Job

Rudolph Honsey has written a book with qualities that can best be seen when comparing it to another Commentary (in this case, John Gibson's commentary on Job--see my review of that for more details). While Gibson gives a wild roller-coaster of a commentary, Honsey gives a steady, traditional train ride. While Gibson shocked me, thrilled me, and made me wildly angry, Honsey made cool, logical sense the entire way through.Honsey, being of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, advances many views that I've known and loved for years, namely 1) The events in the Book of Job really happened 2) Job (as well as the entire Old Testament) point forward to the coming of Jesus 3) If his research doesn't provide him with an adequate answer, he admits it. 4) The entire Bible (even the speeches of Elihu) is inspired by God and there for a purpose. That is to say, if the Bible said it happened, it happened; mere, silly humans are blasphemous when they begin to say "this particular part of the Bible really shouldn't be there."As such, Honsey, produces a calm, logical commentary. When he sees something that points forward to Jesus (or some other part of the Bible), he points it out; when Job says something that borderlines blasphemy, he give Job the benefit of the doubt (God commended him for his righteousness so Honsey won't accuse where God doesn't); he explains his thinking and why he disagrees with other Bible commentators.In all, Honsey gives a clear, accurate picture of the book of Job. While being neither dramatic nor flashy, he does earn points with straight-forwardness. While not a particularly gifted poet in the sense that he can point out the highly emotional yet difficult-to-comprehend poetry of Job, he is gifted in presenting Job as a part of a greater whole--the Holy Bible. A heartily endorsed commentary (and commentary series).