Afflicting, in the biblical context, often refers to the act of causing pain, suffering, or distress, either physically or spiritually. This concept is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, where it is associated with both divine discipline and human actions. Affliction serves various purposes, including testing faith, prompting repentance, and fostering spiritual growth.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, affliction is frequently seen as a tool used by God to discipline His people and bring them back to righteousness. For instance, in Deuteronomy 8:2-3, the Israelites' 40 years in the wilderness are described as a period of testing and humbling: "Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments."

The Psalms often reflect on affliction as a means of spiritual refinement. Psalm 119:67 states, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word." Here, affliction is portrayed as a corrective measure that leads to greater obedience and alignment with God's will.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, affliction continues to be a significant theme, particularly in the context of persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ. The Apostle Paul frequently speaks of his own afflictions as part of his ministry. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, he writes, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." This perspective highlights the temporary nature of earthly suffering in contrast to the eternal rewards it can yield.

Jesus Himself addressed the inevitability of affliction for His followers. In John 16:33, He assures His disciples, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world." Here, affliction is presented as an expected part of the Christian journey, yet one that is ultimately overcome through Christ.

Purpose and Response

Affliction serves multiple purposes in the biblical narrative. It can be a form of divine discipline, a test of faith, or a means of drawing believers closer to God. In James 1:2-4, believers are encouraged to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

The appropriate response to affliction, according to Scripture, involves trust in God's sovereignty, patience, and a steadfast commitment to faith. Romans 5:3-5 emphasizes this attitude: "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

Conclusion

While affliction is often painful and challenging, it is portrayed in the Bible as a necessary and beneficial aspect of the believer's spiritual journey. Through affliction, believers are refined, strengthened, and drawn closer to God, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of His love and purpose.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Afflict.

2. (a.) Grievously painful; distressing; afflictive; as, an afflicting event. -- Afflictingly, adv.

We See How the Husbandmen have a Method for Separating the Chaff.. ...
... affect the body, that they can no longer walk in their heavenly freedom and gaze
above; their only inclination is to this tormenting and afflicting of the flesh ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xxii we see how.htm

Naturally we Love Ourselves Only. ...
... of sense, which are quite contrary to those of the Divine Spirit, which ought to
be our chief and only principle; for by such crossing and afflicting of the ...
/.../chapter iii naturally we love.htm

Whether Religious are Bound to Manual Labor?
... he be not idle, for idleness hath taught much evil." Thirdly, it is directed to
the curbing of concupiscence, inasmuch as it is a means of afflicting the body ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religious are bound to.htm

Of the Great Desolation Usually Following an Intellectual Passive ...
... this most afflicting martyrdom oftentimes continues many months, yea, in some persons
several years (not always in extremity, but with some intercisions), so ...
/.../chapter v of the great.htm

The Barley Field on Fire
... Frequently it is poverty,"poverty too which is not brought on by idleness or vice,
but real poverty and most distressing and afflicting poverty too, because ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the barley field on fire.htm

Spiritual Desolation.
... prayer our own: "Lord, here cut, here burn and spare me not, but spare me in eternity!"
Let us say with Job: "Let this be my comfort, that afflicting me with ...
/.../de liguori/uniformity with gods will/6 spiritual desolation.htm

Prayer and Trouble
... life. Not that He is personally responsible for every painful and afflicting
thing which comes into the lives of His people. But ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the essentials of prayer/v prayer and trouble.htm

The Second Season
... 2. Though God has reserved to himself a liberty of afflicting his people, yet he
has tied up his own hands by promise never to take away his loving kindness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/ii the second season.htm

The Second Continental Journey.
... London. My heart is much affected in having to commence my journal on a
foreign shore by recording such an afflicting event. And ...
/.../chapter viii the second continental.htm

The Way of Death.
... not knowing Him that made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork
of God, turning away from him that is in want, afflicting him that is ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter v name way of.htm

Afflicting (8 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Afflict. 2. (a.) Grievously painful; distressing; afflictive; as, an
afflicting event. ... Multi-Version Concordance Afflicting (8 Occurrences). ...
/a/afflicting.htm - 9k

Threshing (57 Occurrences)
... the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build
an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people ...
/t/threshing.htm - 28k

Floor (69 Occurrences)
... the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build
an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people ...
/f/floor.htm - 32k

Stopped (134 Occurrences)
... the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build
an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people ...
/s/stopped.htm - 35k

Ornan (10 Occurrences)
... floor, that I may build thereon an altar to Yahweh: for the full price you shall
give it to me, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people. ...
/o/ornan.htm - 10k

Outcast (6 Occurrences)
... Zephaniah 3:19 Lo, I am dealing with all afflicting thee at that time, And I have
saved the halting one, And the driven out ones I do gather, And have set them ...
/o/outcast.htm - 9k

Wretched (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Very miserable; sunk in, or accompanied by, deep affliction or distress,
as from want, anxiety, or grief; calamitous; woeful; very afflicting. ...
/w/wretched.htm - 10k

Token (24 Occurrences)
... 1:6 A plain token of God's righteous judgement, I say, since it is a righteous thing
for Him to requite with affliction those who are now afflicting you; (WEY). ...
/t/token.htm - 16k

Relieve (14 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs down, or crushes;
to render less burdensome or afflicting; to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate ...
/r/relieve.htm - 11k

Requite (42 Occurrences)
... 1:6 A plain token of God's righteous judgement, I say, since it is a righteous thing
for Him to requite with affliction those who are now afflicting you; (WEY). ...
/r/requite.htm - 18k

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