The Book of Job Can't Be Literal

[d taylor]

On the subject of Joshua stopping the sun, I did a thread on that earlier this year.

Did Joshua Stop the Sun?

Discussion in 'Creation & Theistic Evolution' started by Dale, Jan 20, 2019.


Link:
Did Joshua Stop the Sun?

I made a post or maybe two on that topic

 

[hedrick]

One of the reasons I am concerned about a literal interpretation of the Book of Job is that Revelation says that Jesus is the Morning Star. Second Peter hints at the same thing, that Jesus is the Morning Star. Yet in Job, all angels are morning stars.

This might not make any difference if everyone realizes that terms and phrases can have various meanings in different parts of the Bible, in different contexts. I have heard conservative ministers say that when a word appears early in the Bible, it always means the same thing in later books of the Bible. I don't believe this works.

My understanding of inerrancy is that things that are intended as history are historically true. Few people doubt that Jesus told parables that weren't history, and few people doubt that there's poetry in the Bible. I don't believe in inerrancy, but the good interpreters who do would first look at the intent of the passage. Is it historical narrative, poetry, satire, or what? There are conservatives who think the story in Job 1 and 2 is historical. I think that's silly, but at least it's narrative. The poetry you're quoting is something different.

The same image can be used of different people in different contexts. Is 14:12 calls the King of Babylon the morning star, in a sarcastic reference, and some take it to be a symbolic reference to Satan. Luke 10:18 might well be a reference to that.

 

[hedrick]

Incidentally, one commentary suggests that the reference to Christ as a star is based on Numbers 24:17, which has been combined with Is 11:1,10.

 

[Not David]

Taking things literally means one doesn't get to cherry pick what is taken literally.

Yes? It's like one saying Job is not literally because the meeting of Satan with God means they were both in a physical place with physical bodies. Lol

 

[Swan7]

Ask God for clarity on this because He’s the only One who can give wisdom with His own Word.

 

[Dale]

I have often found that conservative Christians have a strong belief in the power of the Devil, the power of Satan. That's one of the reasons I started this thread. I have talked to Christians who believed that Satan had the power to bring a strong wind to knock a tree onto a house, for instance.

Yet the Bible is quite clear that it is God who is in charge of nature. Why would Christians feel a need to believe that Satan has power over natural forces? As far as I can tell, the Book of Job is the only place in the Bible where people could draw this conclusion. There is no need to interpret the Book of Job literally, the moral and theological points are sound in a non-literal interpretation.

 

[Not David]

I have often found that conservative Christians have a strong belief in the power of the Devil, the power of Satan. That's one of the reasons I started this thread. I have talked to Christians who believed that Satan had the power to bring a strong wind to knock a tree onto a house, for instance.

Yet the Bible is quite clear that it is God who is in charge of nature. Why would Christians feel a need to believe that Satan has power over natural forces? As far as I can tell, the Book of Job is the only place in the Bible where people could draw this conclusion. There is no need to interpret the Book of Job literally, the moral and theological points are sound in a non-literal interpretation.

Satan has power because of God and not taking Job literally won't change that.

 

[Dale]

Satan has power because of God and not taking Job literally won't change that.

I don't understand in what sense you think Satan has power.

In my understanding demons are pretty much limited to tempting people. Under certain circumstances, which we don't understand, people can be possessed by demons. Outside of that, demons are powerless. There is no reason in Christian theology for demons to have any power in the physical world.

 

[Not David]

I don't understand in what sense you think Satan has power.

In my understanding demons are pretty much limited to tempting people. Under certain circumstances, which we don't understand, people can be possessed by demons. Outside of that, demons are powerless. There is no reason in Christian theology for demons to have any power in the physical world.

Like angels, they can have physical power depending on circumstances.

 

[Swan7]

I have often found that conservative Christians have a strong belief in the power of the Devil, the power of Satan. That's one of the reasons I started this thread. I have talked to Christians who believed that Satan had the power to bring a strong wind to knock a tree onto a house, for instance.

Yet the Bible is quite clear that it is God who is in charge of nature. Why would Christians feel a need to believe that Satan has power over natural forces? As far as I can tell, the Book of Job is the only place in the Bible where people could draw this conclusion. There is no need to interpret the Book of Job literally, the moral and theological points are sound in a non-literal interpretation.

Hmm. I believe he has 'power' but not to the same level as God's, not in any near capacity. God gives us authority over evil spirits: Luke 10:18-20 which is more powerful.

Don't forget that Satan is a huge copy-cat and wants to surpass God Himself, which we all know is impossible. There will come a time where the anti-christ will arise and do many false wonders in His name. This is in Revelation. Again though, I do not discredit what God said will happen. God will use this "event" for good however, He always does.

Hope this helps even a little bit.

 

[Dale]

Like angels, they can have physical power depending on circumstances.

Hmm. I believe he has 'power' but not to the same level as God's, not in any near capacity. God gives us authority over evil spirits: Luke 10:18-20 which is more powerful.

Don't forget that Satan is a huge copy-cat and wants to surpass God Himself, which we all know is impossible. There will come a time where the anti-christ will arise and do many false wonders in His name. This is in Revelation. Again though, I do not discredit what God said will happen. God will use this "event" for good however, He always does.

Hope this helps even a little bit.

People have very strong opinions on angels and demons. One thing you have to remember is that the Bible actually tells us very little about angels and even less about demons. There doesn't seem to be any section of the Bible that we can look up to resolve these questions. Caution is the best option.

Believing in the power of demons doesn't bring us closer to God.

The Old Testament prophets denounced paganism, multiple gods, and they denounced idolatry. The same prophets said very little about the Devil. None of the prophets used the word "devil" and only Zechariah refers to "Satan," in two verses. The King James translation uses the word "devil" more frequently than the NIV, but they agree on this. The prophets weren't worried about the power of the Devil, or devils, and they weren't worried about the power of pagan priests or sorcerers. The prophets simply believed that pagan gods and idols were false, that they and their supposed power were void.