Paul and Suffering: Part 3

Paul's Theology of Suffering

We have thus far studied the two parts of Paul’s theology of suffering: Paul on suffering, and imitating Christ and Paul. Imitating Christ is a vital part of our lives as Christians. Christians are not to merely assent to the truth of Christianity and that Christ is Lord; we are to take part in our faith through imitating Christ.<1>As believers, we imitate Christ through the shape of our lives; we imitate him through life, death, and resurrection. Because suffering took shape in Christ’s life, suffering must be part of our lives, which is demonstrated in part, by both our physical death and putting our flesh to death daily. If we understand that we imitate Christ in death, then we also can know that we imitate Christ in our suffering. Paul also calls his readers to imitate him in his suffering, as he imitates Christ. Throughout his letters, Paul places a heavy focus on the crucifixion of Christ, and how he strives to imitate Christ in his suffering. We can see this focus in Philippians 2:5-11, where we are told to imitate Christ’s attitude in humility, which led him to die on the cross. Paul also shows us this in Philippians 3:8-14, where he describes himself as sharing in Christ’s sufferings alongside having righteousness from God and being found in Christ.<2>

Paul understood suffering as a way to be identified with Christ, and a way of imitating him.<3> Paul understood, that like Christ, suffering must come before glory. For Christ first suffered and died, and only after that death, was he resurrected and glorified. Paul describes this in both Romans 8:17<4> and Philippians 2:5-11. Paul writes, “And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him” (Rom 8:17) Paul is telling his readers that if we suffer with Christ, we will be glorified and thus made heirs with Christ. He puts a special emphasis on us imitating Christ, and joining Christ, through suffering. But it is important that Paul does show a clear connection between suffering and future hope. Here he points out that our hope is our future glorification, and in Romans 5 he shows that suffering directly leads to hope.<5> He writes, “Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.” (Rom 5:3-4) Paul describes suffering as leading to endurance, which leads to character, which leads to hope.

We can thus see that Paul paints suffering in a surprisingly good light. This then explains his call to other believers to take part in suffering. We see this in Philippians 1:27-30 where Paul describes the Philippians being “granted” to “suffer for him ”. (Phi 1:29) This language is also found in Romans 8:36 where Paul describes that the elect are being put to death “for your sake”. Longenecker points out that the use of “we” in Romans 8:37 demonstrates the group identity with the suffering Christ.<6> Paul also regularly uses language such as “share” or “join” when discussing his own or others’ suffering. When writing to Timothy, Paul encourages him and instructs him to “accept your share of suffering”. (2 Tim 1:8) In the same letter Paul tells Timothy to, “take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus”. (2 Tim 2:3) Paul also argues that we are to suffer with Christ. In Romans 8:17 Paul describes those who would become heirs, as suffering with Christ. It is because we are “heirs with Christ” that we will follow the shape of his life, which includes suffering.<7>

From this data, it becomes clear that suffering, and at times specifically persecution, is important to grow us and shape us more and more into Christ’s image. Paul argues that part of imitating Christ, and himself, one must suffer as Christ did. This is not to say that we all must literally be crucified, but that all Christians, when we experience suffering will be prepared for the future glory that awaits us.

Conclusion

Paul suffered greatly throughout his life and witnessed the suffering of many others. When reading through his letters, a shared theme runs throughout them, suffering. Paul makes an example of himself for the Church through never shying away from suffering and by his joyful response to the suffering of his life. But Paul does not believe that he is the only one who will suffer for Christ, but that the entire church will suffer. He instructs several churches to imitate him in their suffering, and he specifically instructs Timothy to take part in the suffering for Christ. Paul paints a clear picture that part of imitating himself and Christ, is suffering. This has radical implications for the Church, which in the modern day tends to flee suffering. But Paul makes it clear that suffering prepares us for our future glory.

NOTES

Fee, Gordon D. Paul's Letter to the Philippians. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1995.

Gorman, Michael J. Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul & His Letters. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017.

Harvey, John D. "The "With Christ" Motif In Paul's Thought." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1992: 329-340.

Holloway, Paul A. Philippians: A Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2017.

Jensen, Michael. "Imitating Paul, Imitating Christ: How does Imitation Work as a Moral Concept." Churchman, 2010: 17-36.

Keener, Craig S. 1-2 Corinthians. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Longenecker, Richard N. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005.

Moo, Douglas J. The Letter to the Romans. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2018.

Reumann, John Philippians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2008.

Sanders, Boykin. "Imitating Paul: 1 Cor 4:16." Harvard Theological Review, 1981: 353-363.

Spencer, William David. "The Power In Paul's Teaching (1 COR 4:9-20)." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1989: 51-61.

Wright, N.T. Paul and His Recent Interpreters: Some Contemporary Debates. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2015.

<1>           Gorman,

Apostle of the Crucified Lord

, 148. <2>           Wright,

Recent Interpreters,

101. <3>           Gorman,

Apostle of the Crucified Lord

, 85. <4>           Ibid, 149. <5>           Ibid. <6>           Longenecker,

Romans,

711. <7>           Moo,

The Letter to the Romans,

528.