5568 suffering, causes of

The ultimate cause of suffering is sin, which has brought violence, disease and death into the world. All suffering, however, is under the sovereign purpose of God, who is able to use it for his glory.

The ultimate cause of suffering is sin

Ge 3:14-19 It need not be the result of particular sins: Job 1:1; Jn 9:1-3
Job 5:6-7; Ro 5:12-14

Suffering as a result of human wickedness

Murder Ge 4:8 See also Ge 49:5-7; 1Sa 18:10-11

Injury Mt 26:67

Cruelty Ps 71:4 See also Jdg 1:7; Ps 54:3; Am 1:13; Mt 2:16-18; Lk 10:30

Rioting 2Ki 7:17; Ac 16:22

Warfare Jer 50:22 See also Ge 14:1-2,11-12; Ex 13:17; Jos 6:20-21; Jos 10:22-26; Jdg 1:4-7; 1Ki 22:35; 2Ki 17:5-6; Zec 14:2; Lk 21:20-24; Rev 6:4

Injustice Eze 9:9 See also Ge 39:19-20; 1Ki 21:11-14; 2Ki 21:16; Ps 58:1-2; Ps 64:6

Oppression Ecc 4:1 See also Ex 1:11; 1Ki 12:1-4,12-14; Ps 12:5; Jas 5:1-6

Adultery 2Sa 12:9; Mal 2:14

Theft Mt 6:19 See also Ge 31:19; Job 1:14-15,17; Job 24:2

Broken relationships Job 19:14-19; Ps 27:10; Pr 16:28; Ac 15:39

Hatred Ps 109:3 See also 2Sa 13:15; Tit 3:3

Jealousy Ge 37:4 See also Ge 4:4-5; Ge 16:6; Ge 21:8-10; 1Sa 18:8-9; Mt 27:18

Persecution Jn 15:20 See also Jer 38:6; Da 3:4-6; Da 6:7; Mt 5:10-12; Mt 10:35-36; Rev 6:9-11

Suffering as a result of misfortune

Accidents 2Sa 4:4; 2Ki 1:2; Lk 13:4

Sickness Ge 48:1 See also 2Ki 20:1; Job 2:7; Ps 42:10; Mt 8:6; Ac 28:8; Php 2:27; 2Ti 4:20; Jas 5:14

Hunger and want Ge 12:10; Job 30:3; Isa 5:13; Mt 25:42-43

Natural disasters 1Ki 22:48; Job 1:16,18-19; Isa 29:6; Joel 1:4; Zec 14:5; Mt 24:7; Ac 27:18-20

Suffering through old age and death

Ageing 2Sa 19:34-35; Ps 71:9; Ecc 12:1

Bereavement Ge 23:1-2; Job 1:18-19; Lk 7:11-13; Jn 11:33-35; Jas 1:27

Suffering through anxiety

Pr 12:25 See also Dt 28:65-67; Lk 21:26

Suffering through foolishness

Ps 107:17 See also Jdg 11:34-36; Pr 10:1; Pr 11:15; Pr 14:1; Pr 23:29-30; Lk 15:17

Suffering through Satanic activity

The influence of Satan Ge 3:1 See also Job 1:12; Job 2:6-7; Lk 13:16; 1Jn 5:19; Rev 2:10; Rev 20:7-8

Demon-possession Mt 8:28; Mt 12:22; Mt 15:22

Suffering brought about by God himself

All suffering comes within his will Jn 9:3; Eph 1:11

Some suffering is for his immediate glory Jn 21:19

Jesus Christ’s suffering produces salvation Isa 53:10 See also Ac 2:23

Christian suffering produces good fruits Ro 5:3-4; 2Co 1:9; Heb 12:11; Jas 1:2,3

God’s people must be disciplined Heb 12:7 See also Ex 32:35; 2Sa 12:13-14; Ps 119:67,71; Pr 3:11-12; Heb 12:8-11

The wicked must be punished Ro 6:23 See also Ge 6:5-7; Jn 5:14; 2Th 1:8; Rev 9:4; Rev 20:15

Suffering accepted voluntarily

By Jesus Christ 1Pe 2:21 See also Isa 53:3-5,10; Lk 9:22

By his people 2Co 12:15 See also 2Co 4:10-12; Php 3:10; Heb 11:35

For the good of others Jn 15:13 See also Ro 5:7; Phm 18

See also