AUTHOR: The authorship of Job is uncertain. Some scholars point to Moses as the author of the work, others to Elihu, others to Solomon.

THEME: The Book of Job deals with human suffering and the relationship with God. It indicates how to relate to God despite some situations in life not happening according to the expectations we develop. The relationship with God must be sincere and frank, without wanting anything in return, and everything we receive from God is due to his immense love. The question that resounds throughout the Book is: Why do the righteous suffer? The Book of Job opens up the spiritual world, Satan presents himself to the Lord, and challenges Job's piety, saying, "Does Job fear God for nothing?" [1:9]. It goes further and suggests that if Job lost everything he owned, he would curse God. So God allows Job's faith to be tested, depriving him of his wealth, his family, and ultimately his health. Even so, "In all this did Job not sin with his lips" [2:10]. The Book of Job teaches that God has a purpose in sending men suffering; that he chastises man with the intention of bringing him nearer to himself. God used afflictions to test Job's character and as a means of revealing to him a sin he had not previously realized: self-righteousness.

COMPILATION: Date uncertain, the book does not give us certain indications of the time when it was written. Although many today claim that it was written in exile or post-exilic times (sixth to third centuries BC), traditionally it has been dated to the time of the patriarchs (sixteenth century BC), or to the days of Solomon ( tenth century BC). It consists of 42 chapters and 1070 verses.