Calvin's Teaching on Job: Proclaiming the Incomprehensible God

by Derek W. H. Thomas

Publisher:

Christian Focus

, 2004

Overview

For many of us the book of Job stands directly in the center of one of the most complicated problems of life—the interaction between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Its implications for a world of suffering and injustice is one that has provoked much tortuous thought for both Calvinists and Arminians.

How Job deals with tremendous suffering—losing most of his earthly possessions, family and health—and how God deals with Job's suffering, does not necessarily make a nicely packaged story. The issues Job faced are ones that all Christians will struggle with to one degree or another. Calvin is still an influential theologian and was an excellent preacher. Derek Thomas uses Calvin's sermons on Job as a model for preachers today.

Key Features

• Exegetical studies on the book of Job
• Discourse models pertaining to Calvin's sermons on Job
• Logos editions allow for quick and easy document navigation

Contents

Top Highlights

“Calvin did not believe the book of Job contained solutions to these great moral dilemmas of the universe. Rather, he sought to turn the congregation in Geneva, and his own soul, to the reality of God’s sovereignty and power in the contingencies of seemingly disordered life.” (Page 33)

“bring men to repentance’;¹⁸ it weans us from dependence on the things of this world;¹⁹ it provokes us to prayer.” (Page 227)

“incomprehensibility, rather than an elaborate explanation of the problem of pain” (Page 373)

Product Details

• Title: Calvin's Teaching on Job: Proclaiming the Incomprehensible God
• Author: Derek Thomas
• Publisher: Christian Focus Publication
• Publication Date: 2004
• Pages: 416

About Derek W. H. Thomas

Originally from Wales, Derek Thomas is the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology at the Jackson campus of RTS. After pastoring for 17 years in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Dr. Thomas returned to the USA in 1996 where, in addition to his work at the seminary, he serves as the Minister of Teaching at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. In addition to serving in the pastorate, Derek has served as editor of the Evangelical Presbyterian, a monthly denominational magazine. A graduate of RTS in 1978, he gained a Ph.D. from the University of Wales, Lampeter in Calvin’s preaching on the book of Job. He has written or edited 15 books and has contributed to commentary series by Banner of Truth and Evangelical Press. He also co-edited Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship, (P & R) with Philip Ryken and Ligon Duncan. In 2004, Derek Thomas became Editorial Director for The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and the editor of its ezine, Reformation 21 (www.reformation21.org ). His interests include the music of Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner, and Gustav Mahler, and he has a passion for good coffee and blue cheese