In his essay on theodicy, Kant explicitly claims that while the disproportion between crime and punishment poses a theodicean challenge concerning God’s justice, the suffering of the righteous is compatible with God’s justice [Gerechtigkeit], goodness [Gütigkeit], and holiness [Heiligkeit]. In light of this, Kant’s reason for addressing the book of Job in this context is puzzling. However, the location of Job’s story in the text reveals that Job’s suffering is rendered relevant only concerning the relation between two of God’s moral attributes: goodness as subordinated to holiness, i.e., God’s benevolence [Güte]. Implications concern the difference between ‘authentic’ and ‘doctrinal’ theodicy.

康德在其关于神学的论文中明确宣称，虽然犯罪与惩罚之间的不相称构成了对神的公义的圣地挑战，但义人的苦难与神的公义[Gerechtigkeit]，善良[Gütigkeit]和圣洁[Heiligkeit]相适应。鉴于此，在这种情况下，康德提出《约伯记》的原因令人费解。然而，约伯故事在文本中的位置表明，约伯的苦难只与上帝的两个道德属性之间的关系有关：善良从属于圣洁，即上帝的仁慈。暗示涉及“真实的”和“教义的”神学之间的区别。