Theme · ethical
Suffering and Perseverance
Job is the Bible's sustained meditation on suffering — a righteous man who loses everything and receives no tidy explanation. The Psalms of lament give voice to pain without resolving it prematurely. Israel's suffering in Egypt and exile becomes the furnace in which faith is tested and refined. Jesus promises his followers not exemption from suffering but his presence within it: 'In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.' Paul teaches that suffering produces endurance, endurance character, and character hope. Revelation promises that God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Related doctrines
Passages expressing this theme
- 1Cor 4:9 — For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
- 1Cor 4:10 — We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
- 1Cor 9:12 — If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
- 1Cor 10:13 — There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to esca
- 1Pet 1:6 — Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
- 1Pet 1:7 — That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- 1Pet 2:20 — For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- 1Pet 2:21 — For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
- 1Pet 3:10 — For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
- 1Pet 3:14 — But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
- 1Pet 3:16 — Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
- 1Pet 4:1 — Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
- 1Pet 4:12 — Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
- 1Pet 4:13 — But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
- 1Pet 4:14 — If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
- 1Pet 4:19 — Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
- 1Pet 5:1 — The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
- 1Pet 5:9 — Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
- 1Pet 5:10 — But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
- 1Sam 30:6 — And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the
- 1Thess 2:2 — But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
- 1Thess 3:3 — That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
- 1Tim 4:10 — For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
- 2Cor 1:4 — Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
- 2Cor 1:5 — For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
The Church Fathers on Suffering and Perseverance
That is, the sufferings and the resurrection.
Suffering is a real bond, an encouragement to greater love, and the basis of spiritual perfection and godliness. Listen to the one who says: "If you want to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation." And again Christ said: "In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage." And again: "straight and…
"For you have need of endurance." I seek not increase, but patience, so that you may persevere in the same things. "so that after you have done the will of God."The will of God is that you persevere in the same things until the end, and endure the delay of retribution and promise.
The human patience which is good, praiseworthy and deserving the name of virtue is said to be that by which we endure evils with equanimity so as not to abandon, through a lack of equanimity, the good through which we arrive at the better. By their unwillingness to suffer evil, the impatient do not effect their…
Next a stage is made at Cataath [Tahath], which is "encouragement" or "endurance." For it is necessary for someone who wants to be of use to others to suffer many things and to bear them all patiently, as it is said of Paul, "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
For not the first effort of patience, but long-continued perseverance, is rewarded with the glory of the heavenly kingdom, for perseverance, (which is called constancy or fortitude of mind,) is, so to say, the pillar and prop of all virtues. The Son of God then conducts those who abide with Him in His temptations to…