The Doctrine of New Testament Suffering

Listed below are the 81 occurrences of the term or a form of the term “suffer” in the English, ESV translation. These terms are categorized so one may see the themes of the doctrine of suffering in the New Testament.

Table of Contents

• All Suffer
• Christians Suffer In Particular Ways
• Common Reasons for Suffering
• Future Suffering
• Jesus’ Ministry of Suffering
• The Result of Jesus’ Suffering
• Biblical Instructions Regarding Suffering
• Benefits of Suffering Well

All Suffer

Our Bodies Will Suffer Through Sickness and the Process of Dying

• Matthew 9:20
  And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,
• Matthew 17:15
  said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

Christians Suffer In Particular Ways

• John 16:33
  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (Implied suffering)
• Romans 8:20-23, For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Implied suffering)
• We Suffer In Community
  • 1 Corinthians 12:26
    If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
  • 1 Thessalonians 3:4
    For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. (Thessalonians here)
• Matthew 11:12
  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Temptation Brings Suffering

• Hebrews 2:18
  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Persecution Brings Suffering

• Hebrews 10:32
  But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
• Hebrews 11:36
  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

Common Reasons for Suffering

We Suffer At The Hands Of Other Humans

• Luke 13:2
  And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
• 2 Corinthians 7:12
  So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.

From Disappointment

• 2 Corinthians 2:3
  And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.

Future Suffering

The Lost

• 2 Thessalonians 1:9
  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
• 2 Peter 2:13
  suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.

Some Christians

• 1 Corinthians 3:15
  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
• 2 Corinthians 7:9
  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
• Galatians 3:4
  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

Jesus’ Ministry of Suffering

Jesus’ Suffering Prophesied

• Matthew 16:21
  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
• Matthew 17:12
  But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”
• Mark 9:12
  And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
• Luke 22:15
  And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
• Luke 24:46
  and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
• Acts 3:18
  But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
• Acts 26:23
  that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
• 1 Peter 1:11
  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

It was Necessary For Jesus To Suffer

• Mark 8:31
  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
• Luke 9:22
  saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
• Luke 17:25
  But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
• Luke 24:26
  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
• Acts 17:3
  explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Jesus’ Suffering Is Proved

• Acts 1:3
  He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
• 1 Peter 5:1
  So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

The Result of Jesus’ Suffering

Jesus’ Suffering Benefited The Church

• Hebrews 2:9
  But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
• Hebrews 2:10
  For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
• Hebrews 9:26
  for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
• Hebrews 13:12
  So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
• 1 Peter 3:18
  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Biblical Instructions Regarding Suffering

To Patience

• 2 Corinthians 1:6
  If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
• 1 Peter 2:21
  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
• 1 Peter 4:1
  Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

To Sacrifice

• Ephesians 3:13
  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

To Rejoice

• Colossians 1:24
  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
• 1 Peter 4:13
  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
• 1 Peter 4:16
  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

To Example Jesus

• 1 Thessalonians 2:14
  For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

Remember Others

• James 5:10
  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
• 1 Peter 5:9
  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

To Pray

• James 5:13
  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

To Endure

• 1 Peter 2:19
  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
• 1 Peter 2:20
  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
• 1 Peter 3:17
  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

To Holiness

• 1 Peter 2:23
  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
• 1 Peter 4:15
  But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

To Be Unsurprised

• 1 Peter 4:12
  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

To Trust God

• 1 Peter 4:19
  Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
• Revelation 2:10
  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Suffering Is a Part Of Ministry

• Acts 9:16
  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.
• 2 Timothy 1:8
  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
• 2 Timothy 1:12
  which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
• 2 Timothy 2:3
  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 2:9
  for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
• 2 Timothy 3:11
  my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
• 2 Timothy 4:5
  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Benefits of Suffering Well

Honor

• Acts 5:41
  Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Worthy / Privilege

• Philippians 1:29
  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,
• 2 Thessalonians 1:5
  This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—

Character

• Romans 5:3-5
  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• 1 Corinthians 6:7
  To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
• Hebrews 5:8
  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
• 1 Peter 5:10
  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Reward

• Romans 8:17
  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
• Romans 8:18
  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
• 1 Peter 3:14
  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Boldness

• 1 Thessalonians 2:2
  But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

Intimacy

• Philippians 3:8
  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
• Philippians 3:10
  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Comfort

• 2 Corinthians 1:5
  For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
• 2 Corinthians 1:7
  Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.