This series runs in a different lane and it’s one I enjoy traversing. Though we’re only a few volumes in, a few have already stood out to me. This design of focusing on Christian Formation strikes gold here in Job. Though that should have been obvious I guess, it hadn’t occurred to me. I see it now!

The Introduction got off to a bit of a shaky start for me in the section on “the Many Stories of Job”. At first I thought the author was highlighting inconsistencies though it turned out to be more of a history of interpretation. He was a bit too dogmatic at times about others getting it all wrong as well. Then, however, he got into the interpretation of Job and we stepped out of the shady part of the trail. Starting at page 15, I was fully engaged. Perhaps the author was a bit too mystic and Catholic, but he sure spoke to me.

There were observations a plenty that hadn’t occurred to me. His take on suffering in Job is a case in point. He did hold to a few critical positions, like Elihu’s speeches being a later addition, but mostly he kept them to himself. I imagine I like this commentary far better than had he produced a traditional one.

Each periscope gets a succinct explanation by him that consistently stays in the lane of theological observation and Christian formation. I would never make this my primary commentary on Job, but I’d sure be happy to always use it as a secondary one to dig a little more.

Replace the word “exegesis” with “fun” and you’ll get the idea of how this book struck me. Outside of the normal uses of a commentary, I am sure that some really could benefit by only using it to meditate on Christian formation. However you choose to use this commentary, I predict you are going to be pleased.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.