The Bible's book of Job, with its themes of suffering, divine justice, and the influence of evil, has long been referred to as a study guide for the human condition. In light of the evil that the world has seen surface in the last year—9/11, the suicide bombings, all the other causes for unrelenting fear, Job's story may offer insights to a world seeking spiritual answers.
At the center of the story of Job is a man of strong faith, and many people today are finding comfort by looking to their Deity for answers to the deep things in life, just as this Biblical character did. I spoke with Dr. J. Kenneth Kuntz, professor of Old Testament studies at the University of Iowa, about this timeless story. Dr. Kuntz, an ordained United Methodist minister, has been teaching his students about Job for more than three decades.
We started off by talking about the possible origin of the book. "Job is part of the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Bible," he said. Wisdom Literature, which was prevalent throughout the entire ancient Near East, comprised writings that probed fundamental truths about the universe. "Therefore it has an international tone to it. It treats humanity where humanity is found." Because the book is set in the land of Uz, Kuntz said, "the issues don't pertain just to an Israelite character in the land of Israel. Uz serves as a kind of 'neutral court.' "
