2 of 5—The Book of Job: an awkward combination of two separate tales?

A video response to ProfMTH's excellent series on The Book of Job: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3cpK1zcMXWw

By Todd Allen Gates, author of "Dialogue with a Christian Proselytizer."

This video will present my reasons for why I believe the Book of Job was composed by a minimum of two separate authors: authors who were telling two very different stories, and who had very different ideas about the nature of God.

AUTHOR 1's STORY (found in Chapter 1, most of Chapter 2, and the book's last few sentences): a short tale about Satan's bet with God that pain & suffering will make even the most righteous man abandon his faith and curse God. The experiment is carried out on a man named Job, and when Job doesn't curse God even after he's afflicted with great tragedies, the tale concludes with God rewarding Job by doubling his previous fortune.
AUTHOR 1's THEISTIC PERSPECTIVE: God cares for us and rewards us for good behavior--and even suffering can ultimately enrich our lives when we bear it with strength, patience, and trust in God.

AUTHOR 2's STORY (the last 40 chapters, excluding the last few "happily-ever-after" sentences): Job's complaints about life's injustices and God's indifference. The story concludes with God's overpowering speech from the whirlwind and Job's "no comment" reply.
AUTHOR 2's DEIST PERSPECTIVE: There may be a god, but this god apparently doesn't care about justice or suffering, and as a rule doesn't speak to us. And if He were to speak to us, it would only be to tell us that God is incomprehensible to humans, so we shouldn't even bother trying.

This video series is also posted on the Rational Response Squad site, where there's no word/character limitation on the Comments section: see http://www.rationalresponders.com/making_sense_of_the_book_of_job_two_separat...

Category:

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• Bible
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• Lord
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• evil
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• ToddAllenGates
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• ToddAllenGates2

[SuperiorSavior]

Job was always my favourite work of literature in the Bible. Author two's contribution, I always used to use against Christian apologists, for God's claim that we shouldn't even try to understand him; if we accept the bible, we should accept this claim in Job, and reject the Bible!

[Elaina43]

fantastic!

[tsedoklizhi]

yeah,but can't explain those miracles in your life that did happen to u. there is a God and The devil. v v. even if u don't choose a side. ur damned. It's a bummer that u can't choose to be free. ur always going to be under someone or something. all the way to the start to the end.

[brainouty]

Well, RPFS2008, the personification of Destruction actually began what -- 4000 BC or so. It was a common cultural idea, and Hebrew uses it both in the OT. Revelation is not a new use of the term. What was new, was the transliteration of the Hebrew into the Greek, in Revelation. Greek word equivalent stems from apollumi, from which the Greeks got Apollos. Ergo Satan aka Apollos aka Abaddon is as old as Greek culture, & probably older than that, yet as current as Mothman (book not movie).

[RPFS2008]

*decomposing

[RPFS2008]

As I understand it, it wasn't until Christianity, and most notably Revelations, that Abaddon became a person or being. Prior to that it was known as a place or state of destruction or dying or decompossing.

Perhaps I am wrong tho - I don't know hebrew.

[brainouty]

Abaddon is both a place and a person, RPFS2008. Often places are named after the being founding them. Actually, Hebrew Abaddon means 'Destruction', so the demon named Abaddon in Revelation is a nickname. Doesn't seem to be the same as Satan's, though. Since Satan will be lord of hell/Lake of Fire, to name the place for who will head it, makes sense. The Abaddon in Revelation is RELEASED by Satan, kills the two witnesses in Rev 11, so probably is not the same person. Hope this helps.

[RPFS2008]

Isn't Abaddon a place not a person?

[brainouty]

Just to clear the air: I'm not interested in converting you or defending the Book of Job. I just get 'anal' about misrepresentations fo the text. Whether someone agrees, disagrees (moi aussi) is not an issue.

[brainouty]

Todd, as far as the 'bad things' comment, you know that the discussion is a report of what everyone SAYS whether true or not, don't you? So that doesn't mean God agrees with everything said.

Having said that, Isaiah 45:7 says God is responsible for making the evil one (if it's properly translated), so still your underlying point is valid.

[brainouty]

Hey, Todd: I skimmed through and found these references, then stopped looking at Chap 29's beginning.

Job 4:15-18, fallen angels; 5:1, (elect angels), 15:15 (maybe both types of angels); 26:4 (accusation that Bildad speaks for the devil). 26:6 one of Satan's (or a head demon) by name, Abaddon & also 28:22.

I didn't look up nicknames yet or do Hebrew allusive searches.

[brainouty]

Todd, Satan is referred to by many names and allusions throughout the OT. Keywords in the Hebrew to denote Satan don't necessarily show up in the English. Again, a comment isn't enough space to explain, this answer will just have to wait for the exegesis. But surely you can imagine that much is lost in translation. :)