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Job's Three Friends and Truth
Job's Three Friends and Truth
Context MUST be taken into account in order to understand a text correctly. The oft quoted statement on this: A text without context is just a pretext. So, since God said that the three friends spoke without knowledge, some have judged ALL the statements of the three friends as false. In doing so they actually replicate the thinking problem of the three friends in that they take a basic truth and push it to the point that it becomes false. In fact there is a lot of truth in what that three friends say but they are applying in a situation that it doesn't fit.
It is interesting that while Job is mentioned several times, the book of Job is quoted ONCE in the New Testament writings. "For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness," (1 Cor. 3:19). This from Job 5:13 which is the record of the first speech of Eliphaz. In this section of Eliphaz's speech he speaks of the greatness of God. Much of what he says is in fact true. His application to Job however is irrelevant, but his concept of God's character is basically true.
Although the book of Job is quoted only this once in the New Testament, it was quoted / alluded to in other Old Testament books. Some of these simply use the same phrase or concept rather than quote the passage. We see some 65 passages from Job that are referred to: 37 in in Psalms; 18 in Proverbs; and 9 in the Prophets. This shows that the book was known and read by men such as David and Solomon.
Several quick thoughts come to me. First, truth is truth no matter who states it. Second, truth is often mixed with error in men's understanding. Hence the work that we have as bible students is to prove all things and hold fast to that which is true.
Hugh DeLong
For those who want to pursue this, here is a list of the passages.
|
JOB. |
Quoted or referred to in other books. |
|
3:3-11 |
Jeremiah 20:14, 15, 18. |
|
3:16 |
Psalms 58:8. |
|
3:21 |
Proverbs 2:4. |
|
4:3, 4 |
Isaiah 35:3. |
|
4:8 |
Proverbs 22:8. Hosea 10:13. |
|
5:3 |
Psalms 37:35, 36. |
|
5:10 |
Psalms 65:9. |
|
5:13 |
1Corinthians 3:19. |
|
5:14 |
Isaiah 59:10. |
|
5:15 |
Psalms 35:10. |
|
5:17 |
Psalms 94:12. Proverbs 3:11. |
|
5:20 |
Psalms 33:19. 37:19. Hebrews 12:5. |
|
5:21 |
Psalms 31:20. |
|
5:25 |
Psalms 72:16. 112:2. |
|
6:4 |
Psalms 38:2. |
|
7:7 |
Psalms 78:39. |
|
7:10 |
Psalms 103:16. |
|
7:17 |
Psalms 8:4. 144:3. |
|
8:13 |
Proverbs 10:28. |
|
8:22 |
Psalms 35:26. 109:29. |
|
9:34 |
Psalms 39:10. |
|
10:3 |
Psalms 138:8. |
|
10:8 |
Psalms 119:73. |
|
10:10, 11 |
Psalms 139:14-16. |
|
10:20, 21 |
Psalms 39:5, 13. |
|
11:17 |
Psalms 37:6. |
|
11:18, 19 |
Isaiah 17:2. Ezekiel 34:28. Micah 4:4. Zephaniah 3:13. |
|
13:21, 28 |
Psalms 39:10, 11. |
|
14:1, 2 |
Psalms 90:3, 5, 6. |
|
15:35 |
Psalms 7:14. Isaiah 59:4. |
|
16:10 |
Psalms 22:13. Micah 5:1. |
|
17:7 |
Psalms 6:7. 31:9. |
|
18:5 |
Proverbs 13:9. 24:20. |
|
19:5 - 9, 13 |
Psalms 38:16. 88:8. 89:44. |
|
19:13, 14 |
Psalms 88:8, 18. |
|
19:26 |
Psalms 17:15. |
|
19:29 |
Psalms 58:10, 11. |
|
21:30 |
Psalms 16:4. Zephaniah 1:15 - 18. 2Peter 2:9. |
|
23:10 |
Psalms 66:10. |
|
23:11 |
Psalms 44:18. |
|
24:14, 15 |
Psalms 10:8, 11. 11:4. |
|
24:23 |
Psalms 15:3. |
|
26:8 |
Psalms 30:4. |
|
28:13, etc. |
Proverbs 3:13, etc. |
|
28:15 |
Proverbs 3:14, 15. |
|
28:28 |
Proverbs 1:7. 9:10. Psalms 111:10. |
|
29:18 |
Psalms 30:6. |
|
30:9 |
Psalms 69:12. |
|
30:16 |
Psalms 42:4. |
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31:7 |
Psalms 44:18, 21. |
|
32:8 |
Proverbs 2:6. |
|
32:21 |
Proverbs 24:23. |
|
34:11 |
Proverbs 24:12. |
|
35:12 |
Proverbs 1:28. |
|
36:19 |
Proverbs 11:4. |
|
36:26, 27, 32. |
Psalms 90:2. 147:8. |
|
40:4, 5 |
Psalms 51:4. |
