Mark A. Copeland
AUTHOR AND DATE OF WRITING

Who wrote the book, and when? No one really knows. Jewish tradition attributes the book to Moses, and
other authors have been suggested (Job, Elihu, Solomon, Isaiah, Hezekiah, and Baruch, Jeremiah’s
scribe). “All that can be said with certainty is that the author was a loyal Hebrew who was not
strictly bound by the popular creed that assumed suffering was always the direct result of sin.”
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) Because the author is unknown, it’s date has been hotly debated among
scholars. Some think it was written before Moses (pre 1500 B.C.). Others put it at the time of Solomon
(ca. 900 B.C.), and some even as late as the Babylonian Exile or later (post 600 B.C.).

The uncertainty of author and date does not nullify the book’s inspiration, for it is affirmed in the New
Testament. Paul quotes from it on several occasions in his writings (cf. 1 Co 3:19 with Job 5:13; and
Ro 11:35 with Job 41:11). For the Christian who accepts the inspiration of the New Testament, such
evidence is sufficient.

THE HISTORICITY OF THE BOOK

Even though inspired, are we to take the events described in it as historically true? There are several
reasons for believing that they are:

w The style of the opening and close of the book certainly conform to other Biblical
narratives that are historical (cf. 1:1 with 1 Sam 1:1 and Lk 1:5).
w In the book of Ezekiel, Job is mentioned along with Noah and Daniel, two other
figures of history (Eze 14:14).
w James, the Lord’s brother, refers to Job as an example of perseverance (Ja 5:11).
THE SETTING OF THE BOOK

The historical events appear to be set in the “Patriarchal” period (i.e., sometime between Noah and
Moses). There are no allusions to the Law of Moses in the book, but there is a mention of a flood
(22:16). Job functions as a priest in offering sacrifices for his family (1:5), similar to what we find with
Abraham (cf. Gen 12:7). His longevity is typical of the patriarchs (42:16; cf. Gen 11:22-26,32). For
such reasons I would place him somewhat contemporary with Abraham (i.e., ca 2000 B.C.).

THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

It is common to suggest that the purpose of the book is to answer the age-old question, “Why does God
allow the righteous to suffer?” That is certainly the question Job raises, but it is worthy to note that he
himself never receives a direct answer. Nor is one given by the author, other than to answer Satan’s
challenge, “Does Job fear God fo r nothing?”. We are privileged to know of the challenge of Satan, and
that God allows Job to suffer in answer to that challenge, but Job is never told of this. Therefore, I
suggest that the purpose of the book is:

To answer the question, “How should the righteous suffer?”


The Book Of Job 4
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