“The satan” in Light of the Creation Theology of Job

Abstract

The figure who instigates God to afflict Job, “the satan,” vanishes entirely after the prologue of the book of Job. But his role in the prologue is mirrored by Job’s friends in the poetry section of the book. We argue that the presentation of “the satan” in the prologue is entirely consistent with the theology of creation proffered in the poetry section of the book of Job. The possible implication of this finding for the fate of Satan is spelled out.