In the biblical context, sufferers are individuals who endure pain, hardship, or distress, often as a result of physical, emotional, or spiritual trials. The Bible addresses the theme of suffering extensively, offering both examples of sufferers and teachings on how to endure and understand suffering.

Old Testament Examples

1. Job: Perhaps the most well-known sufferer in the Old Testament, Job is a righteous man who experiences profound loss and physical affliction. Despite his suffering, Job maintains his faith in God. The Book of Job explores the nature of suffering and divine sovereignty. Job declares, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15), illustrating his unwavering trust in God despite his circumstances.

2. Joseph: Sold into slavery by his brothers and later imprisoned in Egypt, Joseph endures significant suffering. However, his account demonstrates God's providence and the eventual redemption and elevation of Joseph to a position of power. Joseph's response to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20), highlights the redemptive purpose that can be found in suffering.

3. David: King David faced numerous trials, including persecution by King Saul, betrayal by his son Absalom, and personal sin. The Psalms, many of which are attributed to David, express a range of emotions from despair to hope, providing a model for how sufferers can cry out to God. Psalm 22 begins with David's lament, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1), yet it transitions to trust and praise.

New Testament Teachings

1. Jesus Christ: The ultimate example of a sufferer, Jesus endured physical and spiritual suffering through His crucifixion. His suffering was redemptive, providing salvation for humanity. Isaiah's prophecy, "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5), is fulfilled in Christ's sacrificial death. Jesus' endurance of suffering is a model for believers, as stated in Hebrews 12:2, "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame" .

2. Apostle Paul: Paul experienced numerous hardships, including imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks. He viewed suffering as a means to participate in Christ's sufferings and to grow in faith. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul recounts God's assurance, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" , emphasizing reliance on divine strength.

3. General Teachings: The New Testament encourages believers to view suffering as a test of faith and a means of spiritual growth. James 1:2-4 advises, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" . Similarly, 1 Peter 4:12-13 exhorts believers not to be surprised by suffering but to rejoice in sharing Christ's sufferings.

Purpose and Response to Suffering

The Bible presents suffering as an inevitable part of the human experience, often used by God to refine character, deepen faith, and draw individuals closer to Him. Romans 5:3-5 explains that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope, with the assurance that "hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" .

Believers are encouraged to respond to suffering with patience, prayer, and trust in God's ultimate plan. The promise of future glory and the presence of God provide comfort and strength to endure present trials. As Romans 8:18 states, "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us" .

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... SEASONABLE COUNSEL: OR, ADVICE TO SUFFERERS. BY JOHN BUNYAN. ... Farewell. I am thine
to serve thee in the gospel, JOHN BUNYAN. ADVICE TO SUFFERERS. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

Psalm 145 Part 3 Mercy to Sufferers; Or, God Hearing Prayer.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 145 PART 3 Mercy to sufferers; or, God hearing prayer.
v.14,17ff CM. Mercy to sufferers; or, God hearing prayer. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 145 part 3 mercy.htm

Miracles of Healing Solicited by the Sufferers.
... V. MIRACLES OF HEALING SOLICITED BY THE SUFFERERS. I come now to the second group
of miracles, those granted to the prayers of the sufferers. ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/v miracles of healing solicited.htm

Psalm 145:4. 14 17 &C. Third Part. Mercy to Sufferers; Or, God ...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 145:4. 14 17 &c. Third Part. Mercy
to sufferers; or, God hearing prayer. 1 Let every tongue ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 145 4 0 14 17 &c.htm

The General Service to Two or Many Martyrs.
... creation, having driven away the mist of passions and woes from those who have recourse
unto you and in faith seek your protection, O valiant sufferers of the ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xv the general service.htm

The Presbyterate.
... These Basil moved to open their stores. He distributed lavishly at his own expense,
[129] and ministered in person to the wants of the sufferers. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/v the presbyterate.htm

Herod and Peter.
... stages of its existence, to pass through scenes of sorrow and blood, with a design
to illustrate, by its effects in sustaining the sufferers, and ultimately ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiv herod and peter.htm

The Blind Watchers at the Cross
... in the coarse mockery which preceded the sad procession to Calvary; and then they
had to do the rough work of the executioners, fastening the sufferers to the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the blind watchers at the.htm

Bethesda and the Sanhedrin
... Hundreds of sufferers visited the place; but so great was the crowd when the water
was troubled that they rushed forward, trampling underfoot men, women, and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 21 bethesda and the.htm

The Suffering Servant-ii
... His miracles were not easy, though He had all power, for He felt all that the sufferers
felt, by the identifying power of the unparalleled sympathy of a pure ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servant-ii.htm

Sufferers (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sufferers (1 Occurrence). 2 Thessalonians 1:5 For
these are a plain token of God's righteous judgement, which ...
/s/sufferers.htm - 6k

Sufferer (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) One who suffers; one who endures or undergoes suffering; one who sustains
inconvenience or loss; as, sufferers by poverty or sickness; men are ...
/s/sufferer.htm - 7k

Nero
... with the common people in the habit of a charioteer, or else standing in his chariot;
whence a feeling of compassion arose toward the sufferers, though guilty ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

With (66342 Occurrences)
... that the control of demons over men is obtained outside of or below the region of
conscious volition and that the condition of the sufferers is pathological. ...
/w/with.htm - 20k

Indication (1 Occurrence)
... token of God's righteous judgement, which has in view your being deemed worthy of
admission to God's Kingdom, for the sake of which, indeed, you are sufferers. ...
/i/indication.htm - 7k

Devils (48 Occurrences)
... that the control of demons over men is obtained outside of or below the region of
conscious volition and that the condition of the sufferers is pathological. ...
/d/devils.htm - 31k

Deemed (14 Occurrences)
... token of God's righteous judgement, which has in view your being deemed worthy of
admission to God's Kingdom, for the sake of which, indeed, you are sufferers. ...
/d/deemed.htm - 10k

Demons (54 Occurrences)
... that the control of demons over men is obtained outside of or below the region of
conscious volition and that the condition of the sufferers is pathological. ...
/d/demons.htm - 34k

Communion (8 Occurrences)
... that the control of demons over men is obtained outside of or below the region of
conscious volition and that the condition of the sufferers is pathological. ...
/c/communion.htm - 30k

Admission (2 Occurrences)
... token of God's righteous judgement, which has in view your being deemed worthy of
admission to God's Kingdom, for the sake of which, indeed, you are sufferers. ...
/a/admission.htm - 7k

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