Biblical Theology of Human Suffering and Healing

The biblical understanding of human suffering and healing is multifaceted, encompassing divine causation, human experience, and the redemptive work of Christ. Suffering is often presented as originating from God, whether as a direct consequence of sin or as a means of divine discipline ^[6]. For instance, Deuteronomy 28:59-61 and 32:39 indicate God's role in sending sickness, as do passages like 2 Samuel 12:15 and Acts 12:23 ^[6]. Sickness can also be a punishment for sin, as seen in Leviticus 26:14-16 and 1 Corinthians 11:30, and is listed among God's "four sore judgments" on a guilty land in Ezekiel 14:19-21 ^[6]. However, the devil is also sometimes permitted to inflict suffering, as in the case of Job (Job 2:6-7) or the woman bent over for eighteen years (Luke 13:16) ^[6].

Human suffering is a pervasive theme, with the Old Testament acknowledging "a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up" (Ecclesiastes 3:3) ^[5]. The New Testament further explores the nature of suffering, particularly in relation to Christ. The Apostle Peter commends those who "endure pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God" (1 Peter 2:19, 6). Matthew Henry notes that Christ himself "was not exempted from sufferings in this life, though he had no guilt of his own and could have declined all suffering if he had pleased" ^[9].

A central aspect of the biblical theology of suffering is the role of Jesus Christ. His human nature was essential to his mediatorial office, enabling him to partake in flesh and blood (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14) and experience human emotions like weeping, hungering, thirsting, and weariness ^[1]. This shared humanity allowed him to have compassion and sympathy for the weary, the weak in faith, the tempted, the afflicted, and the diseased ^[3]. Hebrews 2:18 states that because Christ "himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted" ^[4].

The suffering of Christ is understood as vicarious, meaning he suffered "in the place of sinners" as their substitute to satisfy divine justice ^[13]. Isaiah 53 is a pivotal text, clearly and copiously presenting the doctrine that the Messiah would be a "man of sorrows" who would suffer indignities and a violent death for the benefit of others ^[8]. John Gill interprets Isaiah 53:4, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows," to mean that Christ not only assumed a human nature capable of sorrow but also took on all natural, sinless infirmities, experiencing the same sorrows and griefs as humanity ^[10]. Clement of Rome emphasizes that "the Lord endured to deliver up His flesh to corruption, that we might be sanctified through the remission of sins, which is effected by His blood of sprinkling" ^[11].

Healing in the Bible is often presented as a divine act, with God promising and performing healing (Exodus 23:25; 2 Kings 20:5; Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 38:5, 9) ^[6]. God's mercy, power, and love are exhibited in healing ^[6]. Affliction is frequently described as a disease, and relief is therefore characterized as healing ^[14]. While Christ did not endure all specific types of suffering (as some are mutually exclusive, like burning and drowning), he did endure suffering generically, particularly those inflicted from without, rather than internal bodily ailments ^[7].

Paul's own suffering is presented as reflecting Christ's, instrumental in bringing salvation to others, and should be viewed from the perspective of the resurrection to come (2 Timothy 2:8-13) ^[12]. This perspective suggests that suffering with Christ leads to his approval and ultimate endurance ^[12]. The long-suffering of God, a part of His character, is aimed at salvation and should lead to repentance, offering encouragement to those who turn to Him (Exodus 34:6; Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9, 15) ^[2].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
Hebrews “For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. -- Hebrews 2:18”
Ecclesiastes “a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; -- Ecclesiastes 3:3”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), The Passion of Christ, Art. 5: Article: Whether Christ endured all suffering? I answer that, Human sufferings may be considered under two aspects. First of all, specifically, and in this way it was not necessary for Christ to endure them all, since many are mutually exclusive, as burning and drowning; for we are dealing now with sufferings inflicted from without, since it was not beseeming for Him to endure those arising from within, such as bodily ailments, as already stated (Question [14], Article [4]). But, speaking generically, He did en”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 103: It is not however only in the typical services of the old economy that this great doctrine was set forth in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah this doctrine is presented with a clearness and copiousness which have extorted assent from the most unwilling minds. The prophet in that chapter not only foretells that the Messiah was to be a man of sorrows; not only that He was to suffer the greatest indignities and be put to a violent death; not only that these sufferings were endured for the benefit of others; but tha”
1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:18: Here, I. The example of Christ is proposed as an argument for patience under sufferings, the strength of which will be discerned if we consider the several points contained in the words; observe therefore, 1. Jesus Christ himself was not exempted from sufferings in this life, though he had no guilt of his own and could have declined all suffering if he had pleased. 2. The reason or meritorious cause of Christ's suffering was the sins of men: Christ suffered for sins. The sufferings of Christ were a true and proper punishment; this punishment was suffered to expia”
Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 53:4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows,.... Or "nevertheless", as Gussetius (k); notwithstanding the above usage of him; though it is a certain and undoubted truth, that Christ not only assumed a true human nature, capable of sorrow and grief, but he took all the natural sinless infirmities of it; or his human nature was subject to such, as hunger, thirst, weariness, &c.; and to all the sorrow and pain arising from them; the same sorrows and griefs he was liable to as we are, and therefore called ours and hence he had a sympathy with men under afflic”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. V.--THE NEW COVENANT, FOUNDED ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, TENDS TO OUR SALVATION, BUT TO THE JEWS' DESTRUCTION. (part 1): For to this end the Lord endured to deliver up His flesh to corruption, that we might be sanctified through the remission of sins, which is effected by His blood of sprinkling. For it is written concerning Him, partly with reference to Israel, and partly to us; and [the Scripture] saith thus: "He was wounded for our transgressions, and braised for our iniquities: with His stripes we a”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 2:8: 2:8-13 Paul’s suffering (1:12) reflects the suffering of Jesus Christ and points to the cross and resurrection as the inner meaning of that Good News (see 1:8). Paul’s suffering, like Christ’s, was instrumental in bringing salvation to others. Christ gives his approval to those who suffer and endure with him. 2:8 Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead: Cp. Rom 1:3-4. Suffering with Christ should be viewed from the perspective of the resurrection to come.”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 96: absolves that person from the necessity of doing or suffering the same thing. 398 398 Even in medicine the word retains its proper meaning. “A vicarious secretion, is a secretion from one part instead of another.” It ceases to be vicarious when the former fails to stop the latter. When, therefore, it is said that the sufferings of Christ were vicarious, the meaning is that He suffered in the place of sinners. He was their substitute. He assumed their obligation to satisfy justice. What He did and suffered precluded the necessity of their ”
Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 30:2: healed me--Affliction is often described as disease (Psa 6:2; Psa 41:4; Psa 107:20), and so relief by healing.”

Ask Your Own Question