J. Bryson Arthur - A Theology of Suffering

While suffering is not sought by any person, Bryson Arthur encourages believers with a theological perspective on the subject. This book is a must-read for students of the Bible, counsellors, teachers, pastors and especially sufferers. While pain and suffering are a part of human existence, Arthur encourages the believer with the theological stance that suffering is a process that increases meaning in life. The suffering of great men of the Bible, the suffering of Paul and early church leaders, as well as the suffering of Christ himself, are all shown as ways in which spiritual healing is promoted and grace is given from God to mankind. While suffering is never sought, Arthur creates a balm with his theological stance that begets an increased capacity to know the glory of God.

Rev Azar Ajaj

Principal,

Nazareth Theological College, Israel

Dr Arthur profitably probes the nature of suffering and offers guidance on how faithful Christians, like those before us in biblical times, are called to respond in situations of personal suffering. He guides us by these theological mediations to think biblically about our suffering and to encourage us onward towards even rejoicing in our suffering. This book is a helpful guide for every believer who wants to reflect theologically about this subject, and who needs the reassurance of Gods gracious purpose in allowing us to suffer.

Rev Brian DeVries, PhD

Principal,

Mukhanyo Theological College, KwaMhlanga, South Africa

Bryson Arthur has written what will be the standard work on suffering for theological thinkers. It is learned, deep and profound. It is also passionate about biblical truth and spiritual realities. This book is pure gold, towering over the many books on this subject.

Rev Phil Hill, PhD

Baptist Pastor and Professional Counsellor

Former Pastoral Dean, Union School of Theology, UK

Reading A Theology of Suffering reminded me of Dietrich Bonhoeffers book Cost of Discipleship. In that book Bonhoeffer emphatically says, When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. This is a rallying call which is almost seen or implied in nearly every page of A Theology of Suffering by Dr Bryson Arthur. In this book one sees not so much the triumph of the individual Christian but the triumph of God in the context of his suffering for the sake of errant humanity. The individual Christian stays on the pilgrimage because of faith and hope of the eventual completion of the journey.

Dr Arthur gives us a theology of hope which highlights the importance of a biblical, theocentric thinking because it does not culminate in the Christ-event but in the actualization of Gods sovereignty and triumph. We are aware of Gods pathos (pain and suffering) as we observe his action in Christ the sovereignty of sin and death is replaced by the solidarity of the new creation. Consequently, Christians are called upon to embody their hope in Gods coming triumph in worldly acts of solidarity and companion. The praxis of solidarity in acts of compassion and stewardship necessarily involves the Christian in another dimension of solidarity, a solidarity-in-suffering. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now (Rom 8:22 ESV).

Dr Arthur writes with rigour and passion. Here we have a theologian who takes seriously the words of Christ: If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23 ESV).

Rev Gerishon M. Kirika, PhD

Professor of Theology in Old Testament,

The Presbyterian University of East Africa, Kenya

This is a thought-provoking book on one of the most difficult topics to ever have concerned the church universal suffering. Arthur ably draws on theological and biblical resources to provide new insights which will be of interest to many.

Rev Duane Alexander Miller, PhD

Associate Professor, Facultad de Teologa,

Unin Evanglica Bautista de Espaa, Madrid, Spain

Bryson Arthur has understood that although the theology of suffering is not an amusing topic or discipline to teach or share, to every living person including Christians, suffering is an unavoidable condition and inseparable from the Christian life. Clearly this book explores various meanings, nature, and types of suffering, noting that God uses deserved suffering, undeserved suffering and inner suffering to convict us of our sins, to refine us, to reposition us and to lead us to another level and direction of physical and spiritual life.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you. Certainly, reading it will give you comfort in your situation and assist you to understand the purpose of suffering. More importantly, the fact that you are following our Lord Jesuss footsteps and those of heroes of faith in the Bible, why should you not read this book?

Rev Willie Zeze, DTh

Head of BTh Programme and Ecclesiastical Science Lecturer,

Mukhanyo Theological College, KwaMhlanga, South Africa

A Theology of Suffering

J. Bryson Arthur

2020 J. Bryson Arthur

Published 2020 by Langham Global Library

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan.

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ISBN: 978-1-78368-782-4

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I dedicate this book to my wife, May

I am also very grateful to Isobel Stevenson, Langhams Senior Editor, for her wonderful help in shaping the structure of this book and acquiescing with concepts. She artfully took deep pools and transformed them into a flowing river. To my friend Pieter Kwant who inspired me to write the book when he was staying with us in Amman, Jordan. And to Morag Stenhouse and Martin Smith who read portions of the text and offered valuable comments.