Testament of Job

Summary:

The Testament of Job contains the final words of Job to his seven sons and three daughters before his death. This book recounts the calamities Job endured as described in the Old Testament, including his loss of wealth, the deaths of his children, and his own illness. In the Testament of Job, Satan is similarly responsible for Job's suffering, however, his role is greater. Satan disguises himself many times so he can personally deceive humanity. While Job suffers through Satan's plague, he sits on a dung heap outside the city for 48 years. During this time, his faith does not waver, despite his friends' accusations - in this text they are kings. Job must endure seeing his wife, Sitis, live in such poverty that she must give up everything, including her hair, so she can buy bread to bring her husband. Two elements that are stressed in the Testament of Job are his incredible charity and his ability to endure misery as a result of patience.

Sources:

The LXX The canonical Book of Job

Canonical Status: Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

 

Author:

Debated Modern scholars general agree on a Jewish origin

Date: Between 100 BC and AD 200

Original Language:

The language of the original manuscript is unknown; no manuscript before the 5th century AD has been found. Existing translations include: Four Greek manuscripts from the 11th to 16th century Three Old Church Slavic translations from the 11th century A 5th century Coptic version

Notes prepared by David Arnold (Senior Religion Major)

for the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University

Copyright 2000 by the Wesley Center for Applied Theology

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