The books of the Old Testament in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul: Paul’s answer to the question of the author of the Book of Job about the problem of theodicy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072X_2025_4_32-53Keywords:
Job, books of Wisdom, Apostle Paul, Pauline epistles, theodicy, suffering.Abstract
The purpose of this article is to thoroughly comprehend the complicated issue of theodicy in relation to the Book of Job and the theology of the Apostle Paul from the perspective of theological-exegetical analysis. To achieve this goal, historical and philological research methods (philological, textual, and historical-cultural) were used in the context of a comparative analysis of certain passages in the Book of Job and the epistles of the Apostle Paul.
The object of the study is the Bible, within the framework of an analysis of the Book of Job and the epistles of the Apostle Paul. The subject is the problem of theodicy in these sections of Holy Scripture. The article convincingly demonstrates that the Apostle Paul frequently used books of the Old Testament to support his theological assertions. Among the books to which the Apostle turned were not only legislative or prophetic books, but also doctrinal or Wisdom books, which raise important life questions. Therefore, this article analyzes the issue of theodicy raised by the author of the Book of Job and the Apostle Paul’s attempt to resolve it in his epistles.
The theoretical and practical significance of this article is determined by the importance of a deep understanding by Christians of the Apostle Paul’s response to the question of theodicy and its application to individual Christian life. The theological and exegetical research in this article can be used in the study and teaching of the Apostle Paul’s epistles both in humanities and philosophy departments in secular educational institutions and in theological schools.
The article concludes that in the Old Testament, humanity attempted to answer the question of theodicy in various ways, offering their own conclusions. However, the best answer, in our opinion, lies within the Christocentric soteriology of the Apostle’s theology. This implies that it is impossible to even compare the future eternal life with this present earthly life in connection with the promise of the Kingdom of the Risen Christ, and that it is necessary to have hope in resurrection after death in order to overcome the difficulties of earthly existence.
For citation: Razdorov A. N., priest The books of the Old Testament in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul: Paul’s answer to the question of the author of the Book of Job about the problem of theodicy DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072X_2025_4_32-53. EDN: FEPGCL // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, np. 4 (33), pp. 32-53. (In Russian).
Received 17 July 2025.
Accepted for press 02 October 2025.
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