very clear expression to his belief that, even after he lies down in sheol, god will call him out to life again job 14. One would then expect that there are many ways to look at and learn from job. The book of job, in the old testament, opens with words both majestic and once uponatimeish. Matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete job. And now in job 15, eliphaz responds for the second time. Job s final speech in his own defense is probably where the book originally ended.
Each time i read through the drama of the book of job. The complex and delicate nature of the subject matter. In his new commentary on job, christopher ash expresses this wonderfully. 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. In his introduction to his commentary on the book, john walton explains that its purpose is not only to explore how god works in regards to the suffering in the world, but to transform how we think about it. It seems strange that god should give satan such a permission as this. Guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job. Rather, the book of job deals with questions of wisdom in the context of a narrative dealing with jobs profound anguish and excruciating pain. Book of job matthew henrys bible commentary concise. Job 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The use of this preexisting material very cleverly placed the problem outside of palestine, thereby excluding the possible objection of orthodox theology that such a casea perfectly righteous man persecuted by yhwh. Rather, he is considered an actual, historical figure. Communicating the book of job in the twentyfirst century. How blind was that scholar who wrote, the book of job should begin with, once upon a time, like any other fairy tale.
It is also a great read for those going through suffering. The subject of the book of job is gods dealings with mankind in his governmental ways in a world in which satan, the adversary of god, has introduced sin, suffering and death. John hartley the book of job new international commentary on the old testament, 1988. They are the books of proverbs, psalms, ecclesiastes, song of solomon, and job. To be sure, some familiar details of the experience of its protagonist have come over into common knowledge. The purpose of the book of job is to explore gods policies with regard to suffering in. The book of job continues to fascinate and challenge scholars. The misery of job and the mercy of godby john piper. God says to job, now i want you to pray for your friends these three dear men, so stubborn, so sure that they had all the answers, so well meaning, so sincere, so. Gods answer to the problem of undeserved suffering grand rapids. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel coalition. Lets open our bibles to job chapter 15 for this job 15 commentary. Job 2 commentary explaining the book bible study guide. A list of the best commentaries on job ranked by scholars, journal.
Its author is unknown yet it is possible that job himself wrote it. The 15 th chapter of the old testament book of job. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. This article interprets jobs teaching on suffering from five broad perspectives. God says to job, now i want you to pray for your friends these three dear men, so stubborn, so sure that they had all the answers, so well meaning, so sincere, so dedicated, but such utter blunderers. So these three men ceased answering job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Study job using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel.
Alfred smith has contributed prac tical insights for lessons and sermons on the book of job. Book of job, recommend commentaries or books the puritan board. Although job is one of the longer books in the bible, in most churches today it is rarely taught or preached in a comprehensive way. The book of job is an obvious place to turn when a christian suffers, but it is not easy to discern what god means to teach his people through this difficult book. In the meaning of the book of job and other biblical studies. Anderson is a renowned scholar, and the commentary reflects his learning without becoming overly technical. For those seeking a more introductory level commentary on the book of job, francis andersons commentary is the best place to start. In the arena of biblical studies, there are five books that are generally included under the heading of wisdom literature or the poetic books of the old testament. A commentary as a remarkable and scholarly book that illuminates jungs entire opus through comprehensive attention to one of the most striking and distinctive of the collected works.
The crivoice bible study focuses on what you personally might learn and apply in your life. The book of job cambridge bible commentaries on the old. One of the ancestors of job was a son of aram and the grandson of shem genesis 10. The author of the book of job incorporated the folk book into his work in a manner still showing traces of the component parts. Amazing facts 247 television station featuring the best in bible study streamed lived and ondemand. Job, book ofcommentaries, commentaries old testament. We continue our study in the book of job in the second chapter. In this article, susan rowland pronounces paul bishops jungs answer to job. The first two places his name is found aside from the book of job is in ezekiel 14, verses 14 and 20. It is plain, from this history, that the lord watched over his servant job with the affection of a wise and loving father. Study guide for job 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. The book of job new international commentary on the old. Top 5 commentaries on the book of job ligonier ministries. In the book of job, the character is described as a righteous man, indeed the most righteous man to be found on the earth, but one whom satan claims is righteous only to receive blessings from the hand of god.
So job thought that god caused the problems job 19. List of books and articles about book of job online. Like anything in life, the reward for success reflects the amount of effort put. Job is a pious believer who is struck by misfortune so great that it cannot be explained in the usual way as a prompting to repentance, a warning, let alone a punishment the arguments later. The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. How does the book of job help disciples of jesus christ remain faithful to god.
Our job 2 commentary last time in chapter 1 we saw job s righteous character. Job is a book that ranks as one of the most difficult books in thetanach bible, for two reasons. On the contrary, god speaks directly to job, just as he does in the patriarchal age with noah, abraham, isaac, jacob, and other heads of. The account of job s piety and prosperity comes before the history of his great afflictions, showing that neither will secure from troubles. The loss of job s property, and the death of his children. To bring us up to speed, for the last few lessons weve seen job speak in response to his friends assertions concerning him. Nevertheless these ways of god with mankind have always a good purpose romans 8. There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job. Study the bible online using commentary on job and more. List of books and articles about book of job online research.
Victor, 1985, 717, for nine reasons the book of job points to a patriarchal period. Saint gregorys commentary on job, or moralia, sive expositio in job, sometimes called moralia in job or magna moralia but not to be confused with aristotles magna moralia, was written between 578 and 595, begun when gregory was at the court of tiberius ii at constantinople, but finished only after he had already been in rome for several years. Jacques bolduc suggested in his commentary of 1637 that the book of job may have been authored in a secondary way by moses who. Then the wrath of elihu, the son of barachel the buzite, of the family of ram, was aroused against job. It is possible that job is the oldest of any book of the bible written approximately 21001800 b. For example, even people who have scant comprehension of the content of the bible are aware of jobs words that the lord gave and the lord has taken.
Sabbath school study hour helping you get the most out of your sabbath school quarterly every week. The book of job has long been hailed by biblical scholars as a literary masterpiece. Archer and others see the book of job as the oldest book in the bible gleason l. In the arena of biblical studies, there are five books that are generally included under the heading of wisdom literature or the poetic books of. Hartleys commentary is quite recent 1990 and is considered a good complement to clines.
Outline of job meredith kline the wycliffe bible commentary. On the contrary, god speaks directly to job, just as he does in the patriarchal. Job 14 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Last year, we had marvin popes translation and commentary on the anchor bible, and now we have robert gordis, the distinguished jewish authority on hebrew wisdom literature, presenting a study, a commentary, and a translation. The book of job tells how one man suddenly awakened to the anarchy rampant in the world, yet his attachment to god outlived the ruin of his tidy system. Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom.
This post is adapted from the bible study job by eric ortlund. Job 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Key personalities of this book include job, eliphaz the temanite, bildad the shuhite, zophar the naamathite, and elihu the buzite. While this is an interpretive poem and not a commentary, i found this book very help when going through job privately. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5. Its incredibly complex and obscure hebrew allowing for multiple translations and meanings. There are no references to the law of moses, the tabernacle, the priesthood, the judges or kings, etc. You can find the best commentary on job for you using the tools on the right side. The book of job is acclaimed as one of the great literary books of the old testament.
It is found in the third section of the biblical canon known as the ketuvim writings. God has put a hedge around him and has blessed him beyond all mortals, and as a result the devil accuses job of serving god only because. Now there was a day a certain time appointed by god. While job beheld the harmony and comforts of his sons with satisfaction, his knowledge of the human heart made him fearful for them. Selected fulltext books and articles the book of job. The loss of jobs property, and the death of his children. The accuser hebrew, hasatan is not satan, the devil, but an angel whose job it is to identify people disloyal to god. The book of job, book of hebrew scripture that is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Hartley deals carefully with this book whose language, text, and theology are not only among the most intriguing in the old testament but also among the most difficult to grasp.
The book s theme is the eternal problem of unmerited suffering, and it is named after its central. Job commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole bible. One author says it is no less than eight types of literature rolled up in one book. In fact, job is mentioned in three different verses in scripture outside the book of job, none of which lead one to believe that job is a fictional character. Andersen job tyndale old testament commentaries, 1976. Tremper longman calls it a major contribution to the study of the book and explains this is because it examines all the facets of the book, not necessarily because it is terribly original. But the odious judgments made by his friends caution us against making toocertain application of any model to our own lives. The book of job challenges the simple equation of suffering with punishment, by telling the story of one righteous mans confrontation with overwhelming. The most hurtful comments of job s friends,barry york study from the bible and be encouraged to grow your faith.