Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. Job knew that god would rescue him from his troubles. Job 1 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. He stated here that those who go down into sheol shall come up no more. Matthew henrys concise commentary on the whole bible job. In the old testament we read gods word as it was spoken to his people israel. This passage highlights one of the book of job s best style choices. Eliphaz responds that job, who has comforted other people, now shows that he never really understood their pain. At this thought job recalls his previous wish for new life after death see notes on 14. The lifestyle and longevity of job are similar to that of the patriarchs found in genesis. Book of job complete bible commentary verse by verse. Most of the book of job consists of dialogues between job and his friends in which.
Book of job complete bible commentary verse by verse henry, matthew on. If these events happened after the giving of the law, it must be one of the only old testament books written then that makes no reference whatever to the history, nation, or religion of the israelites or jews. When faced with difficult trials, many people have resonated with the book of jobthe story of a man who lost nearly everything, seemingly abandoned by god. There is only one waythrough faith and trust in jesus christ. In this thorough and accessible commentary, christopher ash helps us glean encouragement from gods word by directing our attention to the final explanation and. How can we receive eternal life after death and avoid an eternity in the lake of fire. The innumerable recorded and researched cases of past life experiences clearly point to life after death. My response is that job does not believe god is going to end his life but job explains that if god. This name might have been derived from the hebrew word for persecution, thus meaning persecuted one. Jobs suffering did not come because he was bad but rather because of his unwavering faithfulness to god. This is a continuation of the book life in the world unseen.
According to the biblical witness, god leads gods people, again and again, from slavery to freedom, from exile to homecoming, and from death to life. The book of job is one of the most magnificent documents of literary history. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job. Easyenglish is a system of simple english designed by wycliffe associates uk. Only if there is life after death can this truth about the lord be borne out.
He insists job only serves god because god protects him and seeks gods permission to test job s faith and loyalty. God seems utterly arbitrary in the way he parcels out suffering and comfort in this life. Andersons volume is part of the totc and is necessarily limited by the series. If you were to fit it chronologically, it should be place in the early chapters of genesis. He wishes that his birth had been shrouded in darkness and longs to have never been born, feeling that light, or life, only intensifies his misery.
Only after her death does she receive honour as the city laments her death. Therefore i despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. He lived soon after abraham, or perhaps before that patriarch. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5. Some bible scholars debate whether he was an actual person or legend, but job is mentioned as a historical figure by the prophet ezekial ezekial 14. In this months feature, wayne jackson explores some of these queries.
According to biblical scholars, the book of job is the oldest book in the bible. But job s confidence of new life after death does enable him to hold fast to three of his cherished convictions, namely, the sovereign power of god, the goodness and justice of god, and the faithfulness of his own heart. Some people struggle with the book of job because, when they look at the life of jesus, they cant find anything in the ministry of jesus that corresponds to job s story. I always start with the key question in the book of job. He shall not in this world, but he shall in another and better. Job in poetic, metaphoric speech, likened both life job 7.
This commentary on the controversial book of job is very different from most of the seminary and church teachings so prevalent today, for it attests to the historicity of a man named job who understood at the end of his life that god cannot be. Job never lost his faith in god, even under the most heartbreaking circumstances that tested him to his core. David guzik commentary on job 14, where job meditates on what lies beyond this life, and even considers the idea that man may not live after death. In answering questions about life after death, we are left with only two sources to consult. But god, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to his redeemed. The book of job opens with a scene in heaven where satan comes to accuse job before god. Perhaps the oldest book in the bible, the book of job touches on many subjects of science and history. Job damns the day he was born, relating life and death to light and darkness. We are not told job s tribe, which would be a very unusual. Gordis, the book of job, commentary new translation and special studies new york. After his suffering was completed, job lived 140 years and had enough time to ponder all the events of his life and write down his own story job 42.
But the odious judgments made by his friends caution us against making toocertain application of any model to our own lives. After this job lived a hundred and forty years some conjecture that he was seventy when his troubles came upon him. These characters are all about asking questions to get their listeners thinkingthey dont really. The book of job asks a question about the afterlife very simply. Life can be hard, and sometimes it seems like god doesnt even care. Job accuses god of being unjust and not operating the world according to principles of justice, and his friends believe that job s sin caused his suffering.
A study of the book of philippians previous page next page. It gives us demonstration of the continuity of life through and after death. Life is short, and in a little time men are cut off. The validity of this observation is aptly illustrated in the book of job. Job 14 is a major ot chapter on conscious life after death. Bibles dig into the word and become a bible expert with amazing facts line of study bibles and more. Various institutions have performed research about the afterlife, near death experiences, or about consciousness after death, finding proof that life. Jacques bolduc suggested in his commentary of 1637 that the book of job may have been authored in a secondary way by moses who found it in its original. Job thought that his body would sleep after his death. Shall such a creature pretend to blame the appointments of god. But this story is about more than just mass destruction. Most likely it was written by job himself, and it is the most ancient book. His reference to his flesh being clothed with worms, could be either a figure of speech or literally true.
If god did not do it during jobs life, he must do it after jobs death. Job s length of life is patriarchal, two hundred years. Taken along with his ascension, which is but, so to speak, the prolongation of the point into. A bible study in easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ecclesiastes. In this epic wager between god and the devil, discover how job reacts to the shocking curses inflicted upon him and what we can learn from his incredible example of remaining faithful through suffering. Agreeing with this are the following considerations. After this job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. That fact proved to job that there must be life after death job 19.
As with other books of the bible, job bears the name of the narratives primary character. They decide, therefore, that they cant find jesus in the book of job. Job had 10 children who appear to be adults at the time his suffering began. Commentary on the book of job by matthew henry old. Bible study commentary i am the resurrection and life the. Throughout the book, job, his wife, and his friends speculate on why he, an upright man, suffers.
This book is so called from job, whose prosperity, afflictions, and restoration, are here recorded. Thou also dost open thine eyes on him, and bring him into judgment with thyself. The souls of the wicked live after death, but it is in everlasting misery. He is now confident that there must be a new and victorious life after death, for if god is to make a declaration that job is righteous, job must be there to hear it. Pauls perspective on life and death is founded upon the bedrock. Second cycle of speeches 1521 objectives in studying this section 1 to observe the progress of the great debate, in which jobs friends are unable to convince job that he is some great sinner who deserves his suffering 2 to note how job continues to vent his complaint, and while losing hope for. It deals with problems which indicate some advance in religious thought.
And saw his sons, and his sons sons though his children were not doubled to him, yet in his childrens children they were more than doubled. Study the bible online using commentary on job 1 and more. It is again an interesting book, particularly if you are pretty fanatical about wanting to know what happens after death. And maintains that gods judgments are for the wicked. When christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their lord. Job introduction commentary commentary critical and.
All over the world during the easter season, multitudes will gather in churches to celebrate the resurrection of jesus christ and hear about life after death. Eusebius fixes it two ages before moses, that is, about the time of isaac. Jesus was innocent and yet died for you if you have trusted in him but if youve never repented and trusted in christ, you will find the hardest time ever rev 20. This time, however, his words are more than just a wish. In the midst of suffering, we must never lose our hope in god. The book of job, in the old testament, opens with words both majestic and onceuponatimeish. However compared with the first book, it should be said that there is a lot of repetition. 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. You can find the best commentary on job for you using the tools on the right side. Strengthen your walk with christ with these life changing devotionals from your friends at amazing facts. For believers, life after death is eternal life in heaven with god.
Job 1 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. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. The book of job has long been hailed by biblical scholars as a literary masterpiece. The book of job new international commentary on the old testament hartley, john e. Aug 16, 2018 16 life lessons and commentary from the book of job job bible study job was a very rich man, and although he did not belong to the people of israel, he worshiped the lord and was a truly good person. Later in the book of job, job would learn many more things about death. Job s children are likely with the lord after their death and job had 10 more children after that and. The man the book of job describes a man who went through more intense pain that most of us can only imagine.
In the last chapter of the book, job is commended by god for speaking to me rightly 42. For unbelievers, life after death is eternity in the lake of fire. Yet very few have taken the literary dimensions of the text into account in their exegetical analysis. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. The book of job is probably a late part of the old testament. Job 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the bible. After the whole nasty sores fiasco, he would choose death over existing in this pain and humiliation. Jan 02, 2020 life on earth is a test, a preparation for what is to come. There was life after death, and that life was to be in the presence of the living god. Public fascination with near death experiences seem to bear this out. Anderson is a renowned scholar, and the commentary reflects his learning without becoming overly. Matthew henrys concise commentary on the book of job.
Or from an arabic word meaning repent, thus bearing the name repentant one. Satanthe tradition was widely spread that he had been the agent in adams temptation. The author of ecclesiastes thought that it was a hard test to believe these things. The bible story of job, from the book of job, is a powerful tale of testing the devotion and fortitude of the human will. What the bible says about life after death bible resources.
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. In this bible story from the book of job, there is a wealthy man named job residing in an area called uz with his. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is. Job is restored and in a bizarre twist marries dinah. While enoch did not experience resurrection, he did.
Either we turn to human experience or we turn to the word of god. Job s suffering did not come because he was bad but rather because of his unwavering faithfulness to god. The book of job new international commentary on the old. This strongly implies that it occurred before the giving of the law. Job seems to have been content with his lot despite his time of suffering recorded in the rest of the book. Apr, 2020 god seems utterly arbitrary in the way he parcels out suffering and comfort in this life. Indeed, a group of doctors and scientists report, after a fouryear study, evidence that human life continues after biological death. Job lived southeast of israel, perhaps east of edom and north of arabia see lamentations 4. One of these is to examine some of the penetrating questions that are posed in the book. Given the number of places job denies the idea of life after death job 7.
This treatise may be studied from several vantage points. Does this not support the teaching of consciousness after death. 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. Read job 1 commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. When speaking of death, he is likening it to an imposed period of time where his actions are restricted. This would make the total life of job around 200 years old.
Masterful work and approach ashs commentary on job is a comforting and helpful reminder of the absolute sovereignty of god. Job proves faithful to god in prosperity and in adversity. This would place job, most likely, at least in his fifties. Bible study commentary on jesus the great i am i am the resurrection and the life p2 the conqueror of death and our future hope. Eliphaz urges that the sin of sinners in their ruin. The first point is the surety eternal life will follow this temporary life. Life after death revealed what really happens in the afterlife. Job chapter 7 coffmans commentary of the new testament. Jobs story of new life after inexplicable suffering contributes to that trajectory in the old testament that culminates in the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Is there an expectation of eternal life in the old testament.
As keith mathison says, for those seeking a more introductory level commentary on the book of job, francis andersons commentary is the best place to start. Jobs children are likely with the lord after their death and job had 10 more children after that and was blessed beyond what he had in the beginning. Job curses the day he was born, comparing life and death to light and darkness. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. If we turn to human experience, we find many guesses, many ideas, many theoriesbut no sure answers. Did job believe in an afterlife where wrongs could be righted. What is job saying he believes about death and what follows in job. They should have gone a bit further and looked at his cross.
Verses 612 verses 612 job was not only so rich and great, but withal so wise and good, and had such an interest both in heaven and earth, that one would think the mountain of his prosperity stood so strong that it could not be moved. For example, job learned that he will live after his death job 19. There is much to learn about the normal christian life, much to learn about helpful, religious friends who think unbiblically, and much to learn about evil. 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. But god had arranged that test so that people could see their own weakness. Verses 612 matthew henrys commentary bible gateway.
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