Human Suffering In The Book Of Job By Eliphaz

The Book of Job is the canonical book of the Holy Scriptures which belongs to the category of teaching books. Given this, it pays more attention to revealing theological problems than describing historical events. The most important question going through the whole book is the meaning of human suffering in general and unjust suffering in particular. In addition, it also affirms the idea of the universal sinfulness and impotence of humankind in the work of own salvation, which will be further developed in the theology of Augustine of Hippo, namely in his work "Against Two Letters of the Pelagians." In the Book of Job, the Fathers of the Church see the Old Testament teaching about the future bodily resurrection from the dead, which will be accomplished

If it is talked about the structure of the book, it includes forty-two chapters and begins with a prologue in prose narrating about the trials that overcame righteous Job (Chapters 1-2). Then a big poetic dialogue follows, which forms the main part of the book and begins with the conversation of Job with three friends (Chapters 3-14, 15-21, and 22-27). The interlocutors compare their ideas about God's justice while the personality of each of them is vividly depicted. Eliphaz speaks with moderation, typical of his age, and simultaneously with austerity that indicates his life experience, and often uses sentences. Zophar is a type of a fascinated youth, and Bildad is a reasoner. Along with this, all three men defend the traditional doctrine of earthly retribution: if Job suffers this means that he has sinned. He may appear righteous in his own eyes, but he is a sinner in the sight of God. By this traditional position, Job opposes his agonizing experience and points to the injustice prevailing in the world. He continually encounters the mystery of the suffering of the righteous unfathomable to him. The expressions of protest on

The experience of Job shows that a believer who has experienced a tragedy should not abandon God. Like Job, a person can crave an explanation of what is happening to him or her. Nevertheless, being unable to understand the reason for this, he/she should not "blaspheme" God. The Book of Job teaches that there is no sin in turning to God with questions "for what" and "why," as Job did: “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?”. Nevertheless, one should not turn to God in exacting tone, trying to stand on a par with the Creator: “Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?” In addition, the Book of Job is relevant at the present stage, since the inability to give a simple explanation of life's problems is always inherent in humankind. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, when many traditions began to crumble, the Book of Job teaches faith, despite the danger of a person’s meeting with the Creator God who is great in glory but does not give an easy path to