{"id":37686,"date":"2016-05-28T13:57:18","date_gmt":"2016-05-28T11:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/job-and-his-friends\/"},"modified":"2024-11-18T20:13:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T18:13:04","slug":"job-and-his-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/job-and-his-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Job and his friends"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bible structures<\/h2>\n

Every Bible book and almost every text passage has a structure based on its content. A Bible structure takes care of the content and shows the inner context of the text. It’s like a map for a Bible book. Such a Bible structure is an aid to understanding. We can easily read correlations from this. Often the connection is quite regular, which is why it is sometimes called “skeleton overview”.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”201714″]<\/p>\n

Structure (Inversion)<\/h3>\n

A<\/span> (1:1-5) Introduction. Historical.
\n– B<\/span> (1:6-2:10) Satan’s Attack. Job deprived of everything.
\n— C<\/span> (2:11-13) The Three Friends. Your arrival.
\n— D<\/span> (3:1-31:40) Job and his friends.
\n—- E (32:1-37:24) The ministry of Elihu: The turning point.<\/strong>
\n— D<\/span> (38:1-42:6) Job and God
\n— C<\/span> (42:7-9) The Three Friends. Your departure.
\n– B<\/span> (42:10-13) Satan’s defeat. Job doubly blessed.
\nA<\/span> (42:14-17) Graduation. Historical.<\/p>\n

The figure from the Book of Job is an “introversion”, a “reversal”, whereby the themes come back mirrored once again. Thus, the introduction (A) mirrored by the conclusion (A), and Satan’s attack (B) is mirrored in the passage of Satan’s defeat (B). The same letters or colors represent similar parts. In an introversion, in the middle is the turnaround. In the book of Job, this happens when Elihu, a fourth friend, starts talking. From then on, the story reverses.<\/p>\n

So far we have read the first sections A, B and C. They were all part of the introduction. Now the actual book gets going. The situation is described – now comes the assessment, now come the questions, now follow the discussions. Until now, the opening credits. Now the movie starts. For no less than 28 chapters (out of 42) we read of Job’s lament and the reflections of Job and his friends. This is the largest part of the book. It is not God who speaks, but Job and his friends.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-731465″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”142063″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”361403″]<\/p>\n

Outline<\/h3>\n

(D) Chapter 3:1-31:40
\n(Numbers refer after the chapters)<\/p>\n

Job<\/h4>\n

Job’s Lament (3) – Introduction<\/p>\n

First round<\/strong>
\nSpeech Eliphaz (4, 5)
\nJob’s answer (6, 7)
\nSpeech Bildad (8)
\nJob’s answer (9, 10)
\nSpeech Zofar (11)
\nJob’s response (12-14)<\/p>\n

Second round<\/strong>
\nSpeech Elifas (15)
\nJob’s answer (16, 17)
\nSpeech Bildad (18)
\nJob’s answer (19)
\nSpeech Zofar (20)
\nJob’s answer (21)<\/p>\n

Third round<\/strong>
\nSpeech Elifas (22)
\nJob’s answer (23, 24)
\nSpeech Bildad (25)
\nJob’s response (26-27:10)
\nSpeech Zofar (27:11-28:28)<\/p>\n

HIOB Job’s vindication (29-31) – summary<\/p>\n

Source: E.W. Bullinger, “The Book of Job.”[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”688433”]<\/p>\n

The central statement<\/h3>\n

It’s how you look at it that matters. As the story unfolds, the perspectives change. These are the real concern of the book. By the end of the book, not only has Job’s perspective changed, but perhaps we, as readers of the story, have broadened our understanding as well.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-731465″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”565776″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”131337″]<\/p>\n

The human perspective<\/h3>\n

Job’s friends draw conclusions from different perspectives:<\/p>\n