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Patience of Job

 
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Blossom



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China

PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:46 am    Post subject: Patience of Job Reply with quote

The patience of Job.

What exactly does this mean? I have searched the web without success.

All I can find is a group discussion on the Book of Job which says, �The "patience of Job" was already proverbial by the first century c.e., when it was referred to in the Epistle of James. But is Job a patient man? Doesn't he lose patience with God? How do you understand the personality and character of Job? Is his story meant to teach us patience, or is this an oversimplified reading?

I have also found:
"You have the patience of Job." It�s a common saying, calling to mind the hero of this biblical book and his patient faith in God. But actually, at least in the biblical telling of the story, Job is neither faithful nor patient!
I am baffled

What exactly does the patience of Job mean?
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It means extremely patient.
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Blossom



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China

PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:43 pm    Post subject: Job Reply with quote

bud wrote:
It means extremely patient.


But why? Job was not patient.

Is it sarcasm to say someone has the patience of Job?
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Job Reply with quote

Blossom wrote:
But why? Job was not patient.
Is it sarcasm to say someone has the patience of Job?

Not at all. Most people who have heard of the story generally know what it is about, and generally speaking Job had to patiently endure all the suffering God allowed the Devil to dump on him. No choice really.
But not everyone who has heard of the story has read it in detail, as such it is not so commonly known that Job was (understandably) whiny and asking God "Why me?!"
In the end, Job is more known for what he did than what he said.

It's a bit of literary misunderstanding on our part collectively, but it's a small price to pay for a useful metaphor! Wink
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Blossom



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China

PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 3:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Job Reply with quote

Bob S. wrote:

It's a bit of literary misunderstanding on our part collectively, but it's a small price to pay for a useful metaphor! Wink


That seems to sum it up nicely. Thanks
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