5561 suffering, nature of

Since the fall, human beings have suffered in various ways. Scripture provides insights into the nature and place of suffering both in the world and in the lives of believers.

Suffering began with the fall

Ge 2:17; Ge 3:16-19; Ro 5:12

Suffering is universal

Job 5:7; Job 14:1

Different kinds of suffering

Physical pain and illness Ge 48:1 See also 2Ki 20:1 pp 2Ch 32:24 pp Isa 38:1; Job 2:7; Ps 42:10; Mt 8:6; Mt 17:15; Lk 4:38; Ac 28:8; 2Ti 4:20; Jas 5:14

Emotional stress Ps 55:4-5 See also Ge 35:18 “Ben-Oni” means “son of my trouble”; Pr 12:25; Jn 11:32-35; Php 2:27

Spiritual suffering Ps 22:1 See also Mt 27:46 pp Mk 15:34

The prospect of death Ge 3:19 See also Ecc 12:7

Major causes of suffering

The disorder in creation Ge 3:17 See also Ge 12:10; Joel 1:4; Mt 24:7 pp Lk 21:11; Ro 8:22; Rev 11:13

Human cruelty Ps 54:3 Murder: Ge 4:8; Ex 1:16,22; 1Ki 21:19; Mt 2:16
Ge 49:5-7 Oppression: Ex 1:11; Am 2:6-7; Am 4:1; Mal 3:5
2Ki 6:25; 2Ki 19:17 warfare; 2Ch 10:13-14; Job 1:14-15,17; Am 1:3,13; Jas 5:4-6; Rev 6:4

Family troubles Ps 27:10 See also 1Sa 1:7; 2Sa 16:11; Job 19:14-19; Mal 2:14; Mt 10:36; Jas 1:27

Old age Ps 71:9 See also Ecc 12:1-7

Satan’s activity 1Jn 5:19 See also Job 1:12; Job 2:6-7; Lk 13:16; 2Co 12:7; Rev 2:10; Rev 20:7-8

Aggravations to suffering

Memories Job 29:2

Fears Job 3:25; Heb 2:15

Resentment Job 2:9

Sin and suffering

They are not necessarily related Jn 9:3 See also Job 2:3; Lk 13:2

They are sometimes closely related Ro 1:18 See also Ge 6:5-7; Nu 14:33; Dt 28:15; Ps 107:17; Eze 23:49; Ac 5:5,10; Ro 1:27; 1Co 11:29-30; Jude 7; Rev 2:22

God’s final judgment Mt 25:41 See also Da 12:2; Mt 8:12; Mk 9:48; Isa 66:24; Rev 20:15

Effects of suffering

Hardness of heart Rev 16:9 See also Ex 7:22; Rev 9:20-21

Repentance 2Ch 33:12; Lk 15:17-18

Blessing Ps 119:71 See also Isa 38:17

See also