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. Bob utley, retired professor of hermeneutics biblical interpretation table of contents. The prologue to the book of job chapters 12 sets up the meditation on. Job 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Alfred smith has contributed prac tical insights for lessons and sermons on the book of job. This third edition of the anchor bible book of job volume 15 in the series contains numerous new, revised or augmented notes. The book of job presents its readers with a profound drama concerning innocent suffering. Illustrated bible history illustrations, photos, and images of the ancient world of the bible. It is ironic that the doctrine of hell, adamantly held to by many christians as a truth being taught by the one and only god, is actually not new to the bible at all. Here the insights of scores of early church fathers will be assembled and made readily available for significant passages throughout the bible and the apocrypha. Study the bible online using commentary on job and more. Many scholars consider the book of job to be one of the finest works of literature ever written. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5.
In the book of job, there no doubt are allusions to mythology cf. Job 9 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the bible. Guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job. When in the nt job is praised for his patience jas. Apologetics press behemoth and leviathancreatures of. Job, in the bible knowledge commentary, old testament, ed. Commentary on the book of job free bible commentary. Indeed, we now enter into a full frontal display of pagan greek mythology complete with the pantheon of imaginary gods in r. Picture study bible studybible with pictures and maps. 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. All who are interested in the interpretation of the bible will welcome the forthcoming multivolume series ancient christian commentary on scripture.
Job chapter 37 coffmans commentary of the new testament. The book of job, book of hebrew scripture that is often counted among the. Such an evaluation as that cannot be applied to job s words, because god himself said that, my servant job has spoken of me the thing that is right. May 20, 2015 commentaries on the first book of moses called genesis. Best commentaries and books on job logos bible software. Judging by the style of the hebrew it uses, some scholars judge job to be the oldest book of the old testament.
First century israel map large map of israel in the first century click around on the cities. There was no death, suffering, or evil in the world when god finished his work of creation on the sixth day genesis 1. The central figure in the book of job, jobs intense suffering supplies the framework for the primary theme of the book, which deals with the role of suffering in the life of a. Another look at the mythological elements in the book of job elmer smick the book of job, like a microcosm of the old testament bears witness to the will and purpose of the god who created iand rules over nature and all creatures, especially his crowning creature man. We also understand that this does not in any way take away from the truth of the bible and the book of job. Read job commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Current mythology used the term leviathan for a monster of chaos who lived in the sea, and the sea itself was a boisterous deity who could be aroused professionally. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. Two of the early church fathers, origen 185254 ad and augustine 354430 ad, both interpreted genesis metaphorically, rejecting literal interpretations. The history of rome brief overview of roman history from her dawn to the first punic war. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of job. Sep 14, 2011 reading the bible as mythology is not a new concept.
Tartarus is used only one time in the bible as the place. Job 1 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on the. Moreover, god specifically stated that the three friends, eliphaz, bildad and zophar had spoken folly job 42. The poetic disputations are set within the prose framework of an ancient legend that. Job chapter 3 coffmans commentary of the new testament. Elsewhere in the hebrew bible and ancient babylonian literature, leviathan is a mythical.
Tartarus, and hades are both greek gods that predate the new testament by at least 700 years. Job, possibly the strangest book in the bible, is based on legends going. Is the sons of god passage in genesis 6 adapted pagan mythology. Here is a prayer that he might be delivered from the sting of his afflictions, which is sin. God created adam first from the dust of the ground and then made eve from adams rib. The book of job, named after its protagonist apparently not an israelite. Although the bible tells us that eve was the first to eat the fruit, it also places the blame on adam for bringing sin into this world. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is.
Bible roman empire map large map of the roman empire in the early first century click around on the places. Job is the name of a book in the hebrew bible and the name of the books main character. To suggest that the godly men and writers of the bible believed in these mythological creatures is to make an abrasive and completely unwarranted. You can find the best commentary on job for you using the tools on the right side. The loss of job s property, and the death of his children. Churches, theological seminaries and bible schools will find an excellent aid in this biblical commentary on the book of job. Job free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. You have heard of the patience of job, says the apostle, jam. The bible tells us that the first woman was named eve genesis 3. Job proves faithful to god in prosperity and in adversity. Job chapter 3 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. Jobs complaint of god, as one that could not be appeased and would not relent, was the language of his corruption.
It should be kept in mind that job is not the author, but the principal character. Date the letter states several times that it was written while paul was in prison 3. There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job we have observed in the argument, that the firstborn son of nahor, abrahams brother, was called uz. Habel has contributed a small but helpful study for preaching the whole book of job. Caird, the language and imagery of the bible, chapter, the language of myth of gods destruction of watery chaos cf. Even though the bible may make allusions to mythology, neither the book of job nor any of the old testament has the slightest hint of belief in any such mythology smick, 1970, p. Rather, job is presented as a devout monotheist who rejected thenpopular mythological concepts cf. Job, a wealthy man, blessed with a loving wife and family, is known for his goodness and devotion to the. Book of job matthew henrys bible commentary concise. The holocaust, or burnt offering, in patriarchal times, was offered literally, caused to ascend, referring to the smoke. The tabernacle of ancient israel brief overview of the tabernacle of moses in the wilderness and the ark of the covenant. It indicates that job lived and wrote his book at a time and in a part of the world which had no knowledge of the books of moses. Jun 25, 2019 job is one of the most famous people in scripture, yet he is rarely listed as a favorite bible character.
A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so humbly to god at the end. Such honest, forthright wrestling with evil and the silence of god has. The rahab bdb 923, meaning pride or arrogance of job 26. F note that all who ever lived, the kings and counselors, as well as the slaves and stillborn infants, do not merely cease to exist in the grave, they are at rest. Although most of the book consists of the words of job and his friends, job himself was not the author. Another look at the mythological elements in the book of job.
In genesis 3, we are told that the serpent deceived eve, and. Such an evaluation as that cannot be applied to jobs words, because god himself said that, my servant job has spoken of me the thing that is right. Bce commentary in which job is said to decline an offer of help from royal physicians, and which inserts religious notes lacking in the canonical book. Verses 310 let the day perish wherein i was born, and the night which said, there is a manchild conceived. Job s complaint of god, as one that could not be appeased and would not relent, was the language of his corruption. Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. Job 3 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Job 1 niv prologue in the land of uz there bible gateway. 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. Anderson observed that, the book of job knows nothing of the heaven of bliss or the hell of torment, but there is never a thought that death means extinction. Job is one of the most famous people in scripture, yet he is rarely listed as a favorite bible character. We wondered that a man should be so patient as he was job 1.
This is one potential parallel that many people familiar with the bible and greek mythology have wondered about. Job, in the great lament tradition of ancient israel, wrestles profoundly and honestly with. Top 5 commentaries on the book of job ligonier ministries. Reading the bible as mythology is not a new concept. There is a mediator, a daysman, or umpire, for us, even gods own beloved son, who has purchased peace for us with the blood of his cross, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto god through him. This summary of the book of job provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of job. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of job. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a.
About the author matthew henry was born at broad oak, iscoyd, a farmhouse on the borders of flintshire and shropshire, wales, united kingdom. Words in boxes except for words in brackets are from the bible. The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. 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. Job commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Job 26 commentary explaining the book bible study guide. The poetic discourseswhich probe the meaning of jobs sufferings and the. Early in the 20th century, german theologian rudolf bultmann called for a demythologizing of the new testament for many of the. Of special interest is the inclusion of readings from the earliest translation of the book of job, the recently published targum aramaic translation recovered from cave xi of khirbet qumran, in the judean wilderness near the dead sea, perhaps the.
Of special interest is the inclusion of readings from the earliest translation of the book of job, the recently published targum aramaic translation recovered from cave xi of khirbet qumran, in the judean wilderness near the dead sea, perhaps the version which was. 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 is quite similar in many ways to colossians, but that book places more emphasis on the work of christ, where this book emphasizes more the involvement of the church. Job is sure that god does not discover things, nor judge of them, as men do. It focuses on the question of why the innocent suffer. Job 9 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of job in easyenglish. Book of job complete bible commentary verse by verse. Brief explanations of the technical resources used in this commentary. Job 3 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. There are no references to the law of moses, the tabernacle, the priesthood, the judges or kings, etc. But the odious judgments made by his friends caution us against making toocertain application of any model to our own lives. Study job using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning.
Job 1 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. After this job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. Brief definitions of hebrew verbal forms that impact exegesis. This is a significant link in the chain of evidence that makes job a far older book, even, than the pentateuch.