Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study VI: God wills all things

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study VI

Photo: Lapland Finland, Take Me To Travel, Facebook

Preface

Work is pleased with my task completion, but as it is mainly training on the computer in the back office, my eyes are tired.

I did attend the online, Zoom, Job class week.

I am in full agreement with the professor, that God wills all things. My example, referenced text below.

Job 38: 1-40: 2

Clines explains that Yahweh (God, my add), displays his divine wisdom and omnipotence (all powerful, my add). (545). This is to have Job 'leave off his attempt to understand what is happening to him.' (345). Clines opines that God wants Job to reconsider what he already knows about the world God has made. (345).

New American Standard Bible: NASB

Job 40: 2

40 Then the Lord said to Job, 2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? 

Let him who rebukes God [l]give an answer.” 

[l] Job 40:2 Lit answer it

Philosophical theology & Philosophy of Religion

Human beings are in this present realm, finite and sinful.

God is infinite, eternal and omnipotent. God’s biblical, sovereign, providential control over his creation from Genesis to Revelation, and particularly within the book  of Job, demonstrates that God does will all things, whether directly willing or allowing, It could also be stated that God wills all things within divine perfect will or permissible will. This can also be reasoned in a parallel way within premises and conclusions via theistic, philosophy of religion. Reasoning God as the first and primary cause of all things, while allowing for secondary causes within compatibilism (God's sovereignty is compatible with the limited free will, via nature, of secondary, contingent, rational beings). God as first and primary cause, is necessary/of necessity.

Blackburn writes that a proposition is necessary, if it could not have been false.(257). Admittedly, someone can and will always disagree with any provided proposition. But, I agree with the definition here from secular, British, philosopher Blackburn. Further he writes that the necessary, what is of necessity, is true is all possible worlds. (257).

It could be reasoned contingent beings do not have to exist. Contingent beings 'could have failed to exist'. They 'must be caused to exist by some another being'. Quinn (1996: 609). If God’s plans for humanity are contingent, because he could have done otherwise, the fact these contingent plans come from a necessary being would still have them supersede the plans and needs of the contingent.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

BRUCE, F.F. (1986) ‘Revelation’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Job, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Proverbs, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

FEE, GORDON D. AND DOUGLAS STUART (1982) How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEE, GORDON (1987) The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books. 

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.   

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

QUINN, PHILIP L. (1996) 'Philosophy of Religion' , in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Briefly reflecting on Philosopher Blackburn & The Golden Rule

Briefly reflecting on Philosopher Blackburn & The Golden Rule

Photo: Simple Things In Life, October 20 2022 

I came across this issue recently...

Blackburn

British philosopher, Simon Blackburn explains that the golden rule is 'Any form of the dictum, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." 'In some form this is found in almost all religions and ethical systems.' (160).

'The rule is sometimes parodied as. 'Do unto others as you have them do unto themselves.' (160). This example is very similar (at least) to forms of the Platinum Rule. 

Platinum rule/Religions Wiki 

Cited:

'The platinum rule is the ethical principle to "Do unto others as they themselves would have done unto them" and coined by Milton Bennett in 1979. (1).' From Milton J. Bennett, Overcoming the Golden Rule: Sympathy and Empathy, 1979. 'It emphasizes the importance of empathy with other people.' 

The philosopher Karl Popper stated it without calling it by this name: "doing unto others, wherever reasonable, as they want to be done by (2)."' 

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Theology

The New Testament ethic:

Jesus Christ within the great commandment (Mathew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10), mentions that the second commandment is to love all persons as neighbours as one loves self. The first commandment to love of God with the fullness in mind and spirit. This is the God of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Some 'gospel' light can be shed even to those outside of the Christian Community.

Further from the New Testament...

Galatians 5: 14-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 

14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

John 13 from the Gospel of John:

John 13:34-35

New American Standard Bible (NASB) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

I John 4:20 the Epistle 

New American Standard Bible (NASB) 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

A gospel approach requires the highest, divinely inspired, values of love and truth in human approaches to both God and humanity. The New Testament ethic is its own perspective, within the Christian worldview, whether it is philosophically and theologically referred to as a form of the Golden Rule or not, and with the similarities and differences with other variants of the Golden Rule.

BENNETT J, MILTON (1979) Overcoming the Golden Rule: Sympathy and Empathy In: Nimmo, D., Ed., Communication Yearbook 3, International Communication Association, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ, 406-422.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

COAD, F. ROY (1986) 'Galatians' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005) The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

ORR, R.W. (1986) 'The Letters of John' in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

POPPER, KARL (1971) The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 2: The Hide of Prophecy, Princeton, Princeton University Press; 5th Rev ed. edition.

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study V: Arbitrator/Mediator

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study V

Photo: I-80 in Wyoming is known as the Highway to Heaven, Facebook

From tonite

Job 9: 32-33

32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him— That we may go to [a]court together! 33 There is no arbitrator between us, Who can place his hand upon us both. 

Footnotes a Job 9:32 Lit judgment Who can place his hand upon us both. New American Standard Bible (NASB).

I agree with my friend, the Job professor, (paraphrased with my theological emphasis) that this is a Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) allusion to Jesus Christ, God the Son, the God Man. This is Jesus Christ as mediator to humanity through his applied gospel, atoning work and resurrection for believers. The professor notes that Job's desire is less theological and more practical justice.

The professor noted Hebrews.

My references 

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. New American Standard Bible (NASB). 

Hebrews 8:6 

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. New American Standard Bible (NASB). 

Hebrews 12:24 

...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. New American Standard Bible (NASB). 

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Clines views Job here, and his answer to Bildad, somewhat differently...

'...God is not a man (32), that there is no one in a position above God to arbitrate and settle the dispute he has with God about his vindication.' (528).

 'It is not a mediator between himself and God he wants (cf. AV 'a daysman') (Authorized Version, my add), but someone who can impose his will upon God.' (528). 

Realizing that such as hope is in vain, why does he not give in with good grace and resolve to put a brave face on his suffering and smile (27)? Because as soon as one suffering is past, another takes its place....' (528).

Clines is stating that Job is not charging God with injustice in general (528). Instead, Job seeks personal vindication from his present suffering. (528). On this point, in agreement in a sense with the Zoom professor, that Job's desire for an arbitrator is more for practical justice than theological.

It would be quite speculative to reason Job was theologically, via divine revelation, foreshadowing the future gospel work of Jesus Christ as mediator. However, Job's documented words from the author of Job, in regards to an arbitrator between God and humanity, do indeed practically, from a human perspective, foreshadow the gospel work of Jesus Christ.

BOICE, JAMES, MONTGOMERY (1981) Foundations of the Christian Faith, Downers Grove, IVP Press

BRUCE, F.F. (1986) ‘Revelation’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Job, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Proverbs, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

FEE, GORDON D. AND DOUGLAS STUART (1982) How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEE, GORDON (1987) The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Friday night bullets: Work update/Philosophy on self-directed, online courses

• Work/career is good, much to learn.

• There will be a work from home component, eventually.

• My office1 (former bedroom) has my personal computer and a twenty year old, Windows XP computer for old games.

• So there is no room on my desk for another computer set-up.

• This photo features my closet door, storage room, became academic library.

• As of tomorrow, it will also become office2.

• Ironically, the closet door sort of hides the room, just as the work is confidential.  

• People have walked by the closet door, assuming it is simply a closet.

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• My two co-workers and fellow trainees believe the self-directed, online courses will become more difficult. 

• I kindly, disagree, at least for me, having done like self-directed, online courses before, when I worked in corporate security for an entity worth 2.6 trillion worldwide at the time. 

• With each module, the knowledge accumulates, the terminology and concepts repeat, making learning easier.

• In some ways these initial ethics, security, regulation like sections are more difficult because with ethics (philosophy), there is often shades of gray in what a right answer is on a quiz or test.

• The future testing that is more specific to our work should be technically more black and white, IMHO.

• There are plenty of 'bugs' in the system which leads to sections being done more than once.

• On the bright side, this means I learn them better...

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• One of my trainee co-workers that is young, of a different worldview and from far away originally, told me it was good to work with such a funny guy.

• If this was church I might have asked if I was funny looking...

• But not at work.

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study IV/Brief Bullets on my career etcetera

Photo: West Virginia, Exploring, October 5 2022, Facebook

• 7 It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is trustworthy, as My servant Job has. New American Standard Bible (NASB) 

• Quoting Clines. selected...page 550.

• 'Vindication before the friends (42: 7 ff.)'

• 'Yahweh emphasizes to the friends that it is Job, and not they, who have truly been my servant (repeated four times!), and that it is Job, and not they, who has spoken of what is right (7 f). What is remarkable, not to say comic, reversal of the roles we find when punishment for the friends' folly is only averted  by the prayer of the righteous still suffering (cf. 10a) Job (8 f) !'

• 'The ones who had felt so superior to Job are the ones who stand in need of forgiveness themselves; and Job is not only vindicated before them but becomes their champion.'

• 'How can the friends' unexceptionable and respectful talk about God be termed folly when Job, whose speeches have been full of bitterness and hatred against God, is said to have spoken of God what is right?'

• 'In a time of suffering, talk merely about God is folly; only a calling upon God, however bitter and violent, can be right; for it proves the way to an encounter with God.'

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• In my view, it is both logically possible and reasonably possible that what God wills and does can be hated by a human being, without God being necessarily hated.

• God should be approached in prayer, with fullness of being and in openness and honesty.

• Human beings are both finite and sinful. After the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20-22) they shall remain finite.

• Philosophical and theological opinions and judgments in regards to others should be done, very prayerfully and very carefully.

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• My career work appears to have options, once I am fully trained and advancing.

• Through career and inheritances my assets and net worth have gone up significantly.

• Through diet and medical maintenance, I have increased in health and decreased in size. 

• As work has already mentioned, more than once, holiday time must be managed well in advance.

• I am pondering on future British Isles, Europe trips, as well as to the USA and perhaps even all

continents.

• Considering for the future a London-Vienna-Munich (Bayern Munich), Northern Italy trip.

• Mediterranean

• Down the east coast of USA.

• Thank you, Lord.

• Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

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BRUCE, F.F. (1986) ‘Revelation’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Job, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Proverbs, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

FEE, GORDON D. AND DOUGLAS STUART (1982) How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEE, GORDON (1987) The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.