The Book of Job (Outline)

I. Prologue (1:1-2:13)

Job’s character and the circumstances of his test.

A. The Integrity of Job (1:1-5)

B. The First Test (1:6-22)

C. The Second Test (2:1-10)

D. Job’s “Comforters” (2:11-13)



II. Dialogue (3:1-42:6)

Job’s suffering and his standing before God.

A. Job: Despair for the day of his birth. (3:1-26)

B. The Friends and Job: Can he be righteous? (4:1-25:6)

1. The 1st Cycle

   i. Eliphaz: Can a man be right before God?

   ii. Job: Life is Futile.

   iii. Bildad: The wisdom of the sages.

   iv. Job: How can mortals be just?

   v. Zopher: Repent!

   vi. Job: Challenges the friends’ “wisdom.”

2. The 2nd Cycle

   i. Eliphaz: Job’s words condemn him

   ii. Job: Hope for a sufferer.

   iii. Bildad: Punishment for the wicked.

   iv. Job: My redeemer lives.

   v. Zopher: The wicked will die.

   vi. Job: The wicked prosper.

3. The 3rd Cycle

   i. Eliphaz: Job is guilty.

   ii. Job: God is hidden.

   iii. Bildad: An unanswered question.

C. Job: (26:1-31:40)

1. The Power of God

2. The Place of Wisdom

3. The Path of Integrity

D. Elihu: Suffering As a Disciple. (32:1-37:24)

E. Challenge: The LORD answers Job. (38:1-42:6)



III. Epilogue (42:7-17)

Vindication, Intercession, Restoration