STUDY GUIDE ON SUFFERING

STUDY GUIDE ON SUFFERING

Virgil Warren, PhD

        Major portions of scripture deal with suffering-pain-calamity-death: the Book of Job, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Peter. From these books cross references identify other shorter sections on this difficult subject.

I. What basic facts about suffering do we observe in or inferred from the following groups of passages?

        A. Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-14;1 Peter 1:6-7

        B. Genesis 18:31?; the thesis of the Book of Job; John 9:1-3ff., 34; Acts 28:1-6

        C. Genesis 3; 6:5ff.; 18:16-21; 38:7, 8-11; Exodus 32:21-35; Leviticus 10:1-7; Numbers 14; 16, 21; Acts 5:1-11; 12:20-23; 13:4-12

        D. Psalm 73; Jeremiah 12:1-2; Malachi 3:15; Luke 13:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

II. What benefits can come from suffering according to these references? Explain how these benefits can come from pain.

        A. Psalm 119:67; Hebrews 5:8; 1 Peter 1:6-7

        B. Job 1:7-8; 2:3; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:16

        C. Hebrews 12:9

        D. Romans 8:18

        E. 2 Corinthians 12:10

        F. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

        G. 2 Corinthians 1:4-5; 11:23-29; Hebrews 2:18; 10:33-34

        H. 1 Peter 5:10

        I. Ecclesiastes 7:14; Romans 8:31-34; 2 Corinthians 1:9-10; 11:28-30; 12:7-10; 2 Timothy 3:11; 1 Peter 2:23

        J. 2 Corinthians 1:6; James 5:10-11; 1 Peter 2:20; Revelation 13:10; 14:12

        K. Psalm 119:71

        L. Hebrews 2:10

        M. 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Philippians 1:12

III. What attitudes can we take toward, or in, suffering that will help us endure it faithfully?

        A. Romans 8:31-39

        B. Hebrews 12:11

        C. Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Hebrews 12:10a, 11a; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10

        D. Psalm 119:71-72; Hebrews 12:10b

        E. 1 Corinthians 10:13

        F. 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:4

        G. Matthew 5:10-12; 16:21-27; Romans 8:18; Philippians 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 11:26

        H. Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12

        I. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11; 9:12

        J. Hebrews 12:5-13

        K. Job 1:8; 2:3; 1 Peter 1:6-7

        L. 2 Corinthians 1:3-10; Philippians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; James 5:10-12; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 3:18; 4:1; 5:9

        M. Matthew 16:21-23; 2 Corinthians 4:11; 12:10; Philippians 1:29; 3:8; Colossians 1:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:5

        N. Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Hebrews 10:33; 1 Peter 3:4

        O. Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 Peter 4:1

        P. Matthew 5:10-12; Acts 7:52; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 1Thessalonians 2:15; Hebrews 10:34; 1 Peter 4:12-14

        Q. Matthew 16:24-27

        R. Philippians 1:28; Revelation 13:10; 14:12

IV. What general model for viewing suffering does the Proverbial writer (3:11-12) and

        the writer of Hebrews (12:5-10) suggest for the follower of God? Is the model

        inadequate in any way?

V. Is there any positive purpose for suffering in the world—any answer to the “problem of pain” (Genesis 3:22)?

VI. Would you say what brings pain is good because pain brings good?

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