The son of a farmer looks at cow manure as something which he must endlessly shovel out of the barna pain in the neck. Lewis sets out to disentangle this knotty issue but wisely adds that in the end no intellectual solution can dispense with. The problem was not that god had abandoned the land of israel. Top commentaries on every book of the bible from nathan w. 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.
To ask other readers questions about the problem of pain, please sign up. Known to his readers as a philosopher, a christian apologist, a science fiction writer, an. I have read many of yanceys books, and the bible jesus read may be my favorite. The quest for an answer to the problem of suffering is universal, and the bible has not one, but many responses.
Jesus refused it, knowing he had to suffer pain as part of the picture of what sin does in our lives. The problem of pain exists because of the belief in god. To learn more about this bible study, to order additional copies, or to. The problem of pain is a 1940 book on the problem of evil by c.
A confident focus on the future gains that come after the. God allows job to be an unprotected target for the malice of satan. The epistle to the hebrews the new international commentary on the new testament. 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 book of job tells of a man who is pushed to the absolute limit of endurance with the problem of pain. 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. 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. Theyd thought faith was the guarantee of a painfree present. Lewis here tackles the strongest objection to god there is. Lewis book the problem of pain cs lewis study series kindle edition by alan vermilye. 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. Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Warning of coming judgment on judea and babylon, chaldea.
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. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Lewis with the authority of scripture to help you battle the issues and difficulties that lie ahead. 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. Studies include mere christianity, the screwtape letters, the great divorce,and many more. 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. I dont know if that man was in his body or out of it. Lewis, one of the most renowned christian authors and thinkers, examines a universally applicable question within the human condition. Why, god, why sermons on the problem of pain protestant. Some we dont even read and just read the summary for the guide. 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. King saul lived a miserable life and eventually was slain because he had rebelled against god 1 chron. This essay certainly will not resolve or even address many of the problems of.
Pauls vision and his painful problem we cant gain anything by bragging. Yanceys ability to combine hard thinking, with practical implication, has never been better. He is not afraid to ask the hard questions about life, pain, suffering, the bible, and 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. The problem of pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by c.
Ultimately, what it means is theyve misunderstood the nature of faith. I first read the problem of pain when i was an impressionable teenager in search of the meaning of life. 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. The problem of pain study guide a bible study on the c. I want to use parts or most of this outline in a an adult bible study. Lost in the conversation is a much deeper issue, one that revolves around losing confidence in the bible. The problem of pain is inescapable and its effects profound. 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. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel coalition. Lewis book the problem of pain ebook written by alan vermilye. With extensive commentary on the three books of enoch, the fallen angels, the calendar of enoch, and daniels prophecy joseph lumpkin. Giving thanks helps us focus on god in our affliction, steers us away from complaining, strengthens our faith, and brings glory to jesus. Download a personal copy of bible verses to comfort you.
This reading plan offers reflections on pain, healing, and recovery from author seth haines. 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. Humanity runs from pain, resists it, medicates it, and anesthetizes pain. 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. Alan vermilye has worked in christian publishing for over. 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. If god is good and allpowerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain. Articles the last twenty years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number and quality of biblical commentaries being published. Problem with pain devotional reading plan youversion bible. The problem of pain by cs lewis summary, quotes, and chapter. There are several reasons, not just one reason, why people suffer. It is said that you can make the bible say almost anything you want it to say.
The most effective bible study guides to understanding the books of c. 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 title of this lesson, the problem of pain is taken from a book of this name written by c. In the book he seeks to reconcile gods power and goodness with the presence of evil. The problem of evil has been defined as the achilles heel of the christian faith. 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. That the bible, jesus, and everything else that orbits around christianity actually hold up under historical, scientific, philosophical, and even literary scrutiny. Its a difficult question, and although i accept the explanation lewis addresses the problem of pain, which he describes in. The three days and the three nights study resources. Perfect for book clubs, small groups, or individual bible study. This classical book on suffering is one of the best i have ever read on the issue. Of course they also contain plenty of biblical and theological material to. With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, c. The problem of pain study guide combines the wisdom of c.
Archer and others see the book of job as the oldest book in the bible gleason l. 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. Genesis and john are two examples of books which reflect multiple authorship. Discover the best comforting bible verses in this collection of scripture quotes. This essay certainly will not resolve or even address many of the problems of the book. To one who already accepts the tenets of christianity, lewis explanation may well. 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. Study guide for micah 6 by david guzik blue letter bible. 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. The words first usage explains the origin of pain in childbirth.
Suffering is a perennial problem and we are all affected by it at least to some. God helps with your troubles, suffering, and hardship. Many of us may find ourselves struggling there today. 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.
I may make a condensed outline from the whole to pass out. More than anything, the book seems characterized by a failure of imagination. New international commentary on the old testament series editor. There are a lot of feel good selfhelp books out there that all kind of say the same thing. New international commentary on the old testament nicot. Although some books of the bible are traditionally attributed to a single author, many are actually the work of multiple authors. Gods answer to the problem of undeserved suffering grand rapids. Study guide for jeremiah 8 by david guzik blue letter bible. Lewis book the problem of pain by alan vermilye pain insists upon being attended to. 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. What lewis does offer is a very detailed and thought out explanation of gods ability to. Justin taylor is executive vice president for book publishing and publisher for books at crossway. Lewiss the problem of pain a summary logically faithful.
This collection of sermons explores the ageold question of why a loving god allows suffering to visit his children. Everything dear to job is stripped from him, including his family, his worldly goods, and his own physical health. Certainly no man could do greater miracles that the lord jesus. Read 12 things to thank god for in the midst of affliction by mark altrogge on christian blogs. See, im trying to read the bible for all its worth, but im not a hebrew slave suffering in egypt. 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. What the bible says about god, jesus, prayer, family, suffering, celebrations, life, death. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. There are many bible stories about people of faith who struggled through dark times of depression. The problem with the bible is not with the bible itself. This prophetic book takes its name from its author and possibly means one who embraces 1.
God did bring adversity into the lives of the israelites, but it was not to destroy them. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the problem of pain study guide. To the woman he said, i will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children. Seven helpful new books on the problem of pain and suffering. I know a believer in christ who was taken up to the third heaven 14 years ago. 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. Whatever the circumstance may be, we can use these comforting bible verses to find a peace that passes understanding. As i read this book i felt that i had a soulmate in my journey. For centuries people have wrestled with the conundrum, how a good and loving god.