Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Job

[gmw803]

Jim, I think you and I share the opinion of the truth of scripture. But Job 3-37 is a problem to me.

Now if I can be afforded some latitude, the Bible actually does contain several false statements. The earliest may be "You will not surely die." Acts 5 says "Yea, for so much." But these false statements become true when the complete sentence reads "Sapphira said, 'Yea, for so much.'" But how far can you take this? In Job 3-37, all but six verses are covered by an acknowledgment that somebody said something. What can we gain from any truth Job is supposed to teach - when the "And he said" introduction puts the truth of what he said up for grabs?

The crown jewel of Job is 19:25-26. Yet it is sandwiched by two abominable statements: "the hand of God has touched me! (Job 19:21)" and "wrath brings the punishment of the sword (Job 19:29)."

[jimwalton]

You're so very right. Just because somebody said something in the Bible doesn't mean it's true. When the serpent lied in Gn. 3, we know it's true that that is a falsehood. It's a lie, to be absolutely honest. So just because, for instance, Job says (1.21), "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised," doesn't mean much. We have to discern (1) Is this good theology? and (2) Is this an example of how to respond to suffering?

We have to evaluate all such things in the Bible. David says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Seriously? If you seek God, you get whatever you want??? What distinguishes YHWH from Santa Claus?

See, we can't be foolish; we must be both wise and discerning. The text simply reports what people said, but doesn't necessarily delineate which responses are true and commendable and which miss the target. That doesn't mean the teaching of the Bible is relative, but only that as a people together we have to discern which are which. And that's quite do-able.

In the book of Job, we cannot conclude that because Job or one of his friends speaks that his words are beneficial or even true. They aren't necessarily a biblically-authorized response pattern to the issues of suffering, righteousness, and God's character. We must always maintain the distinction between description (something somebody said) and prescription (something that is true). That's where the whole counsel and affirmation of Scripture is brought to bear so we can discern between statements and truth. The Bible is a magnificent compilation, and giving attention to the whole counsel of Scripture helps us sort out which statements are food and which are scraps.