“You Are Engulfed with Misfortune because You Are a Sinner”: A Reading of Job 4:1–9 for Nigerian Christians through the Lens of African Biblical Interpretation

Abstract

Job was written as a dialectic to refute the theology of reward and punishment of the Deuteronomistic theology. Using rhetorical approach, this article analyses Job 4:1–9, a passage where Eliphaz responds to Job’s lament by advising him to accept suffering as divine punishment for sin.  The study argues that Eliphaz’s attitude of civility and advising are desirable attitudes, which contemporary Nigerian Christians can emulate when faced with life’s hardships. Thus, the study concludes that the text can encourage civility, selflessness, and supportive counsel within faith communities, offering meaningful guidance for those in distress.