The purpose of the book of job is to explore gods policies with regard to suffering in. The book of job is the first document in history to. The climax to the book of job appears in the symmetrical yahweh speeches 38. 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. Top 5 commentaries on the book of job ligonier ministries. 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. Commentary on the book of job bible study notes and comments by david e. Over half of 50 agnostic men and women who had recently been informed that. Thus, while this book still has value and is a model of how a commentary should be written, it has been superseded by more recent. To bring us up to speed, for the last few lessons weve seen job speak in response to his friends assertions concerning him.
One day, satan the adversary appears before god in heaven. He is blameless and upright, always careful to avoid doing evil 1. Abenezra the spaniard, who wrote his commentary on the book of job in rome, 1175, delights in new bold ideas, and to enshroud himself in a mystifying nimbus. The makers of the bible project have made an animated video that explains the theme behind one of the most complex books of the bible. The book of job new international commentary on the old testament by john e. Lets turn in our bibles to job chapter 11 for this job 11 summary. The mention of this here should not be taken as evidence that job believed either in leviathan, or such experts. Andersen job tyndale old testament commentaries, 1976.
This was a general ordinance of the law, as we may see, leviticus 9. In churches, seminaries, and in the scholarly literature, the book of job is only. The author of the book of job incorporated the folk book into his work in a manner still showing traces of the component parts. The early middle ages, informed by gregory the greats massive commentary, moralia in iob, understood job as a prefigurement of christ. This commentary on job follows in the tradition of the nicot series by providing an uptodate evangelical commentary based on thorough scholarship. The book of job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. Rather, he is considered an actual, historical figure. The name job is mentioned only 54 times and mostly just in the. Therefore, as we begin to examine the first of jobs speeches let us make sure that we keep this fact in mind.
There was once a man in the land of uz whose name was job 1. 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 free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. You can hardly tell that it is translation from french. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of job in easyenglish. Noted for its steadfast commitment to biblical authority, its readability, and its clear exposition of scripture, the preaching the word series is an ideal resource for pastors, teachers, and those seeking to enrich their personal bible study. David kimchi, who keeps best to the grammaticalhistorical course, has not expounded the book of job. What the book of job teaches us about unexplainable suffering. Thus, while this book still has value and is a model of how a commentary should be written, it has been superseded by more recent commentaries notably the book. This reference in james is the only time job is mentioned by name in the n. In other words, trouble and affliction like job is experiencing dont just come from nowhere. Ironically, dhorme did as much as anyone to render his own book out of date. But the odious judgments made by his friends caution us against making toocertain application of any model to our own lives.
Lets open our bibles to job chapter 15 for this job 15 commentary. Habel has contributed a small but helpful study for preaching the whole book of job. He also examines the date and history of job as well. Well be studying verses eleven through twenty of this chapter in this article. The first two places his name is found aside from the book of job is in ezekiel 14, verses 14 and 20. This is the most singular book in the whole of the sacred code. He systematically goes over each section of job as a drama, highlighting the contentions and resolutions throughout. Communicating the book of job in the twentyfirst century the.
Every saturday hear about special editorial projects, new product information, and upcoming events. God boasts to satan about jobs goodness, but satan argues that job is only good because god has. And in the book of job, this is a fear that is not necessarily the reverential awe that we often identify as a wholesome healthy fear. The book of job has been widely given the theme of patience and we see this mentioned in the new testament book of james. Zuck, a biblical theology of the old testament, pp.
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. Settings about this book read aloud search share this book settings one page two pages thumbnails zoom. 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. Job free bible study notes, commentary, and comments. The name job is the english translation of the hebrew name iyov which means persecuted, hated on the surface job is a long, boring, somewhat confusing book and one might question how it ever came to be grouped with the wisdom books as it is hard to ascertain any wisdom in this tale of woe. Anderson is a renowned scholar, and the commentary reflects his learning without becoming overly technical. The author of the book of job broke out of the tight, logical mold of the traditional orthodox theology of his day.
His informed surrender implies that he has confidence in the fact that nothing. Internet archive bookreader commentary on the book of job. Commentary on the book of job chapter one by wm w wells. Job 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Meaning of the book of job, which set a new path for job interpretation. This expression is used repeatedly to refer to inspired scripture. This prose prologue to the book reads like a folktale. Alfred smith has contributed prac tical insights for lessons and sermons on the book of job.
Moses said unto aaron, go unto the altar, and offer thy sinoffering and thy burntoffering, and make an atonement for thyself and for the people. 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. Guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. The prologue to the book of job chapters 12 sets up the meditation on suffering that follows it. Commentary on the book of job by matthew henry old. It is plain, from this history, that the lord watched over his servant job with the affection of a wise and loving father. The book of job has been described as the supreme literary masterpiece in the. Although job is one of the longer books in the bible, in most churches today it is. The book of job has traditionally has been regarded as a philosophical or theological. Job is a wealthy man living in a land called uz with his large family and extensive flocks. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. List passages bookchapterverse from other books of the bible that mention job. Job 5 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on.
Although commentaries most often do effective work in explaining the ancient. The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. Communicating the book of job in the twentyfirst century. Jobs final speech in his own defense is probably where the book originally ended. In this bible story from the book of job, there is a wealthy man named job residing in an area called.
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. To be sure, some familiar details of the experience of its protagonist have come over into common knowledge. Hartleys commentary is quite recent 1990 and is considered a good complement to clines. An excellent tool for people who want to learn more about the book of job. Kent hughes, of college church in wheaton illinois. To join our mailing list to be informed of new books or special sales, contact the author at. A selection of the most viewed stories this week on the monitors website. Job 25 commentary explaining the book bible study guide. Job, after the revelation just given, cannot be so presumptuous as to think god or any of the holy ones daniel 4. To study the first ten verses, see our job 11 commentary article. The book of job is often referred to as one of the great classics of world literature. The fact that it is no matter connected to time or place is underlined by the lack of dates in this book. German bible scholar georg ewald turns his attention to the book of job in this commentary.
However, the date when the book was written and by whom it was. Commentary on the book of job chapter four by wm w wells. 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. To join our mailing list to be informed of new books or. Job 11 summary explaining the book bible study guide. At the end of the book we will be informed that job will say some things during his suffering that are not true job.
Job and cause him to sin, they first informed him of a small loss and later of a larger one. This set of commentaries on the old and new testaments is edited by renowned pastor r. 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. For those seeking a more introductory level commentary on the book of job, francis andersons commentary is the best place to start.
The book of job is a timeless book in which the ever present problem of human suffering and especially in the case of believers is treated. Job proves faithful to god in prosperity and in adversity. Gods answer to the problem of undeserved suffering. The book of job has times and times again been numbered amidst the best works of this worlds. Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. The loss of jobs property, and the death of his children. In the introduction, ewald gives context to the format, content, and style of the book as poem. 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.
You can find the best commentary on job for you using the tools on the right side. 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. Another great doctrine of the faith, particularly set forth in the book of job, is that of providence. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is.
Over the time of one day, job is given four reports, each informing him that his sheep, servants. Parsons, guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of. It is now common to interpret leviathan as the crocodile. In the following video, the book of job is examined and the theme is presented that even though we dont understand why some suffering and hardship exist, god is still wise and just. Commentary on the book of job with translation logos. He saw that it led to a dead end, that it had no way to cope with the suffering of godly people. That is, he deserves to be feared by his human creation.
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