Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5561 suffering, nature of

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5561 suffering, nature of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5560 suffering » 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

Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 5:12

Suffering is universal

Job 5:7; Job 14:1

Different kinds of suffering

Physical pain and illness

Genesis 48:1 See also 2 Kings 20:1 pp 2 Chronicles 32:24 pp Isaiah 38:1; Job 2:7; Psalm 42:10; Matthew 8:6; Matthew 17:15; Luke 4:38; Acts 28:8; 2 Timothy 4:20; James 5:14

Emotional stress

Psalm 55:4-5 See also Genesis 35:18 “Ben-Oni” means “son of my trouble”; Proverbs 12:25; John 11:32-35; Philippians 2:27

Spiritual suffering

Psalm 22:1 See also Matthew 27:46 pp Mark 15:34

The prospect of death

Genesis 3:19 See also Ecclesiastes 12:7

Major causes of suffering

The disorder in creation

Genesis 3:17 See also Genesis 12:10; Joel 1:4; Matthew 24:7 pp Luke 21:11; Romans 8:22; Revelation 11:13

Human cruelty

Psalm 54:3

Murder:

Genesis 4:8; Exodus 1:16,22; 1 Kings 21:19; Matthew 2:16 Genesis 49:5-7

Oppression:

Exodus 1:11; Amos 2:6-7; Amos 4:1; Malachi 3:5 2 Kings 6:25; Kings 19:17 warfare; 2 Chronicles 10:13-14; Job 1:14-15,17; Amos 1:3,13; James 5:4-6; Revelation 6:4

Family troubles

Psalm 27:10 See also 1 Samuel 1:7; 2 Samuel 16:11; Job 19:14-19; Malachi 2:14; Matthew 10:36; James 1:27

Old age

Satan's activity

1 John 5:19 See also Job 1:12; Job 2:6-7; Luke 13:16; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 20:7-8

Aggravations to suffering

Memories

Job 29:2

Fears

Job 3:25; Hebrews 2:15

Resentment

Job 2:9

Sin and suffering

They are not necessarily related

John 9:3 See also Job 2:3; Luke 13:2

They are sometimes closely related

Romans 1:18 See also Genesis 6:5-7; Numbers 14:33; Deuteronomy 28:15; Psalm 107:17; Ezekiel 23:49; Acts 5:5,10; Romans 1:27; 1 Corinthians 11:29-30; Jude 7; Revelation 2:22

God's final judgment

Matthew 25:41 See also Daniel 12:2; Matthew 8:12; Mark 9:48; Isaiah 66:24; Revelation 20:15

Effects of suffering

Hardness of heart

Revelation 16:9 See also Exodus 7:22; Revelation 9:20-21

Repentance

2 Chronicles 33:12; Luke 15:17-18

Blessing

Psalm 119:71 See also Isaiah 38:17