Introduction to the book of Job

“Unless clearly indicated otherwise, I assume that the Hebrew Bible speaks of real people and places. Nothing in the text suggests that Job was a mythical, imaginary, or fictious figure" (Alden, 26). The fact that Elihu is given a genealogy in Job 32:2 and his daughter’s names are given at the end of the book in Job 42:13-15 points to the historical nature of the book. The fact that we view the Biblical portrayals of characters as historically true seems to be how Jesus and the inspired New Testament writers looked at things. Notice how the New Testament refers to Creation (Matt. 19:3-6; Mk. 10:6-9), Adam and Eve (II Cor. 11:3; I Tim. 2:11-14; Jude 14), Cain and Abel (Matt. 23:35; Lk. 11:51; Heb. 11:4; I John 3:12-13; Jude 11), Enoch (Heb. 11:5; Jude 14), Noah and the flood (Matt. 24:37-39; Lk. 17:26-27; Heb. 11:7; I Peter 3:20-21; II Peter 2:5, 9). Abraham is mentioned 73 times in the New Testament. Abraham’s genealogy is given in Matt. 1:1-17; Lk. 3:23-38. In Rom. 4:9-12 Paul makes a point on the chronological order of his life. It seems obvious that Abraham is viewed as a real character and the things he did were actual historical events (Heb. 11:8-19; James 2:21-23). Lot is mentioned in Luke 17:28, 29, 32 and II Peter 2:7 and his wife is mentioned in Luke 17:32. Isaac is mentioned 20 times and Jacob 27 times in the New Testament. Joseph and his experiences are treated as historical in Acts 7:9-16 and Heb. 11:21-22. Moses is mentioned 80 in the New Testament. Jonah is referred to by Jesus in Matt. 12:39, 40, 41, 41; 16:4; Luke 11:29, 30, 32, 32. In these passages the events of Jonah and the great fish foreshadow the yet future (when this was spoken) resurrection of Jesus, the most important historical event in human history.  

Job is mentioned outside the book of Job in the Old Testament in Ezek. 14:14, 20 and in the New Testament in James 5:11. How should we view those two passages and their evidence in light of whether Job is historical? In context Ezek. 14:12-23 is stressing the four severe judgments the LORD was going to send against Judah. The four judgements are sword, famine, wild beast, and plagues (Ezek. 14:13, 15, 17, 19, 21).  Ezek. 14:14, 20 specifically mentions Noah, Daniel, and Job and states they could only deliver themselves by their righteousness if they lived in the midst of the people. In Ezek. 14:16, 18 makes allusions to these men again by saying “even though these three men were in its midst.”  The most natural explanation was that these men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were actual historical characters who were being used by the prophet to the people to stress that even they could not deliver the people from the coming judgment. 

 Did Jesus and the New Testament writers view Noah as an actual historical character? Jesus exhorted His audience to always be prepared for the Lord to come in judgment. He used the “days of Noah” as an illustration of those who were carrying on with life as normal and were unprepared for the judgment of God (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27). Jesus said, “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Jonah” (Matt. 24:37). Was Jesus using a fictional event to inspire people to prepare themselves for an actual coming judgment? The author of Hebrews used Noah’s example of building an ark in reverence to God to inspire His listeners to endurance (Heb. 11:7). Peter used the example of Noah as a picture of how “baptism now save you” (I Peter 3:20-21) and to illustrated how the LORD can rescue the godly while at the same time preparing the ungodly for judgment day (II Peter 2:5, 9).