Job (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary | SHBC)
Overview
The book of Job is considered by many to be the crown jewel of biblical literature. It centers on the central theme of Job’s struggle. Samuel Balentine presents the book of Job as a truly astonishing declaration about what it means to live in a world where order breaks down and chaos runs amok, where the innocent suffer and the wicked thrive, where cries for help go unanswered. He leads readers on an in-depth and far-reaching look at the nature of the book of Job. Balentine also helpfully examines various attempts by many others who have explored Job’s essential struggle.
Top Highlights
“One of the reasons many consider Job to be the crown jewel of biblical literature is its claim to speak ‘what is right’ about God.” (Page 3)
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“The ambiguity in the meaning of ‘bless’ in Job may in fact be more than a mere linguistic peculiarity. Each time the word ‘bless’ occurs in the prologue—six times in all—the reader must discern whether the meaning is ‘bless’ or ‘curse.’ Such ambiguity is representative of the book of Job, as the debates between Job and his friends will make clear. What does it mean to bless God or to be blessed by God? What does it mean to curse God or to be cursed by God?” (Page 49) |
“This theological orientation suggests that the book of Job functions somewhat like a sequel to the book of Genesis. In contemporary terms, we might think of it as ‘The Creation Story: Part Two.’ The question the sequel will explore is, ‘How will Job’s life in the garden of Uz be different from life in the paradise of Eden?’” (Pages 41–42)
“ ‘You have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has done’ (42:7, 8).” (Page 3)
“God did not create the conditions that make devotion natural and prosperity the norm, would God hear the praises of human beings who have other choices to make and different reasons for making them? Is God alone, apart from any reward or retribution, worthy of loyalty and devotion?” (Page 54)
- Title: Job
- Author: Samuel E. Balentine
- Series: Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary
- Publisher: Smyth & Helwys
- Print Publication Date: 2006
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. O.T. Job › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9781573127776, 1573127779
- Resource ID: LLS:SHC18JOB
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:57:55Z