Job Was A Real Person

Or so argues Fr. Ryan Erlenbush in a post at the New Theological Movement :

There is nothing in the description of the figure of Job which would make us think that he was not an historical person. Indeed, though one may hold that the various dialogues and discussions in the book of Job are stylized and that the work is not a word-for-word transcript, we most certainly need not conclude from this that none of the characters (especially Job himself) even existed!

You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate.  (James 5:11)

Here, the Apostle James calls to mind the example of Job, presenting him as an historical person whose virtue ought to be emulated. Again, he is presented as being a real historical person, not merely a literary invention.

Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job. [ . . . ]For as the kings insulted over holy Job: so his relations and kinsmen mocked at his life.  (Tobit 2:12,15)

This is a citation from the Latin text of Tobit (which was received at the Council of Trent), but the Greek manuscripts which have come down to our day lack these references to Job. In this book, Tobit is compared to Job – and since Tobit was an historical figure, we are led to conclude the same of Job.

And if these three men, Noe, Daniel, and Job, shall be in it: they shall deliver their own souls by their justice, saith the Lord of hosts.  (Ezekiel 14:14)

Here, and again in Ezekiel 14:20, Job is mentioned together with Noah and Daniel. Since both of these men are historical, we are led to conclude the same of Job.

The book of Job itself, together with three other biblical books, presents Job as being an historical figure. There is no reason to suppose otherwise.