Testament of Job: In Modern English And Original Translation (Ancient Translations)

Now simply known as “Testament of Job,” this book was written somewhere around the time of Christ, ranging from the first century BC to the first century AD. It is not clear when it was penned, but the earliest copy found was a manuscript in Coptic, dating around the 5th century, AD. Surviving copies have also been found in Greek and Slavonic.

The testament that you now have isn’t anything to change your theology over. It’s a story, maybe somewhat important in understanding the mind of Job, through the original author’s pen... Or quill... Or chisel. But it’s a story nonetheless about a man named Job, the same one that we read about in “The Book of Job” which is part of the authorized canon of both Jewish and Christian faiths.

There are some distinct similarities in this book to the above mentioned, and there are some glaring differences. Yes, Job is tempted and put through trials by Satan. But the Satan that appears in this book is of more evil intent. The Satan that appears in the original book is a type of lawyer, a type of schoolmaster, daring Yahway Elohim to prove how much his creations love Him.