Bible Study
A personal study note dated August 25, 2002, regarding the Book of Job. The author, writing alongside 'Art,' explores the literary and theological dimensions of Job, referencing it as 'The Shakespeare of the Old Testament.' The text discusses the intersection of Bible as literature and Bible as scripture, citing scholars such as Bernard Anderson, David J. A. Clines, and J. Gerald Janzen. Key themes addressed include the problem of suffering (theodicy), the distinction between practical and reflective wisdom literature, and the existential questions of human identity and relationship to God. The document includes a bibliography of referenced works by Barbara Brown Taylor, William Safire, Clovis G. Chappell, Susannah Ticlement, David F. Ford, and others.
Job · James 5:11 · Isaiah 51:1-6
Bible Study
A lecture or study notes dated September 1, 2001, focusing on Job 1:1-5 and the concept of 'perfection.' The document begins with an outline of the Book of Job's structure and includes a discussion of a Newsweek article by Kenneth Woodward regarding the modern decline in the doctrine of hell. The author explores the biblical meaning of the word 'perfect' (tam/teleios), drawing connections between the character of Job, the Wesleyan doctrine of 'entire sanctification' as defined in the Church of the Nazarene Manual, and various New Testament uses of the term. The text also references scholarly commentary by Hartley and Fokkelman, and compares the KJV translation of 'perfect' to 'blameless' or 'guiltless.'
Job 1:1-5 · Job 1:11 · Job 2:5
Bible Study
A study note dated September 15, 2002, regarding the structure and literary themes of the Book of Job. The document outlines the division between the prose prologue/epilogue and the poetic dialogues, noting the tension between the characterization of Job in each section. Carver incorporates theological perspectives from Gustavo Gutiérrez on the suffering of the innocent and the relationship between theology and spirituality, as well as literary analysis from Gerald Janzen regarding the book's movement from catastrophe back to a transformed beginning. The text also references Harold S. Kushner's work on the problem of suffering.
Job 1:1-2:13 · Job 1:1-5 · Job 1:6-12
Bible Study
A lecture or study notes dated September 22, 2002, focusing on the prologue of the Book of Job (1:6-12), titled 'The Wager.' The document outlines a structural breakdown of the prologue, contrasting the heavenly dialogue with the earthly narrative. It examines the figure of 'the Satan' (hassatan), analyzing the Hebrew term as a title meaning 'the accuser' or 'the adversary' rather than a proper name. The text explores the role of the Satan within the Divine Council as a legalistic figure or public prosecutor, drawing linguistic connections between the Hebrew 'stn' and the Greek 'kategoreo' in the New Testament. The author incorporates perspectives from various scholars, including Gustavo Gutierrez, Gerald Janzen, Bernard Anderson, and G. B. Caird, to discuss themes of suffering, justice, and the heavenly court.
Job 1:1-5 · Job 1:6-12 · Job 1:33-22
Bible Study
A lecture or study guide titled 'From Heart to Heart,' dated October 13, 2002, examining the prologue of the Book of Job (1:1–2:13). The text provides a structural analysis of the narrative, contrasting the heavenly and earthly dimensions of the drama. Key themes include the 'two sides of one question' regarding the suffering of the righteous and the nature of disinterested piety. The document details the sequence of Job's losses, noting a chiastic reversal in the order of calamities compared to his initial blessings. Carver also explores the literary use of repetition, the symbolic significance of the fourfold origin of disaster, and the function of ritualized grief (referencing Janzen and Underhill) in maintaining sanity during trauma. The text concludes with an analysis of Job's response of worship and his refusal to charge God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:1-5 · Job 1:6-12 · Job 1:13-22
Bible Study
A lecture or study notes prepared by Frank G. Carver, dated October 27, 2002, focusing on Job 3:1–26. The document begins with an outline of the first cycle of dialogue in the Book of Job (Job 3:1–14:22). Using an analogy of a 2002 World Series baseball play involving Steve Kline, Carver explores Job's 'self-curse' and his desire to reverse the day of his birth. The text examines Job's use of 'counter-cosmic incantation'—language that seeks to undo the stages of creation to achieve death—and compares his lament to the prophetic language of Jeremiah. The document concludes by discussing Job's transition from a quest for death to a quest for meaning through a series of 'why' questions.
Job 3:1-26 · Job 2:10 · Jeremiah 20:14-18