Customer Reviews

Putting God on Trial: The Biblical Book of Job

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Sutherland argues that legal distinction between causal responsibility for evil and moral blameworthiness for evil is at the heart of a Hegelian theodicy in the Book of Job, where God's authorship of evil may be excusable on the grounds that it is necessary for the production of a higher good. I found this approach new and innovative. It is significant improvement on the traditional Augustian theodicy which draws heavily on the Book of Genesis and blames man for all the natural and moral evils in the world. The connection between human sin and natural evils just isn't there. It is a significant improvement on the tradional Irenean theodicy which draws heavily on the Epistles of Paul and views everyting as a means to character development. Job is just not in need of character development. And the evils he suffers are just too excessive for any normal character improvement.

I think his background as a Canadian criminal defense lawyer really helps his presentation of the legal arguments in the Book of Job.

I think his background as a Senior Fellow at the Mortimer J. Adler Centre for the Study of the Great Ideas really helps his presentation of the moral arguments in the Book of Job.

And I found the reviews I read helpful.

1. Dr. David Clines, author of Job 1-20 (Word Biblical Commentary) "I found the work very impressive, personal and authoritative. I am sure he is right about the centrality of the lawsuit metaphor, and who better than he to explore that."

2. Dr. Norman Habel, author of Job (Old Testament Library) "The text is extremely well written, provocative and should grab the interest of many educated folk. The court metaphor is indeed central to The Book of Job. God as the source of evil will shock some. I like the direction of this argument. His forceful focus on the Oath of Innocence is great. I agree that at the end Job does not sin or confess sin or repent of sin. Nor does God really answer the charge of unwarranted suffering. Yet Job is declared innocent implying, as he says, that God is the cause of this suffering."

3. Dr. Gerald Janzen, author of Job (Interpretation) "I am impressed with his achievement. His work in ancient Near Eastern sources is apt, and his attention to other studies on Job, by biblical scholars and others, is exemplary. Many, of course, have worked on issues of law and trial in Job; but few bring the expertise to it that his own training and experience as a lawyer furnish him. Regardless of whether one is in agreement with its various details or overall thrust, one will want to take seriously into account the perspective and analysis he provides."

4. Dr. James Crenshaw, author of Old Testament Wisdom and "Job" Anchor Bible Dictionary: Volume 3 "An engaging book, one that sustained my interest even when I disagreed with the argument."

5. Dr. Edwin Good, author of In Turns of Tempest: A Reading of Job with Translation "He certainly makes the case that the image of the trial is absolutely central to the book."

6. Rev. Dr. Don Thompson, General Secretary, Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion Association of Episcopal Colleges "I would identify its main strength as being absolutely thorough and rigorous in its presentation of the legal arguments of the "trial". But he has added to it a very solid breadth of knowledge, setting it in context of Canaanite and Egyptian legal frameworks, putting Job's Oath of Innocence at the very centre of it all."

I would strongly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating bedtime reading. It opened up the Bible in ways in never imagined possible and deepened by faith in God. I shared it with my next door neighbour who has cancer, and he found very stimulating and helpful in his journey.

This is a beautifully argued book and has provided this Presbyterian preacher with a foothold into a better understanding of the book of Job. This is a great resource and I recommend it highly--as I congratulate the author on a very clear, easy to read, believable argument/ thesis on the central issue of the book of Job. I have decided to preach a sermon series on Job following Easter this year and needed a good introduction and overview of the issues involved. There are loads of resources. Out of all the books that I am currently working through on Job, I have found this is be the most helpful. Sutherland has done an outstanding job (no pun intended!). [Well, maybe].