Thomas Carlyle said Job is, ‘one of the grandest things ever written with pen' and Martin Luther called it 'magnificent and sublime as no other book of Scripture'. By it, God is encouraging Christians in their journey towards heaven as it deals with the grim realities of life and the wonder of divine grace.

Dr. Jones shows how the book of Job anticipates the coming of Jesus Christ. The breadth of its appeal should not be forgotten. Set outside the life of Israel, the book of Job provides a ready-made point of contact with unchurched people. There are so many who have lost their way, either because they do not ask the big questions about life, or because they are swamped by the fact that there seem to be no real answers to them.

The book has something to say to any who would consult it seriously. It therefore supplies excellent material for lively and relevant preaching to people of every culture, not only by way of edification, but also evangelism. This commentary is written partly in the hope that such preaching will take place.

Hywel R Jones is Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary California. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1963 and has ministered in several pastorates in Wales and England. Hywel and his wife, Nansi, have been married for more than 50 years. They are blessed with three children and five granddaughters.