“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” 1 Peter 4:19 The Epistle of 1 Peter opens with an addressed “to the strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who are chosen: (1 Peter 1). Peter’s choice of words and references infers that the he was addressing a mixed audience of believers, of that of Jews and Gentiles In his letter, the Apostle Peter describes the appropriate attitude that Christians should have when facing suffering, In 1 Peter 4:12 — 18, the Apostle Peter reminds us that suffering should not take Christianity by surprise Throughout scripture we find those who have endured sufferings and persecution for the sake of the Gospel. Yet, at some point in time, most, if not all, Christians ask the question: “Why does our loving and all-powerful God allow.
His people to suffer so?” I don’t think that we will ever find the complete answer to this question without first diving into what God’s infallible Word tells us on the reasons why Believers suffer and reassures us that when it is said and done, it will all work out for our eternal good 1 Peter 4:19 reminds us that in our time of suffering we are in the hands of a merciful and loving Father, and as such we are to learn to be submissive, not because the suffering is unavoidable, but because it is in accordance to the will of God, As stated in a commentary by Matthew Henry, “Christians ought not only to be patient, but to rejoice, in their sharpest sorest sufferings for Christ, because they are tokens of divine favour; they promote the gospel and prepare for glory.
Those who rejoice in their sufferings for Christ shall eternally triumph and rejoice with him in glory” The “sufferings” described by Matthew Henry is from the Greek Word pascha and paternal. This is the same type of sufferings described in my selected commentary “Biblical Commentaries of James and 1 and 2 Peter” written by William Baker, Baker (2004) states, “When we suffer according to God’s will, we entrust our souls to the ‘faithful Creator.’ The realism of suffering is that we can only endure in a godly manner by God’s grace, and this is accomplished by entrusting ourselves to God” (p. 166). This is in contrast to the theology taught by the contemporary secular society which believes that suffering is unpredictable and unavoidable.
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In his sermon entitled “Examining our Suffering, Davidson (2014) states, Many Christians are surprised or shocked when the trials and sufferings of Christ come into their lives. There is a popular theology which teaches that the sun always shines upon good Christians that our grass is always green, and that suffering doesn’t come to those who have proper faith. Peter espouses that such teaching is not true In fact, Christians will often suffer for doing good. We should not be surprised when fiery trials come our way We are at spiritual war with Satan himself Christians have faced trials and have suffered for their faith from the beginning of the church, and will till God takes us home to heaven.
While 1 Peter does not try to address or capture every form of suffering, he speaks specifically to one type of suffering and that is when we endure suffering for Christ’s sake we are assured that is for God’s eternal good. In researching the word stiffer, suffering, I have determined that there are several types of suffering. For example, suffering because we are part of a fallen creation, as a temporal consequence of personal sin; the eternal suffering of hell, involuntary suffering such as Job; and voluntary suffering in identifying with Christ. In 1 Peter 14, the Apostle Peter expands on the double-edged sword that confronts us all of Christianity when enduring suffering, I Peter 4:16 reads, “However if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
Suffering is designed to refine us, is a lesson that teach us to discover what is really important in life, not to serve as a deliberator that cripples our faith, trust and belief in God. I elected the passage 1 Peter 4:19 as I wanted to focus primarily on the word suffer (ings) is usage and to answer the burning question, why does God allow suffering? My concept of what constitutes “to suffer” was based on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition, “to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable.” From my research, I gathered that my view on the definition and usage of the word was align with the contemporary secular theology social view.
My research of the word suffer truly protected from me, as I had limited understanding as to contextually how the word was used and applied to Scripture In my research I learned that the Greek Word udoxw, transliterated “pascho” is reference 52 times in the New Testament which means to experience strong feeling, and gets it root meaning from the Greek word pdthému which means (passions, sufferings), pathélos and pathos (”strong feeling, passion”). In understanding suffering from Apostle Peter’s standpoint, I realize that any form of suffering is a privilege, as it help to transform our attitude and relationship with God. The world view suffering as something imparted upon Christians and non-Christians as a way of punishment from God. For Apostle Peter, to suffer in God’s name is to entrust ourselves to our faithful Creator.
