When people expect to get history, science, doctrine, and ethics out of the bible, but end up with nothing of the sort, or what they do get does not agree with science, history, or the doctrine of others, they either reject the whole thing as fiction, or they blindly believe and obey what they. Posted on october 12, 20 by byron borger i was unloading, as i sometimes do, about the hard stuff in my life, grief and a general dismay at the state of the world, with my friend brian walsh. Maneuvering through levitical laws, bloodshed in joshua, or daniels apocalyptic visions, sincere readers often wonder what the old testament means and how it can be the word of god. The problem of pain study guide a bible study on the c. That the bible, jesus, and everything else that orbits around christianity actually hold up under historical, scientific, philosophical, and even literary scrutiny. Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, c.
What the bible says about god, jesus, prayer, family, suffering, celebrations, life, death. Many of us may find ourselves struggling there today. Although some books of the bible are traditionally attributed to a single author, many are actually the work of multiple authors. In it he discusses the nature and effect of pain on the human condition and tries to square the existence of pain with the existence of god. Tull encourages readers to ask why in good times as well as in difficult ones, to examine gods eternal presence in times of blessed joy as well as during sorrow and care.
Thats why paying attention to context is so importantit helps safeguard against prooftexting, which is the practice of bringing your ideas to the biblical text and forcing the text to prove your own presuppositions. New international commentary on the old testament series editor. Problem with pain devotional reading plan youversion bible. As i read this book i felt that i had a soulmate in my journey. New international commentary on the old testament nicot.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. The problem of pain and millions of other books are available for instant access. I know a believer in christ who was taken up to the third heaven 14 years ago. In the book he seeks to reconcile gods power and goodness with the presence of evil. For centuries christians have been tormented by one question above all if god is good and allpowerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain. Pauls vision and his painful problem we cant gain anything by bragging. Download a personal copy of bible verses to comfort you.
Lewis book the problem of pain by alan vermilye pain insists upon being attended to. Lewis offers answers to these crucial questions and shares his hope and wisdom to help. The problem of pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by c. To the woman he said, i will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children. Warning of coming judgment on judea and babylon, chaldea. Not only does this argue that the sun and moon revolve around the earth, it presents another problem.
People heard i was writing this book and heard from news stories that it was a personal problem from me, i get. The problem with the bible is not with the bible itself. Studies include mere christianity, the screwtape letters, the great divorce,and many more. Discover the best comforting bible verses in this collection of scripture quotes. The pain grew so great that when jesus said he thirsted, the roman soldiers at the foot of his cross offered him a brew of vinegar or sour wine mixed with myrrh as a sedative john 19. Lewiss the problem of pain a summary logically faithful. Seven helpful new books on the problem of pain and suffering.
For example, private conversations are often related when no reporter was present. The knowing the bible series is a line of bible studies designed to help bible readers better understand and apply gods word each 12week study covers one book of the bible over 12 weeks, making practical applications and connections between the passage and the rest of scripture. The book of job tells of a man who is pushed to the absolute limit of endurance with the problem of pain. God did bring adversity into the lives of the israelites, but it was not to destroy them. If god is good and allpowerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain. The flower gardener, on the other hand, looks at manure as free fertilizer. Everything dear to job is stripped from him, including his family, his worldly goods, and his own physical health. The problem of evil has been defined as the achilles heel of the christian faith. Known to his readers as a philosopher, a christian apologist, a science fiction writer, an. Lewis book the problem of pain cs lewis study series kindle edition by alan vermilye. The problem of pain by cs lewis summary, quotes, and chapter. Lewis, one of the most renowned christian authors and thinkers, examines a universally applicable question within the human condition. Giving thanks helps us focus on god in our affliction, steers us away from complaining, strengthens our faith, and brings glory to jesus.
There are many bible stories about people of faith who struggled through dark times of depression. Ultimately, what it means is theyve misunderstood the nature of faith. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel coalition. I first read the problem of pain when i was an impressionable teenager in search of the meaning of life. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Whatever the circumstance may be, we can use these comforting bible verses to find a peace that passes understanding. This essay certainly will not resolve or even address many of the problems of. The existence of suffering in a world created by a good and almighty god the problem of pain is a fundamental theological dilemma, and perhaps the most serious objection to the christian religion. The problem of pain exists because of the belief in god. Some we dont even read and just read the summary for the guide. Perfect for book clubs, small groups, or individual bible study. This essay certainly will not resolve or even address many of the problems of the book. Yanceys ability to combine hard thinking, with practical implication, has never been better.
Especially in his book the great divorce, the problem of pain, a grief observed, and mere christianity. The title of this lesson, the problem of pain is taken from a book of this name written by c. See, im trying to read the bible for all its worth, but im not a hebrew slave suffering in egypt. For years churches have glossed over, rationalized, and provided shallow answers to thorny biblical problems that are no longer being ignoredand its becoming harder to defend texts that appear contradictory and culturally irrelevant.
Gods answer to the problem of undeserved suffering grand rapids. The most effective bible study guides to understanding the books of c. Bible reading and bible study with the olive tree bible app from olive tree bible software on your iphone, ipad, android, mac, windows, and kindle fire for centuries people have been tormented by one question above all. The problem of pain study guide breaks down each chapter into easytounderstand questions and commentary to help you find meaning and hope amid the pain. Exploring twelve themes related to the issue of human suffering, this concise, accessible resource reflects on what we can learn from the diversity of the biblical witness on the topic of suffering. With over 66 books of scripture covering thousands of years of history, the bible makes mention of hundreds of people either in great detail biblical heroes abraham, david, paul, jesus and gives. More than anything, the book seems characterized by a failure of imagination. Articles the last twenty years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number and quality of biblical commentaries being published. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. What lewis does offer is a very detailed and thought out explanation of gods ability to.
I dont know if that man was in his body or out of it. This reading plan offers reflections on pain, healing, and recovery from author seth haines. Study guide for jeremiah 8 by david guzik blue letter bible. Lewis with the authority of scripture to help you battle the issues and difficulties that lie ahead.
With extensive commentary on the three books of enoch, the fallen angels, the calendar of enoch, and daniels prophecy joseph lumpkin. Genesis and john are two examples of books which reflect multiple authorship. To one who already accepts the tenets of christianity, lewis explanation may well. For the hurt of the daughter of my people i am hurt. If god were good, he would wish to make his creatures perfectly happy, and if god were almighty, he would be able to do what he wished. King saul lived a miserable life and eventually was slain because he had rebelled against god 1 chron. Read 12 things to thank god for in the midst of affliction by mark altrogge on christian blogs. A confident focus on the future gains that come after the. Lewis sets out to disentangle this knotty issue but wisely adds that in the end no intellectual solution can dispense with.
There are several reasons, not just one reason, why people suffer. Humanity runs from pain, resists it, medicates it, and anesthetizes pain. Why, god, why sermons on the problem of pain protestant. He is not afraid to ask the hard questions about life, pain, suffering, the bible, and god. Study guide for micah 6 by david guzik blue letter bible. I want to use parts or most of this outline in a an adult bible study. There are a lot of feel good selfhelp books out there that all kind of say the same thing.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but. The words first usage explains the origin of pain in childbirth. Lewis here tackles the strongest objection to god there is. Blue letter bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on christ and the gospel of his peace and righteousness. The problem of pain is inescapable and its effects profound. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. God helps with your troubles, suffering, and hardship. To ask other readers questions about the problem of pain, please sign up. God allows job to be an unprotected target for the malice of satan. The word pain or some form of it appears over 70 times in scripture. Lewis book the problem of pain ebook written by alan vermilye. By the end of the prophecy, this name becomes appropriate as the prophet clings to god regardless of his confusion about gods plans for his people. Justin taylor is executive vice president for book publishing and publisher for books at crossway.
The three days and the three nights study resources. Suffering is a perennial problem and we are all affected by it at least to some. He states in the first chapter that if this was a world without good and evil, then how did we arrive at this problem of pain. The epistle to the hebrews the new international commentary on the new testament.
This classical book on suffering is one of the best i have ever read on the issue. Certainly no man could do greater miracles that the lord jesus. The problem of pain is a 1940 book on the problem of evil by c. I have read many of yanceys books, and the bible jesus read may be my favorite. Lost in the conversation is a much deeper issue, one that revolves around losing confidence in the bible. Alan vermilye has worked in christian publishing for over. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the problem of pain study guide. Its a difficult question, and although i accept the explanation lewis addresses the problem of pain, which he describes in.
Lewis the problem of pain is another attempt at christian theodicy, the. Archer and others see the book of job as the oldest book in the bible gleason l. The quest for an answer to the problem of suffering is universal, and the bible has not one, but many responses. This collection of sermons explores the ageold question of why a loving god allows suffering to visit his children. No pain is alike, we must all walk the journey and path that god has for our lives, yet god promises that there is a purpose in all pain. For centuries people have wrestled with the conundrum, how a good and loving god. The problem of pain study guide combines the wisdom of c. The son of a farmer looks at cow manure as something which he must endlessly shovel out of the barna pain in the neck. It is said that you can make the bible say almost anything you want it to say.
This prophetic book takes its name from its author and possibly means one who embraces 1. But to say this is not to limit the relevance of the book, for joblike suffering is. The problem of pain study guide expands upon lewis elegant and thoughtful work where he seeks to understand how a loving, good, and powerful god can possibly coexist with the pain and. The problem was not that god had abandoned the land of israel. The below bible verses can help you understand the purpose of pain in your life and encourage you to find joy in the middle of suffering. The problem of pain was one that asaph had to grapple with in psalm 73, and he came to see that his affliction was really a gift from god, one that caused him to draw near to him, which is the ultimate good.