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Pasa Graphe' Theopneustos Kai Ophelimos (Greek) is one of the most often-repeated passages from the Scriptures, ie, the Bible. The passage appears in the heading of our Facebook page. But what does it say to us in our various tongues? Well, for those of us who speak English, this passage is a bold testimony from the pen of one Paul, a first-century scholar from the Isrealite tribe of Benjamin. It is also a statement steeped in the thelogy of the Biblical narratives. So, Paul wrote to a young ethnic Jew named Timotheus: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable......"
At the time Paul wrote those words, there was not yet a codex known as the "New Testament." The scrolls of papyrus on which were written the Scriptures are what we call today the "Old Testament." In its immediate and limited interpretation, Paul is saying that the messages in the Old Testament are inspired by God. That being so, who is the man who would say that the record of the flood in Noah's day was simply an allegory, and not an historical account?

Job

The book of Job is the story of a good man who suffers total disaster. All his children are killed. He loses his vast wealth and falls victim to a terrible disease. Then his friends come to comfort him. The conversations between Job and his friends are written as a poem and take up most of the book.

These friends of Job believe that God always rewards good behavior and always punishes bad behavior. Since Job is suffering, his friends conclude that he's being punished for his sins.

But Job disagrees. He's led an upright, kind, and generous life. He can't understand why God hasn't protected him. So Job boldly challenges God.

Finally, God Himself responds to Job's concerns with a dramatic statement of His wisdom and power.

On that note, the poem ends. But not the book of Job. A final comment indicates that Job was restored to his former position, with even greater prosperity than before.

The story of Job deals with some timeless themes: the character of God and the problem of suffering. Since these questions are important to every age, the book of Job is definitely a story for our time.