Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study II
Preface
My friend, the professor, mentioned in his introduction that I had worked with theodicy. True. Below is a website link to my academic work on theodicy.
I do not view the Book of Job as offering a formal theodicy within philosophy/theology based on modern academic standards. In modern terms, this Hebrew Bible text does deal with issues in regards to theodicy. The author/narrator of Job is explaining that God is sovereign, perfectly good, just and holy, while simultaneously, human problems of evil exist.
It needs to be considered that yes Job was righteous in the Hebrew Bible context. As Clines states the text documents: 'That Job is a blameless and upright man, i.e. is beyond reproach, not that he is sinlessly perfect, is affirmed by the narrator, by God (I: 8) and by himself (chs. 29 ff.). (522).' Job was not sinlessly perfect in a New Testament context. Eventually, port-mortem, the pre-New Covenant, Job requires the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, applied to him for salvation (see Hebrews, especially).
As Job in the text, is still part of fallen humanity. Job, although righteous, by Hebrew Bible standards, is still in need of God's justification and sanctification (applying New Testament theology here) and problems of evil and suffering can be divinely, justly, used within this process.
Theodicy explained
Robert M. Adams notes that the word theodicy is from the Greek, as theos (θεός) is God and dike (δίκη) is justice. Theodicy is a defence of the justice of God in the face of objections arising from the problem of evil in the world. Adams (1996: 794). The term arose with the book from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in 1710 entitled Theodicy.
Philosopher Simon Blackburn (1996) writes that theodicy is the part of theology concerned with defending the omnibenevolence and omnipotence of God while suffering and evil exists in the world. Blackburn (1996: 375). A reasonable definition of theodicy is the explanation of how the infinite, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent, all loving God accomplishes his plans within his creation where the problem of evil exists.
God for many theists is, to note Blackburn, the unlimited and unfixed. Blackburn (1996: 193). God is considered infinite and his creation finite and therefore limited. Humanist Blackburn, from a non-theistic critical perspective, reasons there are difficulties with the concept of an omnipotent God not being able to make a stone so heavy he could not lift it, as this would make God possibly contradictory Blackburn (1996: 268), but does explain that the classic explanation is that God cannot commit the logically impossible. Blackburn (1996: 268).
Philosopher Derk Pereboom (2005) writes that it is a project attempting to defend God in the face of the problem of evil. Pereboom (2005:1). Christian apologist, Art Lindsley (2003) reasons that it can be understood as a justification of God’s ways. Lindsley (2003: 3). Kenneth Cauthen explains that it is an attempt to hold to the omnipotence and loving nature of God without contradiction. Cauthen (1997: 1).
Edward R.Wickham (1964) explains that it asks how human suffering can be reconciled with the goodness of God. Wickham (1964: vii). How can evil occur if God loves humanity? Wickham (1964: vii). Rolf Hille (2004) notes that the issue with theodicy is not only how God can allow suffering in the world, but on a different turn, why do evil persons prosper in God’s creation? Hille (2004: 21). Hille explains that these considerations on evil and the existence of God led to a criticism of Christianity and religion in Europe in the Eighteenth century and to some degree earlier. Hille (2004: 22). The Eighteenth century Hille (2004: 22) was when Leibniz’ book Theodicy, Leibniz, G.W. (1710)(1998), was published. In this era of history, when much of the modern debate concerning the problem of evil and theodicy began. Hille (2004: 22).
William Hasker (2007) in his review of Peter van Inwagen’s book The Problem of Evil, explains that a theodicy, unlike a defence, attempts to state the true reasons why evil exists in a creation and world ruled by God. Hasker (2007: 1). Theistic and Christian theodicy are therefore largely a response to initial Seventeenth, and primarily Eighteenth century and forward, secular criticisms of the theology and philosophy of God within religion and Christianity.
Plantinga states that a defence and theodicy are different. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 28). In my view, as equally speculative, a defence can be reviewed under the intellectual umbrella of theodicy. In my view, in agreement with my short term academic tutor at Manchester University, Professor David Pailin, there are enough similarities between defence and theodicy to allow a defence to be reviewed under the general heading of theodicy.
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