Job

The Book of Job, interpreted through sensus plenior, can be outlined as a typological conversation between Christ (represented by Job) and God, exploring the necessity of Christ's suffering and death. This framework ties the narrative to the divine plan for salvation, emphasizing the purpose of Scripture as revealing God's Messiah.

---

Outline of Job Through Sensus Plenior

1. Prologue: The Heavenly Courtroom (Job 1–2)

• Scene: God presents Job as blameless, while Satan challenges Job's faithfulness, suggesting it depends on his blessings.
• Sensus Plenior View:
  • Job symbolizes Christ, the innocent and righteous One, who will face suffering for the ultimate purpose of redemption.
  • Satan represents the accuser, paralleling his role in tempting Christ (Matthew 4:1–11) and accusing Him through His trial and crucifixion.
  • The testing of Job foreshadows the testing of Christ, proving His righteousness and fulfilling God's plan.

---

2. Job’s Lament and His Friends’ Accusations (Job 3–31)

1. Job’s Initial Lament (Job 3):
   • Job curses the day of his birth, expressing anguish over his suffering.
   • Sensus Plenior View:
     • Job reflects Christ’s cry in Gethsemane and on the cross, questioning the necessity of His suffering yet remaining within God’s will (Matthew 26:39).
2. The Dialogues with His Friends (Job 4–31):
   • Friends as Four Voices of God: Represent the roles of prophet, priest, king, and judge, each interpreting Job’s suffering through their lens:
     • Eliphaz (Prophet): Appeals to visions and past wisdom, accusing Job of hidden sin.
     • Bildad (Priest): Emphasizes tradition and ritual purity, suggesting Job’s suffering is deserved.
     • Zophar (King): Speaks of moral order and authority, assuming Job’s guilt without evidence.
     • Elihu (Judge): Represents divine judgment, claiming Job’s suffering refines and tests him.
   • Sensus Plenior View:
     • The friends mirror humanity’s limited understanding of suffering, paralleling the religious leaders’ accusations against Christ.
     • Their voices accuse, but Job (as Christ) maintains His innocence, reflecting the unjust accusations during Christ’s trial (Mark 14:55–59).

---

3. God’s Response to Job (Job 38–41)

1. The Theophany (Job 38–39):
   • God speaks out of the whirlwind, questioning Job about creation and the natural order.
   • Sensus Plenior View:
     • The Father reminds Christ (symbolized by Job) of the eternal plan: all flesh must die to fulfill redemption. Christ’s death is the path to reconciling creation with God.
     • God’s questions about creation emphasize Christ’s role as Creator (John 1:3) and sustainer, underscoring the magnitude of His sacrifice.
2. Behemoth and Leviathan (Job 40–41):
   • These creatures represent chaos, death, and sin, which Christ must confront and overcome.
   • Sensus Plenior View:
     • Behemoth symbolizes the immensity of human sin, while Leviathan represents Satan and the chaos of evil.
     • Christ (Job) acknowledges the necessity of conquering these forces through His death and resurrection.

---

4. Job’s Repentance and Restoration (Job 42)

1. Job’s Repentance (Job 42:1–6):
   • Job acknowledges God’s wisdom and sovereignty, repenting in dust and ashes.
   • Sensus Plenior View:
     • Christ, fully human, submits to the divine plan, embracing the necessity of His death (Philippians 2:8). This parallels His prayer in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but Yours be done."
2. Restoration of Job (Job 42:7–17):
   • Job’s fortunes are restored twofold, and his relationships are reconciled.
   • Sensus Plenior View:
     • Job’s restoration foreshadows Christ’s resurrection and the establishment of His kingdom.
     • The doubling of blessings symbolizes the new creation and the eternal life brought through Christ’s sacrifice (John 10:10).

---

Key Themes in Sensus Plenior

1. Christ as Job:
   • Job’s suffering prefigures Christ’s passion and ultimate victory over sin and death.
   • His cries for justice mirror Christ’s questions on the cross, expressing the depth of His suffering.
2. The Four Voices of God:
   • The friends’ roles reflect the multifaceted purposes of Scripture: prophecy, priesthood, kingship, and judgment. Each accuses Job (Christ), revealing humanity’s misunderstanding of divine purposes.
3. The Father’s Sovereignty:
   • God’s speeches affirm His eternal plan, reminding Christ (Job) of the necessity of His sacrifice for the redemption of all creation.
4. Victory Over Chaos:
   • Behemoth and Leviathan represent sin and Satan, defeated through Christ’s death and resurrection.
5. Resurrection and Restoration:
   • Job’s restoration signifies the new life and eternal blessings brought through Christ’s triumph.

---

In this framework, the Book of Job becomes a profound shadow of Christ’s redemptive work, demonstrating the necessity of His suffering, the ultimate defeat of sin, and the restoration of all things through His resurrection.