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Why Do Christians Suffer?
Vintage paperback
135 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 8, 2025
One thing I like to do, that only a few people would think is normal, is go to different seminaries and find their syllabi for their courses and scroll down to their required readings and see if there are any interesting books. I found this book on one of RTS’s courses and was unfamiliar with it so I decided to Tolle Lege.
It is an older work addressing some of the major themes in theodicy. Epp is much more concerned with the practical aspects of suffering and evil in the world than he is the philosophical aspects. Being a more basic and introductory level book is a good balance to some of the more weighty tomes that are written on these sort of topics.
It is an older work addressing some of the major themes in theodicy. Epp is much more concerned with the practical aspects of suffering and evil in the world than he is the philosophical aspects. Being a more basic and introductory level book is a good balance to some of the more weighty tomes that are written on these sort of topics.
October 4, 2025
I think I may have gotten this one from my dad's library. It's a thin volume and I chose it in anticipation of both current and upcoming struggles. At first I thought I would pass it along as I do most of my books, but then decided I would save it to reference if and when harder sufferings appear in my life.
I very seldom say that every Christian should read a book, but I think every Christian should read this one, or one similar.
It's different than a more modern book on Christianity & suffering in that the author does not have to counter the prosperity gospel, or the idea that everyone will be healthy & wealthy if only they have enough faith. This author assumes that we all know that life will bring trouble. Jesus Himself said, "In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." - Matthew 16:33.
I have always known that even very good Christians suffer, as evidenced by some godly people I knew as a child. They suffered the loss of their son.
This book begins with the story of the introduction of sin and suffering in the world. If you are not familiar with it, it's worth the read.
I found in reading the rest of this volume, that my theology of suffering has been very simple, too simple. This author took a variety of passages on suffering and studied each one, bringing them together as a cohesive whole.
His reasons for suffering:
1. punishment (which Jesus came to take for us)
2. discipline (like King David)
3. corrective (like Job)
4. educative (like Abraham)
5. preventative (like Paul's thorn)
6. purifying (like Levi's sons In Malachi 3:3)
7. disposing of self (Galatians 2:20)
8. presenting believers faultless (Jude 24)
9. for fruit (John 15:2)
10. perfecting (1 Peter 5:10)
11. establishing (1 Peter 5:10)
12. strengthening (1 Peter 5:10)
13. settling (1 Peter 5:10)
God can, of course, have one or more purposes in mind when allowing it, and sometimes, like with Job, He doesn't always give a complete answer.
Epp defines a couple of words this way:
Establishing - causing to be more stable.
Settling - become settled in faith in God.
I am also reading John Stott's "Through the Bible, Through the Year" and thought he did a good job with various attitudes in Job towards suffering. I'd never considered attitudes towards suffering before, beyond nobody liking it:
self-pity
self-assertion
self-accusation (as recommended by his friends)
self-discipline.
Epp adds to this list:
self-justification
self-interest
Stott contrasts these earlier attitudes in Job with the correct one: self-surrender.
I love the Job verse Epp quoted, "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." - Job 23:10
In fact, I love all the Bible verses Epp quoted.
I also love what Epp said about Hebrews 12:11: "Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised by it." Some translations have trained instead of exercised.
Epp says, "This promise is not only to those who have suffered, but to those who have suffered with a right attitude so it becomes a spiritual exercise." I don't think I ever noticed that before.
I thought Epp's analysis of Hebrews 12:5 also enlightening. "Don't despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when He rebukes you."
Epp listed ways we can despise the correcting from God:
becoming calloused
complaining
criticism of the usefulness of it
being careless to correct our ways
He also listed many ways we can faint:
giving up
rendering ourselves unfit for service
being unaware of what God is doing
failing to work now (Galatians 6:9)
failing to pray (Luke 18:1)
failing to wait expectantly on God (Isaiah 40:31)
failing to consider Jesus & His sufferings (Hebrews 12:3)
despairing
questioning our relationship to God merely because of suffering
(I would add that we are called to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5)
I have never studied so many verses on spiritual fainting before. All good, pertinent verses.
How to suffer as a Christian: uncomplainingly, undeservingly, rejoicingly, according to the will of God.
Practical suggestions for sufferers:
Renew your confidence in God
Pray
Count your blessings
Saturate yourself with the Word
Praise the Lord
Love others
Submit yourself to God
I did not realize before the strong link in most passages between suffering and glory.
Although I said every Christian should read this, I will add a caveat - This is old enough that the verses mentioned are quoted in the King James Version. So the reader should either be someone familiar with that text and capable of understanding it, or willing to be diligent in looking up the texts in more modern translations. Those I have included here use updated words.
I doubt many books written today on the topic would do as thorough of a job going through so many Bible verses. Today's book would, as I said before, focus on the prosperity gospel and probably spend a lot more time on the consolation and comfort of God.
There were a couple of places where I was unconvinced about some links that Epp made, but I don't know of anything concrete against them and Epp has obviously spent a much greater amount of time than I have in thinking about the topic.
Favorite Epp quote:
"Joy is based on something that God has done within us. Whereas joy is inward, sorrow is outward. It is based on circumstances."
Epp also recommends we memorize these verses:
"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." - 2 Corinthians 9:8
"Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those which are exercised with it." - Hebrews 12:11
"But God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation, will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13
I very seldom say that every Christian should read a book, but I think every Christian should read this one, or one similar.
It's different than a more modern book on Christianity & suffering in that the author does not have to counter the prosperity gospel, or the idea that everyone will be healthy & wealthy if only they have enough faith. This author assumes that we all know that life will bring trouble. Jesus Himself said, "In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." - Matthew 16:33.
I have always known that even very good Christians suffer, as evidenced by some godly people I knew as a child. They suffered the loss of their son.
This book begins with the story of the introduction of sin and suffering in the world. If you are not familiar with it, it's worth the read.
I found in reading the rest of this volume, that my theology of suffering has been very simple, too simple. This author took a variety of passages on suffering and studied each one, bringing them together as a cohesive whole.
His reasons for suffering:
1. punishment (which Jesus came to take for us)
2. discipline (like King David)
3. corrective (like Job)
4. educative (like Abraham)
5. preventative (like Paul's thorn)
6. purifying (like Levi's sons In Malachi 3:3)
7. disposing of self (Galatians 2:20)
8. presenting believers faultless (Jude 24)
9. for fruit (John 15:2)
10. perfecting (1 Peter 5:10)
11. establishing (1 Peter 5:10)
12. strengthening (1 Peter 5:10)
13. settling (1 Peter 5:10)
God can, of course, have one or more purposes in mind when allowing it, and sometimes, like with Job, He doesn't always give a complete answer.
Epp defines a couple of words this way:
Establishing - causing to be more stable.
Settling - become settled in faith in God.
I am also reading John Stott's "Through the Bible, Through the Year" and thought he did a good job with various attitudes in Job towards suffering. I'd never considered attitudes towards suffering before, beyond nobody liking it:
self-pity
self-assertion
self-accusation (as recommended by his friends)
self-discipline.
Epp adds to this list:
self-justification
self-interest
Stott contrasts these earlier attitudes in Job with the correct one: self-surrender.
I love the Job verse Epp quoted, "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." - Job 23:10
In fact, I love all the Bible verses Epp quoted.
I also love what Epp said about Hebrews 12:11: "Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised by it." Some translations have trained instead of exercised.
Epp says, "This promise is not only to those who have suffered, but to those who have suffered with a right attitude so it becomes a spiritual exercise." I don't think I ever noticed that before.
I thought Epp's analysis of Hebrews 12:5 also enlightening. "Don't despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when He rebukes you."
Epp listed ways we can despise the correcting from God:
becoming calloused
complaining
criticism of the usefulness of it
being careless to correct our ways
He also listed many ways we can faint:
giving up
rendering ourselves unfit for service
being unaware of what God is doing
failing to work now (Galatians 6:9)
failing to pray (Luke 18:1)
failing to wait expectantly on God (Isaiah 40:31)
failing to consider Jesus & His sufferings (Hebrews 12:3)
despairing
questioning our relationship to God merely because of suffering
(I would add that we are called to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5)
I have never studied so many verses on spiritual fainting before. All good, pertinent verses.
How to suffer as a Christian: uncomplainingly, undeservingly, rejoicingly, according to the will of God.
Practical suggestions for sufferers:
Renew your confidence in God
Pray
Count your blessings
Saturate yourself with the Word
Praise the Lord
Love others
Submit yourself to God
I did not realize before the strong link in most passages between suffering and glory.
Although I said every Christian should read this, I will add a caveat - This is old enough that the verses mentioned are quoted in the King James Version. So the reader should either be someone familiar with that text and capable of understanding it, or willing to be diligent in looking up the texts in more modern translations. Those I have included here use updated words.
I doubt many books written today on the topic would do as thorough of a job going through so many Bible verses. Today's book would, as I said before, focus on the prosperity gospel and probably spend a lot more time on the consolation and comfort of God.
There were a couple of places where I was unconvinced about some links that Epp made, but I don't know of anything concrete against them and Epp has obviously spent a much greater amount of time than I have in thinking about the topic.
Favorite Epp quote:
"Joy is based on something that God has done within us. Whereas joy is inward, sorrow is outward. It is based on circumstances."
Epp also recommends we memorize these verses:
"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." - 2 Corinthians 9:8
"Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those which are exercised with it." - Hebrews 12:11
"But God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation, will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13
March 8, 2021
"The paradox is better understood when we understand the different between joy and sorrow. Joy is something inward and based on a solid foundation. For the believer this foundation is the Bible which tells us of Christ's finished work with its eternal results. Joy is based on something that God has done within us. Whereas joy is inward, sorrow is outward. It is based on circumstances. These are transitory; they are temporary; they are for a season. So God tells the Christian that it is possible for him to rejoice even though he is passing through many or various kinds of testings. Thus the Christian is able to rejoice even in the midst of sorrow. There is also a different between joy and happiness. Happiness is based on happenings. It depends on circumstances. But even though they Christian is unhappy over circumstances, he can have the joy of the Lord is spite of the circumstances. Most people do not experience joy in the midst of adverse circumstances but God has made it possible for them to do so. Sorrow is also caused by happenings but it need not depend on circumstances. It depends on what Christ has done. Joy is conditioned on our soul's relationship to the Lord and it is applied by faith." p. 39-40
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February 10, 2016Note to self: Hadn't heard of Epp, nor is there a single review/rating for this text - picked up for free along with one by Barth over the summer. No need to read straight through, but another solid, obscure reference piece for TML.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews