I have used the following sources to prepare my studies in Job:

(1) Let God be God by Ray C. Stedman

(2) A New International Biblical Commentary on Job by Gerald H. Wilson.

(3) Be patient by Warren W. Wiersbe.

(4) Job for Everyone by John Goldingay

(5) Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Job by Francis I. Andersen.

I take the view that the book of Job is an inspired work of fiction in which the highly accomplished author explores the problem of suffering. The writer does not say that he had had a vision, dream or other revelation about what happened in heaven. He was obviously not in heaven as an eye witness. I think he was there in his imagination. The author imagines God and his angels discussing the good man Job. It is inconceivable to me that anyone would actually speak spontaneously in the poetic language used by Job and his friends in their discourses. Who took down their long, ornate speeches? It is much more likely that a great poet has carefully composed the accusations of Job's friends and his responses to them.

The value of Job is not debased because it is a work of the imagination anymore than are the parables of Jesus. The Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son are as real to me, indeed, more so, than many historic figures. I speak of the Good Samaritan as if he had actually lived. So the fact James mentions Job in his epistle is no more proof of his actual existence than the references to the Good Samaritan in my sermons are proof of his existence.

Job is part of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and along with the other books in this category deals with topics that are not fully explored in the New Testament. In this respect Job is of major value. It deals with a subject that poses a problem to adherents of all the major religions.