Reading the book as a literary whole, grace ko uses a holistic, synchronic approach to investigate how its writer presents his case, and how he reaches the final resolution of his problem. Habakkuk was a sensitive and passionate man, completely devoted to the lord. The book of habakkuk comprises laments, prophetic oracles, a. Theodicy in habakkuk paternoster biblical monographs series. The most obvious structure of the book is the dialogue between habakkuk and god. Theodicy in habakkuk ebook by grace ko 9781780783314. Development of a practical theodicy through a biblical. When habakkuk laments over yahwehs silence over the unrighteous behavior of the wicked among him, he learns to his surprise that the lord is working by raising up the mighty, violent chaldeans to judge judah, that this is not a conflict with. Grace ko annotation this extraordinary work explains how the writer of the book of habakkuk resolves the issue of theodicy. Jehoiakims reign was marked by injustice, treachery, and bloodshed jeremiah 22. The example of the prophet habakkuk encourages believers to. Habakkuk, part 2, presentation vanderbilt university. It reminds us that while god may seem silent and uninvolved in our world, he always has a plan to deal with evil and always works out justice. Habakkuk s journey toward a theodicy was not a solo journey.
Every prophet is unique in his own right, habakkuk being no exception. Habakkuk s uniqueness in prophetic traditionhabakkuk in the book of the twelve. Commendation theodicy in habakkuk is a welcome addition to the interpretation of the prophetic message of habakkuk. The book of habakkuk offers us a picture of a prideful people being humbled, while the righteous live by faith in god 2. Buy theodicy in habakkuk paternoster biblical monographs series by grace ko in paperback format at koorong 9781842278505. The name habakkuk is an unusual one of uncertain meaning. The most popular bible verses from habakkuk found 56 verses habakkuk 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Habakkuk overview and outline reasons for hope jesus. The message that the just shall live by his faith plays an important role in christian thought.
Unlike the other prophets of god habakkuk did not speak to the people for god, but spoke to god concerning the people. The prophet habakkuk faced the violence and injustice of king jehoiakim 609597 see jer 22. Since theodicy is a common human issue raised during atrocity, habakkuks experience becomes a source of hope and resolute faith for the believing community in the midst of severe adversity. Christian worldview christian worldview says that god is good and all powerful. It is to answer the question of why a good god permits the manifestation of evil, thus resolving the issue of the problem of evil. Pouring his heart out, and our merciful lord listening intently to the complaints and answering. Habakkuk, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of.
Habakkuk 1 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Historys most famous statement of the problem of evil comes from the ancient greek philosopher epicurus. As i stated last week the book of habakkuk is the eighth book of the twelve books we call the minor prophets. O lord, how long shall i cry for help and you will not. At the end of his book this name becomes appropriate because habakkuk chooses to cling firmly to embrace god regardless of what happens to his nation 3. The book of habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the bible.
It is generally accepted that habakkuk was written to judah the southern kingdom. Of the three chapters in the book, the first two are a dialog between yahweh and the prophet. Apr 29, 2014 the book of habakkuk differs from other books of prophecy in one special aspect. Watch our overview video on the book of habakkuk, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The prophet habakkuk decries the sins of judah but grapples with the fact that gods chosen people will suffer at the hands of enemies even more wicked than they. Book of job in bible deals with the problem of evil. That is, habakkuk is struggling to understand how it is that gods justice is to be. Key words habakkuk, suffering, evil, theodicy decontextualization and the book of habakkuk the book of habakkuk is at once concise and one of the most startling in the ot for a reader committed to faith in a benevolent god. Yahweh answers that the vision habakkuk saw will certainly come to pass also affirming that babylon is not right, and his people will live by faith 2.
The path has been trodden down by many before him, and by many after him. The book of habakkuk is most similar to which of the following old testament books. Overview of habakkuk in light of gods providence and the problem of evil. It is attributed to the prophet habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century bc of the three chapters in the book, the first two are a dialog between yahweh and the prophet. Theological issues in habakkuk and the life context. Habakkuk is the only prophet to devote his entire work to the question of the justice of gods government of the world. May 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of habakkuk, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Theodicy and habakkuk biblical brethren fellowship. In this book, habakkuk struggles to understand gods goodness in the. A dialogue between habakkuk and yahwehgods justice revealed. How long, lord, must i call for help, but you do not listen. Sunday school lesson march 15, 2020 consequences for. Theodicy is a branch of philosophy dealing with the issue of evil in light of the existence of god. I am reading it in english, georgian and azerbaijani.
The book of job cannot excuse suffering or argue it away, but it shows us a process by which it can be made bearable mon 5 jul 2010 05. Book of habakkuk overview insight for living ministries. According to the apocryphal book bel and the dragon, habakkuk ministered to the prophet daniel bel 3339. Gods leniency towards the wicked, justifying the ways of god. Habakkuk questions god repeatedly concerning the suffering of the righteous, and although the book ends, tentatively. Chapter 3, habakkuk and theodicy, examines the theme of theodicy in habakkuk and also compares it to other passages in the hebrew bible that address this topic. The book of habakkuk provides few clues as to its historical origins and referent. Only good is eternally real, evil is present reality within created universe. Half the book is expressed in the language of prayer, making it unique among the prophetic books. Habakkuk questions how yahweh can be a good god who is the protector of his people and holy and use such. Reading the book as a literary whole, grace ko uses a. Habakkuk, theology of the prophet habakkuk faced the violence and injustice of king jehoiakim 609597 see jer 22.
These questions led me to the book of habakkuk, which tells a story that is. Sep 01, 2014 commendation theodicy in habakkuk is a welcome addition to the interpretation of the prophetic message of habakkuk. Nov 30, 2009 only good is eternally real, evil is present reality within created universe. Similar language is used of the chaldeans habakkuk 1. Habakkuk comprises laments, prophetic and woe oracles, and psalm prayer, but there is progression of thought. It is called minor only because it is shorter in length and comes behind the five major prophets in the old testament. Yahweh urges habakkuk to publicly record his answer in letters large enough that when can read it when one is running by 2. It is a journey that all people of faith will make at one point or another in their lifetime. This is resolved in the psalm of chapter 3, through the language of prayer. Ko argues that the three scenes of the book utilize lament, woe oracles, and a song of victory respectively. This extraordinary work explains how the writer of the book of habakkuk resolves the issue of theodicy. This sensible, clearly written book deserves the attention of all serious old testament scholars and students. Read theodicy in habakkuk online by grace ko books free 30.
A practical theodicy is a defense of gods righteousness which is faithful to the scripture, simple to understand, acknowledges the progression in the grief process, allows the sufferer to grieve and cry out to god. Some theodicies also address the evidential problem of evil by attempting to make the existence of an allknowing, allpowerful and allgood or omnibenevolent god consistent with the existence of evil or. The most important theological issue in this study seems to be one of theodicy. He sought to understand the existence and continuation of evil in light of gods righteousness.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuks prophecy is dated to around 605 bc, the time of king jehoiakim and before nebuchadnezzar first invaded judah and took daniel and others as captives to babylon. Theodicy in habakkuk is a welcome addition to the interpretation of the prophetic message of habakkuk. In the first i will give a short overview of the book of habakkuk.
Habakkuk makes a complaint or prayer to yhwh, and then yhwh answers. Theodicy in habakkuk paternoster biblical monographs. The book of habakkuk begins with habakkuk crying out to god for an answer to why gods chosen people are allowed to suffer in their captivity habakkuk 1. Pdf theodicy, wisdom, and prophecy in the book of habakkuk. God, make what has been heard and told about your past deliverances into a present, lived reality in the midst of violent judgment of wickedness.
The book of habakkuk was likely written between 610 and 605 b. If god is just and holy and good, then how do evil and misery exist. Some feel it comes from the hebrew word habaq which means to embrace thus, his name would signify an ardent embrace. Jul 14, 2017 many interpret the book of habakkuk as a theodicy, a defense of gods goodness and power given the existence of evil. Ko, theodicy in habakkuk journal of hebrew scriptures. Reading the book as a literary whole, grace ko uses a holistic, synchronic. Glen taylor, wycliffe college, university of toronto, canada. Book of habakkuk also deals with questioning god about the ever increasing evil. What makes habakkuk a theodicy is not only that gods goodness is questioned, but also that his goodness is ultimately defended in the triumphant third chapter. God, make what has been heard and told about your past deliverances into a present, lived reality in. It is attributed to the prophet habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century bc.
Habakkuk questions god repeatedly concerning the suffering of the righteous, and although the book ends, tentatively, on a note of hope, it is unsettling and. In this book, a theological problem is stated and resolved. Theodicy, wisdom, and prophecy in the book of habakkuk. Reading the book as a literary whole, grace ko uses a holistic, synchronic approach to investigate how its writer presents his case, and. The main point is stated at the beginning and at the endthe soul that sins shall dieand is explicated by a case history of a family traced through three generations.
Instead of taking jehovahs message directly to the people, he takes the complaint of the people to jehovah, representing them in the complaint homer hailey. Habakkuks uniqueness in prophetic traditionhabakkuk in the book of the twelve. Habakkuks prophecy is dated to around 605 bc, the time of king jehoiakim and before nebuchadnezzar first invaded judah and. In the book of habakkuk, god provided a paradigm for a practical theodicy. In the bible as a whole, only job delivers a more pointed challenge to divine rule. Ko, grace, theodicy in habakkuk paternoster biblical monographs. An unconventional look at the challenge of theodicy digital. Is taking us to a place in the scripture that most of us dont naturally go. Theodicy in the book of ezekiel and also in jeremiah 31. Habakkuk, on the other hand, will enable you to introduce theodicy more concisely. Sbl annual meeting san diego november 23, 2014 theodicy, wisdom, and prophecy in the book of habakkuk thomas kruger university of zurich switzerland my paper has three parts. Theodicy in habakkuk ebook this extraordinary work explains how the writer of the book of habakkuk resolves the issue of theodicy.