Date
1-16-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)
Chair
Ashley E. Davis
Keywords
Book of Job, sovereignty, divine retribution, suffering, theocracy, theodicy, problem of evil, theophany, wisdom
Disciplines
Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
Welch, Elizabeth J., "Arguments for the Sovereignty of God in the Book of Job" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6434.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6434
Abstract
The book of Job is a complex piece of wisdom literature studied for centuries using various methodologies to elucidate theological doctrines, biblical themes, and literary motifs. This dissertation aims to demonstrate that a midrashic form of exposition significantly expands the understanding of the Joban arguments for and against the sovereignty of God within the context of the ancient views of divine retribution and human suffering. Encapsulated in the legal motif, the disclosure and discussion of these views with associated themes, such as theocracy, theodicy, justice, and theophany, identified God’s sovereignty as the most prevalent doctrine in the book. The three primary research questions derived from considering Job’s situation of suffering and God’s transcendent sovereignty are: (1) What is God’s ruling position over the good and bad things that happen? (2) In a world under the influence of dark forces, is man’s sin the defining impetus that decides whether he suffers or not? (3) Is suffering simply retribution for one’s evil acts, and if so, to what degree?
The study used sources to address research questions from multiple disciplines, emphasizing the writings of past and current philosophers, theologians, and scholars of Jewish and Christian origins and incorporating Ancient Near Eastern literature and artifacts. The literature review revealed a three-fold contextual problem adjacent to the principal foci. This necessitated a flexible methodology that considered the Jewishness of the text, employed a multidisciplinary approach to recognize the interconnectedness of the characters and their arguments, and addressed the underlying context of current and past suppositions that affect interpretation. The Comparative Midrash methodology was employed as an interpretive method, using an adapted midrashic form of exposition based on the Jewish practices of darash and midrash. The investigation of historical, literary, and theological backgrounds included a biblical geohistorical analysis and a brief genealogical survey that established contextual baselines for the authenticity, historicity, and legitimacy of the book, its characters, and its themes.
Further investigations into the characters’ origins, identities, positions, postures, and dispositions were required to interpret their arguments, and this produced a study that inductively introduced and revealed results incrementally. The śāṭān, a distinct celestial being who was a fallen son of God, should not be confused with the New Testament Satan. He argued against God’s sovereignty under the guise of testing Job. As the one true God, Yahweh is uniquely separated from other gods because of significant differences in his person, will, and ways. The aftermath of the śāṭān’s persecution prompted arguments for and against divine sovereignty from the earthly characters. They wrestled with God’s roles in the divine-human relationship and divine retribution through dialogic exchanges about the fates of the wicked, the repentant, and the righteous. Job’s conditional and dispositional movements perpetuated his claims of innocence, prompted a case against divine retribution, and prepared him for an audience with God. Silence, consolation, and ethical rightness characterized the assignations of blame and declarations of innocence that drove the pace of the study to its conclusion.
The study indicates that man can live a blameless life despite evil and suffering. Evil is the result of satanic influence, and one can resist the inclination to sin despite difficult situations. God’s authority, wisdom, and power define his sovereign position. He determines his involvement in temporal matters since he eternally accepts full responsibility for all things. The presentation of God’s theophanic case for his sovereignty communicates that his existence, rule, and actions transcend ancient views. God’s defense of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked are not confined to this world.
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