Do you think Job was a real person, or simply a literary figure in an ancient drama?

Answer 1

A literary drama based on a real person.

Answer 2

I have heard both sides of this question and tried to discover some indication that either was more plausible than the other. I did not find anything that convinced me Job was not a real person. His genealogy seems to be indicated in Chronicles, but we cannot be certain that they are one and the same man. In the end, I found it interesting that the Book of Job is unaltered in Mohammad's inclusion of it in the Quran. Both the Christian and Islam Holy Book with regard to this one Book are the same. I have decided that, for me, Job is an actual person because no other place in the Bible uses a literary figure to make a point. Some would point to the fact that Job is presented as a righteous human being which implies that he is without sin... yet, no man is without sin. I take issue with this assertion. At the time of Job, man could make sacrifice for the remission of sin and in the opening verses of Job, he is making atonement in a customary manner for his sons. There is some indication that the atonement was on Job. Either way, there are valuable lessons to be learned from Job. Just as we take the rest of the Bible as it is written, I have chosen to take the Book of Job just as it is written.

Answer 3

I believed so, He is a real person, righteous and upright man in the sight of the God (Eloah). Job was best known as the guy who was subjected to extreme suffering to prove the greatness of God

In the story, Satan challenges God, saying that the loyal and righteous Job would abandon his faith if he were the victim of a series of terrible trials. God takes the bet and Job is subjected to a slew of raw deals. Job gets angry, but ultimately realizes the power and glory of God, and his faith carries him through. The theme of the story addresses the question of why bad things happen to good people, and is the source of the phrase "the patience of Job."

The story of Job proved the Sovereignty of God, That He controls everything from
A) creation
B) Administration
C) Salvation
E) Reprobation
F) Operation
G) The Human Will
H) Human Responsibility
I) Prayer

Many Christians hold that Job is a historical prototype of Jesus Christ: the Man of Sorrows who suffered the most unjustly of all, under the providence and watchful will of God.

There are several references to the Book of Job throughout the New Testament, especially the Epistles. Specifically:

Rev. 9:6 alludes to Job 3:21; COMPARE 2 Thes. 2:8 to Job 4:9; 1 Cor. 3:19 quotes Job 5:13; Heb. 12:5, Jas. 1:12, and Rev. 3:19 all parallel Job 5:17 and Job 23:10; compare Jas. 4:14 to Job 7:6; compare Heb. 2:6 with Job 7:17; compare Heb. 12:26 with Job 9:6; Rom. 9:20 alludes to Job 9:32; Rom. 11:33 parallels Job 10:7; compare Acts 17:28 with Job 12:10; compare 1 Cor. 4:5 with Job 12:22; compare 1 Pet. 1:24 with Job 14:2; compare Lk. 19:22 with Job 15:6; Rom. 1:9 parallels Job 16:19; compare 1 John 3:2 with Job 19:26; Rev. 14:10, 19:15 parallel Job 21:20; both Rom. 11:34 and 1 Cor. 2:16 quote Isa. 40:13, which parallels Job 21:22; Mt. 25:42 alludes to Job 22:7; Jas. 4:6 and 1 Pet. 5:5 both quote Prov. 3:34, which parallels Job 22:29; compare Acts 1:7 with Job 24:1; Heb. 4:13 parallels Job 26:6; Mt. 16:26 alludes to Job 27:8; compare Jas. 1:5 with Job 32:8; 1 Jo. 1:9 alludes to Job 33:27-28; Jas. 5:4 alludes to Job 34:28; Rev. 16:21 alludes to Job 38:22-23; Mt. 6:26 alludes to Job 38:41; and finally, Rom. 11:35 quotes Job 41:11.

Answer 4

Galatians 4: written "unto the (bewitched) churches" notes it is "allegory" in both "covenants".
http://www.godshew.org/Allegory.htm

And if Bible notes over 20 times in NT it's "mystery";
Well then, perhaps it is allegory-ic mystery to solve.
Perhaps there's an over-all more-all to such mystery.

And if scriptures were written aforetime for our "learning", as noted in Rom 15:4; And Mt 9:13 says go ye and "learn" what meaneth I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; Then go figure.

Perhaps "grace is sufficient" meaneth no law req'd.

Rumor has it Job is the oldest book in the Bible.
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/job.html

Reason to endure to the end is to be saved(only).
Option: being saved + destroyed after, like them.
And perhaps being saved(only) is by grace(only).
Which is to allegory say: come out from "them".

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ WITH YOU ALL. AMEN.

Answer 5

Some opinions hold that Job was one of Pharoah's (of Exodus infamy) advisors and the story is of his life after he left Pharoah's court. Others opine the story is a parable.

The interesting thing is that Job is the only book which does not specify a geneology or any particular time period.

Personally, I believe it's a parable.

Answer 6

Job was a real person. Ezekiel 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Job lived before the law because he offered burnt offering for his children. The priest was the ones that made burnt offering under the Law of Moses. Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Job lived after Noah because he was the first make burnt offering. Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. It was also after the flood because at that time the earth was not on an angle but was sitting straight. Job 9: 6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.he earth was not on an angle but was sitting straight. Job knew about the flood. Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? Job also knew about Adam. Job 31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Job lived after the flood and before the law. He was from the fifth son of Jacob. Job’s two friends Bildad and Eliphaz are descents are found in the Book of Genesis. Job 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. Bildad the Shuhite: Genesis 25: 2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. Eliphaz the Temanite: Genesis 36:11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. Job had to live after his friends. In Genesis 46:13 we find Job’s father is the fifth son of Jacob. Genesis 46:13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

Answer 7

Real or not, he certainly had the sh*it kicked out of him, now didn't he? I would say, with some assurance, that he is a fine example upon which to base tragedy. Perhaps Shakespeare used the story of Job as the wellspring for Lear and Hamlet? Lear, for the total destruction of his world and Hamlet for the father figure aspect to the story.

Interesting idea. Thanks for posting. You got my creative juices flowing.

Answer 8

Literary figure

Answer 9

Real

Answer 10

Why give Job a WHOLE book to himself then and then have him listed for all the questions that he posed to God in that book. Then all of his friends who spoke back to him trying to answer his questions and dispute his sufferings, all those friends would have to be imaginary friends too. Job was real, get with the program.