Tsevat suggests that the content of gods speech is intended to convey a picture of the universe deliberately at variance with that held previously by job and the friends. This serves as a template for viewing evil on earth. Metaphysical evil was manifest in the outstretched hand of the adversary, who unbenounced to job and all surrounding parties was manipulating the various hardships befalling him. The interpretation of wisdom literature of the bible, part. On a christian worldview what is right or wrong, good or evil is defined in the nature of god, where god is the essence of good andor right. But from a metaphysical interpretation, there are three powerful lessons we can learn that will eliminate suffering from our lives, and lead us to spiritual enrichment and personal growth. The point of the book of job is to teach us that the mystery of evil is a mystery.
At its beginning, job seems to be a book about human suffering. It is a groundbreaking synthetic work utilizing the unique perspective of modern depth psychology to interpret the underlying meaning of two of the most fascinating. Its described in job 41, and the plain reading of the text is that this is a description of a literal, physical animal. The problem of job and the problem of evil by espen dahl. The book of job is fundamentally a refutation of evil in the world. Some bible scholars debate whether he was an actual person or legend, but job is mentioned as a historical figure by the prophet ezekial ezekial 14. Suffering and spirituality three lessons we can learn. Whole chapters of the book are devoted to speeches by jobs counselors. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between potentiality and actuality.
A psychological interpretation of evil and spiritual growth in the old testament kindle edition by michael corey. The job of the prolog is not the job of the dialog. Here we see the proliferation in jobs life of three elements of what is considered evil. We can learn much to assist us on our spiritual evolutional journey by studying a metaphysical interpretation of the biblical book of job. Jan 12, 20 todays post will provide an esoteric interpretation of job. Ultimately, suffering does have meaning and even, through gods grace, a kind of redemption. Metaphysical bible interpretation of job chapter 1 metaphysically interpreting.
The gospel of john is the latestwritten of the four biographies of jesus that have been preserved in the new testament. For god cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone james 1. Theosophical interpretations of evil 3 great interlocking web in which natural and human evil are intertwined and in which the evil tends to spread out from its initial epicenter like a pestilence. This passage is variously interpreted as commanding nonresistance, christian pacifism, or nonviolence on the part of the victim. It raises the deepest human questions, addressing them in a mature, subtle, and nondogmatic way. There are healers operating today at all these levels. A good reason for evil commentary by greg koukl bosnia, rape, and the problem of evil greg koukl responds to a letter to the editor in which the writers pain causes him to ask the ageold question of why god allows evil to exist if god is so good, why does he allow evil to exist. While it is not a traditional commentary, it is highly informed by ancient near eastern studies. The meaning of the book of job is found in gods and satans conversation in heaven. He willfully causes suffering in job, causes the death of jobs children and probably incited the thieves to steal jobs belongings. Job is wrestling with the mystery of evil and suffering. For an example of the use of col all in the old testament not meaning absolute metaphysical entirety, consider 1st chronicles 10. Spiritual meanings behind physical aches, pains and illnesses. To understand the full impact of the book of job the book must be read and understood as a whole.
Is the biblical leviathan an animal, dinosaur, or satan. Metaphysically, the book of job is a case study in mind action. The book of job god did not give satan power biblebro. Whats the difference between moral and metaphysical evil. A psychological interpretation of evil and spiritual growth in the old testament english edition ebook. In many ways this passage has echoed throughout the thousands of years of middle east. But according to the traditional interpretation job suffers less from the loss of his health through various diseases, and the loss of his wealth and family, than he suffers because he is just.
But this evil act seems incidental to jobs suffering, which is the central theme of the story. The problem of job and the problem of evil by espen dahl is a brief but thorough meditation on evil and suffering. Man observes these things through conscience and scripture. Aug 09, 2011 hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil john 8. Taking the book of job as his guide, dahl leads readers through centuries of thought and arguments. It should be kept in mind that job is not the author, but the principal character. And on this view metaphysical anything is a moot question. The word metaphysics comes from two greek words that, together, literally mean after or behind or among the study of the natural. Most books of the bible take place on larger stages, but the book of job goes down at a very specific and narrow point in the human life cycle. In the long poem at the centre of the book of job, we encounter a decidedly impatient job. Gods present delight in creation and his final defeat of all evil. Aug 02, 2011 metaphysically, the book of job is a case study in mind action.
The problem itself arises because of certain qualities which religious believers grant to god, and the consequences of these given certain observations about the world. In answer to job, jung demonstrates his indepth knowledge of the bible. A quite different interpretation has been proposed by matitiahu tsevat in his essay, the meaning of the book of job. Apr 07, 2011 this is the typical approach of interpretation to many accounts in the old testament, and the same rings true with the book of job. It lets job see that god allows his suffering for his own spiritual. The language used in job is poetical and seems to be structured around explaining the nature of good and evil, rather than giving a rational, literal explanation of who or what satan is, yet to mention his intentions. A man in the land of uz, the central figure of the book of job job 1. The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. He has let go of everything and surrendered into the light. You must understand who god is and who satan is, what they know, and what their motivation is. With this in mind, the following is a list of physical symptoms and the metaphysical disharmonies they may reflect. Sep 23, 2008 therefore, evil exists, because there are things that are evil in the mind of god and are therefore truly evil. Metaphysical evil is an action, event, or person that god has a negative opinion of. Metaphysical bible interpretation of job chapter 1 metaphysically interpreting job 1.
For further study on the book of job hartley, john e. A number of email responses concerning the book of job. Or from an arabic word meaning repent, thus bearing the name repentant one. Jonah means dove and is a representation of the divine spirit. This reference in james is the only time job is mentioned by name in the n. For this reason, i am posting my entire book where are you, god. You could read some allegory or metaphysical interpretation on this, but if you just read the plain text, ther.
Jul 06, 2012 here we see the proliferation in jobs life of three elements of what is considered evil. A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so humbly to god at the end. Satan, the thief, has come to kill, steal, and destroy john 10. It was common therefore to interpret the book as an.
Louise hay, in her book, you can heal your life, has done some interesting work in this area. The book of job has brought consolation during painful times of my life, and it can help you to accompany loved ones in their tribulations. Bruce vawter says in his job and jonah, it is the poetic job and the poetic job alone who is of interest to the sensitive. The book of job represents jobs suffering in excruciating detail.
For many people, the book of job is a troublesome book. The crew try to row and row and do things their own way, whereas jonah wants to jump into the sea. The name job is mentioned only 54 times and mostly just in the. The metaphysical interpretation of the biblical book of job, found at. The book of job is fundamentally a refutation of evil. The first meaning is the ordinary historical or grammatical one. This should be a good study for anyone who may be struggling to progress to the next stage of their spiritual evolution because you have one foot still planted in religion. Blakes job unfolds as a metaphysical commentary that takes the form of an emblematic. The nature of evil queensborough community college. However, it seems as though this particular account stands out from the rest in that the dynamic of traumatic events placed on one individual is seemingly unmatched in severity up until this point in biblical history. It is regarded as one of jungs most controversial works. Interpretations of evil theosophical society in america.
This is exactly how leibniz is understood by bertrand russell. Metaphysical study is conducted using deduction from that which is known a priori. Perhaps this post will help show you the difference between religion and true spiritual development. In the process it weaves together a unique development perspective on the ageold problem of evil that. If we were to film this book, the whole movie would take place on a single set, probably in a single day. His thoughts were trying to rule him but he wanted to give himself up. Tsevat suggests that the content of gods speech is intended to convey a picture of the universe deliberately at variance with that held previously. Given how christians are yet inclined to look for a divine reason behind catastrophes and personal tragedies, i think its a point we have yet to learn.
Job complains that god has no good reason for permitting the evil that befalls him. This is clearly expressed in gods oration to job near the conclusion. Metaphysical cults, theosophical cults, divine science cults, pantheistic cults all base their interpretation of holy scripture on the theory that the meaning of scripture is plural. Jonah means dove and is a representation of the divine spirit crew of the ship are the thoughts that come into our minds. However, the name does occur in genesis 46 and ezekiel 14. How gods justice can be satisfied yet sinners shown mercy. But what exactly is allegorical also known as mystical 1 interpretation and where did it come from zuck offers the following description of allegorization allegorizing is searching for a hidden or secret meaning. The point of the book of job is to teach us that the mystery of evil is a mystery of a wartorn and unfathomably complex creation, not the mystery of god s allcontrolling will.
That he may cause them to depart from their evildoings. Aug 24, 2011 but this evil act seems incidental to jobs suffering, which is the central theme of the story. Metaphysical evil this refers to such things as imperfection and chance criminals going unpunished, deformities, etc. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel coalition. Job spends his entire book in a position of sadness and loss. The problem of job and the problem of evil reading religion. Later in the book, as spiritual battle is fought in and all around job, he will.
Such problems are explored by consulting ancient and modern accounts from the fields of. The sacrifices mentioned offer a hint, but that is all. For people who take the bible seriously as an explanation of life and as a. All moral evil is the direct or indirect result of moral agents free wills or ability to choose. Interpreted this way, the book of job deals with a very different question than. Job 1 metaphysical bible interpretation truthunity. Suffering and spirituality three lessons we can learn from job.
When the story of job is preached from the pulpit of modern day churches, popular themes and lessons to be learned always seem to fall under the category of having faith in god in good times and bad. The characters mentioned in the book of job are the thoughts, qualities, attitudes, and beliefs we hold in our consciousness. Still, a good place to begin is in the individual body. I believe a key to interpreting the book of job is found early in the first chapter in the. Job 1 metaphysical bible interpretation truth unity. His suffering plays a critical role in his ethical, intellectual, and spiritual.
Smick modern redaction theory assumes that some parts of the book of job are less genuine than others. This is the typical approach of interpretation to many accounts in the old testament, and the same rings true with the book of job. Every once in a great while i chance upon a spiritual book which i not. This interpretation in no way lessens or takes from the value of any other interpretation. The explanation the bible gives of what happens to job is that the enemy. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. The first time i read the book of job all the way through was when my younger sister died, a little threemonthold girl with a diagnosis of an untreatable genetic condition.
The book of job does not give an answer concerning the question of the problem of evil, but it does call christians to humbly trust in the lord. The transition of man from personal, formal righteousness, which is the basis of all selfrighteousness, to a true inner change of. A metaphysical interpretation of the biblical book of job on this site. Sorry about the spoiler if you havent read the book, but the story ends with god restoring job to life, seeing that after suffering and accepting it, job never denies. Crew of the ship are the thoughts that come into our minds. This is, as with many passages in job a poetic book, a somewhat difficult section to exegete. The book of job aesthetics, ethics, hermeneutics oapen. Job, jonah, and the unconscious is the latest work by natural theologian m. The transition of man from personal, formal righteousness, which is the basis of all selfrighteousness, to a true inner change of heart and an entrance into the real christ righteousness, which deals with the very thoughts and intents of the innermost. The name job is the english translation of the hebrew name iyov which means persecuted, hated on the surface job is a long, boring, somewhat confusing book and one might question how it ever came to be grouped with the wisdom books as it is hard to ascertain any wisdom in this tale of woe. Sep 07, 2010 the book of job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. Answer to job was first published in 1952 in german and was included in jungs collected works, as part of volume 11. It is a groundbreaking synthetic work utilizing the unique perspective of modern depth psychology to interpret the underlying meaning of two of the most fascinating books of the old testament, job and jonah.
Because the book of revelation is categorized as apocalyptic literature and contains numerous symbols, it undergoes a great deal of abuse due to allegorical interpretation. The rise of allegorical interpretation commentary a. David guzik commentary on job 1, where satan asks god for permission to attack. The book of job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. It would seem to me that the difference between moral evil and metaphysical evil is the entity responsible. How gods justice will be completely realized with regard to satan and other evil beings. Turning the other cheek is a phrase in christian doctrine from the sermon on the mount that refers to responding to injury without revenge and allowing more injury. The book of job considers physical pain, social bereavement, the origin of evil, theodicy, justice, divine violence, and reward. We grew up being taught that job depicts a righteous human being who suffered extreme loss, yet refused to curse god. The book of job has been widely given the theme of patience and we see this mentioned in the new testament book of james. In job, we see satans primary method of spiritual warfare. In fact, some scholars believe that job requires and understanding of the book as a whole more than any other book of the old testament. The problem of evil a series of special focus articles, at leadership u.
Written by a christian named john, the contents of the book indicate quite clearly that the author was not the john who was one of the twelve disciples of jesus, for it contains no direct personal references of the type that one would expect from an intimate. Like foundational mathematics which is sometimes considered a special case of metaphysics applied to the existence of number, it tries to give a coherent account of the structure of the world, capable of explaining our everyday and scientific perception of the world, and being free from contradictions. Todays post will provide an esoteric interpretation of job. The interpretation of wisdom literature of the bible, part 1. It is better to be unpopular but successful than to be impressive but lack substance. What the book says, in effect, is that if job really understood the world he would come to terms with evil and he would understand that it doesnt exist. It has also been interpreted as a way to embarrass a bully. Blindness, deafness, and lameness are examples of metaphysical evil. All inquiring minds, whether among laymen or clergy, will appreciate this contribution to metaphysical education. A metaphysical interpretation to the biblical book of job pathway to. It tells the story of a righteous man who loses everything dear to him, who suffers horribly, who seems victimized by the very god he worships. Whether in the midst of pain, suffering or agony, the lord will sustain his people through it all for his purposes and glory. This account of evil takes the book of job as its guide.
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