Best Commentary on Job?

Hi everyone, I'm beginning a study in Job, and FYI, it's one of my least favorite books in the Bible. But I want to do some deep study to see if I can like it a little better. Stick out tongue I'm reading through the book right now, but what are your favorite external books/commentaries on Job?

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Tanner Thetford

I read through the entire welwyn commentary on this book cover to cover. It is not overly in depth, but I still felt like I understood the book better. It was a good read as well.

https://www.logos.com/product/16264/the-storm-breaks-job-simply-explained

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755477#Comment_755477

I read through the entire welwyn commentary on this book cover to cover. It is not overly in depth, but I still felt like I understood the book better. It was a good read as well.

https://www.logos.com/product/16264/the-storm-breaks-job-simply-explained

Thanks! I do have this book in my library.

Paul Strickert

Balentine's commentary in the Smyth & Helwys series (not available in Logos).

Frank Sauer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755487#Comment_755487

According to bestcommentaries.com - Tyndale, Word Biblical and NICOT are the top rated in order.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755498#Comment_755498

According to bestcommentaries.com - Tyndale, Word Biblical and NICOT are the top rated in order.

Thanks. I have Tyndale, but not the other two.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755498#Comment_755498

I personally would put Word ahead of Tyndale, other favourites in my Logos library include:

Carol A. Newsom, “The Book of Job,” in New Interpreter’s Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck, vol. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994–2004).

J. Gerald Janzen, Job, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1985).

James A. Wharton, Job, eds. Patrick D. Miller and David L. Bartlett, Westminster Bible Companion. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999).

Tremper Longman III, Ed., Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Job. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012).

Patrick Henry Reardon, The Trial of Job: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Job. (Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2005).

-Dan

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755504#Comment_755504

I personally would put Word ahead of Tyndale, other favourites in my Logos library include:

Carol A. Newsom, “The Book of Job,” in New Interpreter’s Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck, vol. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994–2004).

J. Gerald Janzen, Job, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1985).

James A. Wharton, Job, eds. Patrick D. Miller and David L. Bartlett, Westminster Bible Companion. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999).

Tremper Longman III, Ed., Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Job. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012).

Patrick Henry Reardon, The Trial of Job: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Job. (Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2005).

-Dan

I've just purchased the Trial of Job, and I'll have the Westminster Bible Companion series later this month when I upgrade to Reformed Portfolio. I've got my eye on the Interpretation Series. That looks like a great set!

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755514#Comment_755514

I've just purchased the Trial of Job, and I'll have the Westminster Bible Companion series later this month when I upgrade to Reformed Portfolio. I've got my eye on the Interpretation Series. That looks like a great set!

Interpretation is a good series but New Interpreter's Bible is much better.

-Dan

Paul Strickert

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755539#Comment_755539

The content in NIB is probably more accessible than INT (which can be densely theological at times). Janzen, by the way, is a process theologian. His approach to Job is thought-provoking, if nothing else. Still, I think Balentine is the best of recent commentators.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755543#Comment_755543

I think I tend to put at a lower priority commentaries that don't dedicate a whole volume to a Bible book. I guess I feel the information won't be as in-depth. But based on the comments here and the reviews on the NIB page, I've put it on my list.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755543#Comment_755543

Still, I think Balentine is the best of recent commentators.

Love his Leviticus in Interpretation. Is it Job (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary) or Have You Considered My Servant Job?: Understanding the Biblical Archetype of Patience you are recommending?

-Dan

Paul Strickert

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755554#Comment_755554

The S&H commentary on Job (esp. with all the graphics and sidebars). The other volume is excellent also. I happen to be reading it right now. [:)]

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755582#Comment_755582

William Gabriel

Hi everyone, I'm beginning a study in Job, and FYI, it's one of my least favorite books in the Bible. But I want to do some deep study to see if I can like it a little better. I'm reading through the book right now, but what are your favorite external books/commentaries on Job?

I just finished up a study last year on Job. It's one of my favorite books!

I'd highly recommend Crying Out for Vindication: The Gospel According to Job

It's not technical, but it helps in connecting the book to the greater narrative of the Bible. I don't agree with every last thing in it (e.g. the author's interpretation of Elihu), but I think he is excellent and helps you see why Job is such an important book of the Bible.

Allen Browne

Hi everyone, I'm beginning a study in Job, and FYI, it's one of my least favorite books in the Bible. But I want to do some deep study to see if I can like it a little better.

Hopefully, by the time you are through, Cynthia, you will have a new appreciation for the way this amazing drama wrestles with the problems of how things can go so wrong in a world that God is running. It's an incredibly powerful book. I've just attended the funeral of a thirty-something mother of an 8 year old, a believer whom many people prayed for and yet she died. I'm sure you know situations like that too. "Oh how I wish I could talk to God about this stuff" seems incredibly relevant.

I'm reading through the book right now, but what are your favorite external books/commentaries on Job?

David Clines' three-volume commentary on Job in the Word Biblical Commentary series is my favorite.

[Edit]Cynthia, the current issue of Themelios journal has an article with pastoral thoughts based on the book of Job. You can download it in Logos for free from http://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/

SineNomine

But I want to do some deep study to see if I can like it a little better.

If you haven't already, I would recommend carving out a bunch of time and sitting down and reading the Book of Job slowly in one uninterrupted sitting. I find this kind of preparation for in depth study very fruitful.

I'm reading through the book right now, but what are your favorite external books/commentaries on Job?

The Morals on the Book of Job has been a classic commentary on Job for more than fourteen hundred years...

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755639#Comment_755639

I'd highly recommend Crying Out for Vindication: The Gospel According to Job

Thanks! I'll check this out.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755644#Comment_755644

I've just attended the funeral of a thirty-something mother of an 8 year old, a believer whom many people prayed for and yet she died. I'm sure you know situations like that too.

Yes, a well-known, talented young lady of 24 was just killed in a horrible car crash, along with four other young people, one of whom is the mother of a young boy, who is the only survivor and is currently in the hospital. My entire Facebook feed is filled with grief and questions, and even as a Bible teacher, I'm at a loss for words. If there's any book that goes into detail about suffering, it's Job. It's been a long time since I've read it, since I don't like it. And I've never actually studied it. I've avoided it long enough.

Oh, and I had already downloaded that journal, but didn't know it had anything about Job in it.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755658#Comment_755658

If you haven't already, I would recommend carving out a bunch of time and sitting down and reading the Book of Job slowly in one uninterrupted sitting.

I really enjoy reading Bible books in one sitting, but I can't do it with Job.....too wordy! lol, but I'm doing it in 3 sittings! [:D]

I'll check out Morals.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755588#Comment_755588

Thanks!

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755554#Comment_755554

Still, I think Balentine is the best of recent commentators.

Love his Leviticus in Interpretation. Is it Job (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary) or Have You Considered My Servant Job?: Understanding the Biblical Archetype of Patience you are recommending?

-Dan

Both of these sound good. I wish they were in Logos.

Bill Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755639#Comment_755639

[quote]

I'd highly recommend Crying Out for Vindication: The Gospel According to Job

I have read this book too, and agree with William that it is worth having. It is written from a Reformed, biblical theological (historical redemptive) perspective.

Stephen Steele

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755673#Comment_755673

Spurgeon wasn't able to get hold of James Durham's commentary, but said: "It is certain to be good, for Durham is always admirable."

But if we get enough community pricing bids in, we'll be able to get what Spurgeon couldn't!

Jack Hairston

Hi everyone, I'm beginning a study in Job...what are your favorite external books/commentaries on Job?

Since no one has mentioned it, I found Mike Mason's The Gospel According to Job to be helpful. It can be read in small bites, as each page is laid out as a devotional reading. It's not laid out like other commentaries, but it sure made me think.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755730#Comment_755730

Well I've only got 10 chapters to go before I'm finished reading Job. I still find it too wordy (I'm a get-to-the-point kinda gal), but it's not as bad as I feared. I'm actually struck by how often some of the terminology reminded me of Jesus (things like calling God his redeemer and his wish that there could be a mediator between him and God). I'd never noticed these things before. It also kind of reminds me of Ecclesiastes, another book I haven't read in a while. I guess I'm not too keen on the wisdom literature!

I'm looking forward to reading some of the commentaries on Job now, and thanks to all of you I've got a good place to start. Thanks for your help.[:D]

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755779#Comment_755779

Hi everyone, I'm beginning a study in Job...what are your favorite external books/commentaries on Job?

Since no one has mentioned it, I found Mike Mason's The Gospel According to Job to be helpful. It can be read in small bites, as each page is laid out as a devotional reading. It's not laid out like other commentaries, but it sure made me think.

Is this it Jack? It's on Vyrso.

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755785#Comment_755785

I don't think it is available in Logos, but Ray Stedman's Let God be God is a series of sermons through Job, available for free on his website. As a matter of Bible study, don't underestimate the power of genre. Why is it that God chose to write Job as an extended, circular poem, instead of a letter on suffering (like 1 Peter)? I think part of the answer to people in crisis is found there.

Doug Mangum (Logos)

When I took an exegesis class on Job, we were required to compare about 6 commentaries. It was a good experience for getting a feel for the wide variety of ways different people understand the book. It wasn't a favorite of the class, but I personally liked Habel's commentary from the OTL series. Clines from WBC was the "official" textbook. I also used Driver and Gray a lot (ICC). It's dated but helped with sorting out some of the difficult Hebrew textual issues. In the end, what's best for you will depend on the goal of your study. The goal in my class was mainly to work through Hebrew text. I'd use other commentaries if my goal was more theological than philological.

Ben

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755848#Comment_755848

It's not in Logos, nor a line-by-line commentary but this was fantastic. Totally changed my perspective.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755851#Comment_755851

My choices are WBC, NIVAC and Tyndale. For lighter treatment EBC and College Press NIV. FOB is practical too.

DAL

SineNomine

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/755780#Comment_755780

Well I've only got 10 chapters to go before I'm finished reading Job. I still find it too wordy (I'm a get-to-the-point kinda gal), but it's not as bad as I feared.

I'm glad that your project of reading Job seems to be going well! It's important to remember that Job has a lot of points, like the Gospels, and not just a few (like Jonah).

It also kind of reminds me of Ecclesiastes, another book I haven't read in a while. I guess I'm not too keen on the wisdom literature!

Maybe Ecclesiastes would be a good study for you post-Job. [:)]

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/756097#Comment_756097

I'm glad that your project of reading Job seems to be going well! It's important to remember that Job has a lot of points, like the Gospels, and not just a few (like Jonah).

Great advice! I think I'm going to read through it one more time before beginning the study.

Maybe Ecclesiastes would be a good study for you post-Job

Unfortunately, you're probably right. [:P] I haven't given the Wisdom literature much attention. Sure, I'll read them (quickly) when I read through the Bible, otherwise, I've ignored them (except for Psalms). It's funny because I'm working on a project that has me in the Pentateuch, and I'd like to be totally focused on that. But it seems I've been given a detour!

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