An Outline of Job and Some Applications

An Outline of the Book of Job

   I. Prologue (1:1-2:13)

       A. Job's Character and Wealth 

            (1:1-5)

       B. The Removal of Job's 

            Possessions  (1:6-22)

       C. The Removal of Job's Health 

            (2:1-13)

 II. The First Cycle of Speeches (3:1-14:22)

       A. Job's Lament (3:1-26)

       B. Eliphaz's Reply and Job's Response (4:1-7:21)

            1. Eliphaz's reply (4:1-5:27)

            2. Job's response (6:1-7:21)

       C. Bildad's Reply and Job's Response (8:1-10:22)

            1. Bildad's reply (8:1-22)

            2. Job's response (9:1-10:22)

       D. Zophar's Reply and Job's Response (11:1-14:22)

            1. Zophar's reply (11:1-20)

            2. Job's response (12:1-14:22)

III. The Second Cycle of Speeches (15:1-21:34)

       A. Eliphaz's Reply and Job's Response (15:1-17:16)

            1. Eliphaz's reply (15:1-35)

            2. Job's response (16:1-17:16)

       B. Bildad's Reply and Job's Response (18:1-19:29)

            1. Bildad's reply (18:1-21)

            2. Job's response (19:1-29)

       C. Zophar's Reply and Job's Response (20:1-21:34)

            1. Zophar's reply (20:1-29)

            2. Job's response (21:1-34)

 IV. The Third Cycle of Speeches (22:1-37:24)

       A. Eliphaz's Reply and Job's Response (22:1-24:25)

            1. Eliphaz's reply (22:1-30)

            2. Job's response (23:1-24:25)

       B. Bildad's Reply and Job's Response (25:1-31:40)

            1. Bildad's reply (25:1-6)

            2. Job's response (26:1-31:40)

       C. Elihu's Reply (32:1-37:24)

            1. Elihu's first speech (32:1-33:33)

            2. Elihu's second speech (34:1-37)

            3. Elihu's third speech (35:1-16)

            4. Elihu's fourth speech (36:1-37:24)

   V. God's Speeches (38:1-42:6)

        A. God's First Speech (38:1-40:5)

        B. God's Second Speech (40:6-41:34)

        C. Job's Response (42:1-6)

 VI. Epilogue (42:7-17)

        A. God Reprimands Job's Friends (42:7-9)

        B. God Restores Job's Health and Wealth (42:10-17) 

Some Applications of the Book of Job

1. Every problem is not the source of sin.

2. The existence of problems in one's life is not a measure of personal holiness.

3. Some traditional wisdom is good, but not all of it!

4. It is possible to apply good teaching to the wrong situation.

5. It is possible to be self-righteous without being righteous.

6. One might never receive the answer in this life as to why one suffers.

7. God is worthy of worship regardless of one's situation in life.