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Intro
Intro
The problem of suffering is a perennial one. In fact, the problem of suffering and evil is one of the major objections to christianity. Mankind has been attempting to understand why suffering happens or developing a theodicy (justification of why God allows suffering)
Theodicy is an explanation of why a good, almighty, and all loving God would allow suffering and evil.
The study of suffering can be a dangerous endeavor because we can understand that God has indeed revealed his purposes for our suffering. We can easily think that we should always understand God’s purposes for our suffering. That is the danger.
You see, we can develop a professed theology—what we know about God in our heads, a theology of suffering, if you will, but when we encounter suffering, our assumptions about God are revealed in our functional theology. How deep is our faith.
The Bible very self-consciously never provides an explanation for all suffering. Instead, when it grapples with suffering it calls us to faith. But not a blind faith that trusts simply to trust—but a faith grounded in the evidence of God’s working in this world.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
You see, we can develop a professed theology—what we know about God in our heads, a theology of suffering, if you will, but when we encounter suffering, our assumptions about God are revealed in our functional theology. How deep is our faith.
The Bible very self-consciously never provides an explanation for all suffering. Instead, when it grapples with suffering it calls us to faith. But not a blind faith that trusts simply to trust—but a faith grounded in the evidence of God’s working in this world.
So, in class today, I want to do a case study in applied theology. I want to, from scripture, using Paul as an example, understand how we should respond to suffering.
the difference between our professed theology—what we know about God in our heads—and our functional theology—the assumptions about God that become implicit in how we live.
First, we need to appreciate Paul’s degree of suffering.
Historical Background
Historical Background
Philippians, one of the prison epistles, that is to say, a letter written while Paul was incarcerated, whether that be in Rome, Ephesus or Cesarea. The letter was written in the mid 50s to early 60s AD (approx)
Philippians, one of the prison epistles, that is to say, a letter written while Paul was incarcerated, whether that be in Rome, Ephesus or Cesarea. The letter was written in the mid 50s to early 60s AD (approx)
Paul is writing from prison, suffering for the sake of the Gospel, and in fact speaking of the very real possibility of imminent death. And yet, despite this uncertain future, his letter to the church is filled with joy.
Paul’s suffering
Paul’s suffering
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
2 Cor
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
2 Cor 11:
Phil 1:19-30
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Paul’s present suffering: imprisoned, facing death. Look at his response.
eager anticipation and hope.
Philippians: A Mentor Commentary The Progress of the Gospel in the Future (1:18c–26)
In speaking of his eager expectation, Paul uses a word (apokaradokian) that ‘emphasizes … the vehement and unshakable expectation which constitutes the emotional dimension of hope.’87 In Greek the word for hope (elpis) is much stronger than its English counterpart. We might say ‘I hope the weather is nice tomorrow’ when the forecast calls for rain; in doing so, we are indicating a desire that may or may not be fulfilled. But in the Bible hope (elpis) refers to ‘the looking forward to something with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment.
ἐλπίς
1. How does this suffering challenge my view of who God is?
We may thing that God is not sovereign; that he is not in control.
Maybe we think that God is not truly good.
Paul’s functional theology aligns with his professed theology.
help of the spirit, deliverance, eager expectation, hope, gain
Philippians: A Mentor Commentary The Progress of the Gospel in the Future (1:18c–26)
In speaking of his eager expectation, Paul uses a word (apokaradokian) that ‘emphasizes … the vehement and unshakable expectation which constitutes the emotional dimension of hope.’87 In Greek the word for hope (elpis) is much stronger than its English counterpart. We might say ‘I hope the weather is nice tomorrow’ when the forecast calls for rain; in doing so, we are indicating a desire that may or may not be fulfilled. But in the Bible hope (elpis) refers to ‘the looking forward to something with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment.
2. What am I tempted to trust in other than God?
We might trust in our own self (power, money, relationships.)
We might trust in someone else, government, etc.
Epaphroditus, A messenger from the Philippian church, had brought Paul a gift of supplies from them. Paul could easily have trusted in this gift to free him from prision. In fact, we know that in , the governor felix, was expecting a bribe from Paul.
Paul trusted in no-one else but God.
3. How can I fight for faith?
Embrace the objective
Paul had a goal: to see Christ glorified. , prepositional phrases.\
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Scripture
Surround ourselves with other believers
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
2 thes
4. How can conduct myself so that God is glorified in my life through this difficult time?
Suffering does have a purpose; it may not always seem apparent
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
?
Ultimately, to bring glory to God
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Phil 1:
honor: μεγαλύνω mega lee no
magnify, not like a microscope enlarge something tiny, but like a telescope something great, grand and make it visible.
“I am afraid that all the grace that I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours, might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable … Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister’s library.” — C.H. Spurgeon