(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Fischer, S.
Five Old Testament concepts of retribution are presented. Then the Book of Job is
evaluated under the aspect of its retributive concepts. Because of the lack of
compensation in Job's life-experience, Job as well as his friends are led co cancel
individual elements of the retributive concept. While Job's friends stick to a rigid
concept, Job undergoes different stages of development that finally lead him to the
denial of retribution. By this he agrees with his wife, but both come to opposite
conclusions in their reasoning. Job's wife argues in favour of a nihilistic approach
while Job is a proponent of a faith-approach. Therefore he is an example of a New
Testament believer.