Name: Kaireen SP.

Garrote
Subject: Old Testament 2

I. Title of the Book

Book of Job.
II. Meaning of the Book
Iyyob is the Hebrew title for this book, and the name has two possible meanings, if derived from the Hebrew
word for “Persecution”, it means “Persecuted One”. It more likely that it comes from Arabic word meaning, “
To Come Back” or “Repent”. If so, it may be defined “Repentant One”. Both meanings apply to the book. The
Greek title is Job, and the Latin title is Iob.
III. Date & Author

There is no consensus about who wrote the Book of Job or when it was written. Suggestions for an author
include Job, Elihu, Solomon, and even Moses.

As for the time of writing, there is strong literary evidence that the Book of Job was compiled and written during
the time of Solomon, when wisdom and literature flourished. The mention of iron tools and weapons (Job
19:24;20:24;40:18) and even mining (28:2) implies a date during the Iron Age (after 1200 BC). Moreover, the
description of a horse, which was used in a military context may indicate the mounted warhorse, which was used at
the earliest around the tenth century. Furthermore, at least two passages in Job may allude to biblical passages form
the Solomonic era (compare 7:17, 18 with Ps. 8:4; compare 28:28 to Prov. 3:7, 9:10). These various strands of
evidence may indicate that Job was written around Solomon’s reign. (Source: NKJV Study Bible, Ronald B. Allen, Th.
D)

IV. Arguments and Reasons about the Book

The book of Job reads like a stage play. The stage is set in the courts of Heaven, and the rest of the drama is
filled with monologues about Heaven’s agenda. One by one, Job and his friends try to answer the question of
why Job is suffering because, like the rest of us in trials, they long to know the reason. But no one comes up
with a fully satisfying explanation. Even God’s own response at the end leaves us with questions. Not only do
we continue to wonder about the meaning of suffering, we wonder about the purpose of this book.

What is the message of Job? Some readers believe the message is that God doesn’t put a wall of protection
around His people – though at the beginning, there is a wall around Job, and God makes an exception to remove
it. Others claim that the message of Job is the unsolvable mystery of suffering – though at the beginning, a clear
explanation for this case of suffering is given. Job and his friends never see it, but the reader does. And perhaps
that’s the message: that God allows suffering for hidden reasons that fit His purpose clearly. Explanations are
beyond human comprehension, but they nevertheless exist. And they are based on higher stakes than our
immediate welfare. A larger story is playing out behind the scenes of our lives.

The characters who form this storyline include GOD and an adversary who approaches God to question the
legitimacy of Job’s faith: Job and his family members, who become the unwitting subjects of a divine case study;
and Job’s friends, who feel compelled to explain the situation without direct knowledge of it. By the end, we
may not fully understand why the righteous suffer, but we can see the limited perspective of the human
participants. We realized how impotent our own explanations can be. And we are prompted to leave our
mysteries in the hands of God and trust His purposes in our lives.
Name: Kaireen SP. Garrote
Subject: New Testament 2

I. Title of the Book

Book of Acts
II. Meaning of the Book
Available Greek manuscripts designated it by title Praxeis, “Acts” or by equal expanded title “ The Acts of
the Apostles”. Praxeis was commonly used in Greek literature to summarize the accomplishments of
outstanding men.
III. Date & Author
The book of Acts begins with a reference to the author’s “former account” written to the man named
Theophilus, a clear reference to the Gospel of Luke. Even though the author does not mention himself by name
in either the Gospel or Acts, early tradition identifies Luke as the author of both volumes. As early as the second
century, ancient authors, such as Irenaeus indicate this.
The Book of Acts does not record Paul’s death. Instead it ends abruptly during Paul’s residence in Rome.
Paul’s house arrest in Rome occurred around A.D. 61, marking the earliest possible date for the book’s
completion. Acts makes no reference to the Fall of Jerusalem or to Nero’s persecution of Christian following the
fire of Rome in A.D. 64. Surely Luke would have mentioned these significant events if they had occurred when
he wrote. Moreover, the many references to Paul’s vindication before Roman officials would not make sense if
Nero had already started his vehement persecution of Christian. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Acts
was written between A.D. 61 and A.D. 64.

IV. Arguments and Reasons about the Book

Luke ended his gospel with the ascension of Jesus, but that wasn’t the end of the story he wanted to tell, inf act,
many ways it was just the beginning. So in Acts, Luke picks up the story in the same spot – with the Ascension – and
records the days of the early church. Along the way, we see what happens with some of Jesus’ disciples as the message
of Jesus begins to spread. That’s why many people refer to this book as the Acts of the Apostles – it describes the exploits
of the disciples being sent to the world.

But Acts focuses on only a few of the apostles, not all of them. Peter and John are most prominent in the early
days. And as the apostles appoint others to handle practical matters while they focus on prayer and teaching scripture,
the spotlight turn away from them toward two of those practical servants – Philip, who takes awaythe message if Jesus
outside of Jerusalem, and Stephen, the first known martyr. The story expands quickly into the Gentiles world through
Peter’s encounter with a Roman named Cornelius, and then through ministry of Paul, a one-time persecutor of the church
who has a vision of Jesus and becomes perhaps the church’s most ardent messenger to distant places. His journeys offer
us a host of compelling characters, including fellow missionaries and church leaders, converts, sorcerers, angry mobs,
demonic antagonists, Roman officials, and more. We are introduces to a fascinating cross section of the Roman Empire.

It’s easy to argue that the apostles are not the main characters in this drama. An even more significant, ever-
present character makes a powerful entrance in Chapter 2 and orchestrates the rest of the story, usually but not always
behind the scenes. Above all, this story is about the acts of the Holy Spirit. And Spirit’s presence in these pages assures
us not only that He was powerfully at work in the first century. His story continues ling after Luke finished writing Acts –
even into the life of those who read it today.