Conformity to Christ through Trials and Tribulations

The concept of conformity to Christ through trials and tribulations is a deeply contested topic among Christian traditions, with various interpretations on how believers are shaped into Christ's likeness through suffering.

At the heart of this discussion is the understanding that Christians will face persecution and hardship as they live godly lives ^{[4, 5]}. The Apostle Paul's writings emphasize the importance of suffering with Christ to be conformed to His death and to know the power of His resurrection ^[6]. This conformity is not merely about enduring hardships but is deeply tied to the believer's union with Christ.

The Patristic and Catholic Perspective

Early Church Fathers and Catholic theologians emphasize the role of suffering in conforming believers to Christ. According to Tertullian, the trials faced by Christians are a form of participation in Christ's sufferings, testing their faith and devotion ^[10]. Thomas Aquinas further develops this idea, highlighting Christ's conformity to the Law as an example for believers to follow in their conduct, including embracing suffering and hardship as a means of spiritual growth ^[8].

The Protestant Perspective

Protestant traditions, including Lutheran and Reformed theology, also stress the significance of suffering in the life of a Christian. The Augsburg Confession teaches that bodily restraints and exercises are necessary for Christians to subdue themselves and avoid sin, though not as a means to merit grace ^[11]. John Calvin's Institutes emphasize that Christ's followers must be prepared for a life of hardship and evil, as Christ Himself was subjected to the cross, and that this is part of being conformed to His image ^[9].

The Eastern Orthodox Perspective

The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, views suffering as a means of participating in Christ's sufferings and being comforted by God. Chrysostom notes that Christ's own experience of tribulation is a precedent for believers, encouraging them to endure their own hardships with the assurance of divine consolation ^[7].

Shared Ground

Despite the differences in interpretation, all these traditions agree that suffering is an integral part of the Christian life and that it plays a crucial role in conforming believers to Christ. They also concur that Christ's own sufferings provide the paradigm for understanding the nature and significance of Christian suffering ^{[1, 2]}.

Divergence in Interpretation

The divergence among traditions lies in their understanding of how suffering contributes to conformity to Christ and the role of human agency in embracing or responding to suffering. While Catholic and some Protestant traditions emphasize the role of ascetic practices and self-denial in preparing believers for suffering and spiritual growth ^{[3, 8]}, others focus more on the passive reception of suffering as a means of being conformed to Christ ^{[6, 9]}.

The scriptural anchor for these positions includes passages like 2 Timothy 3:12, which states that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, and Philippians 3:10, which expresses the desire to know Christ and be conformed to His death ^{[4, 5, 6]}. The interpretation of these and related passages underlies the various positions on conformity to Christ through trials and tribulations.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
2 Timothy “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. -- 2 Timothy 3:12”
II Timothy “II Timothy 3:12 (ASV) — Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Philippians “Philippians 3:10 (BSB) — I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: 2 Cor. xii. 8–10 .) “Wherefore,” he says, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Moreover, hear Christ Himself saying, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” ( John xvi. 33 .) [6.] Ver. 3 . “For consider,” saith he, “Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” For if the sufferings of those near us arouse us, what earnestness will not those of our Master give us! What w”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of Christ's Manner of Life, Art. 4: Article: Whether Christ conformed His conduct to the Law? I answer that, Christ conformed His conduct in all things to the precepts of the Law. In token of this He wished even to be circumcised; for the circumcision is a kind of protestation of a man's purpose of keeping the Law, according to Gal. 5:3: "I testify to every man circumcising himself, that he is a debtor to do the whole Law." And Christ, indeed, wished to conform His conduct to the Law, first, to show His approval of the Old Law. Secondly, tha”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 63: intercourse must prepare for a hard, laborious, troubled life, a life full of many and various kinds of evils; it being the will of our heavenly Father to exercise his people in this way while putting them to the proof. Having begun this course with Christ the first-born, he continues it towards all his children. For though that Son was dear to him above others, the Son in whom he was “well pleased,” yet we see, that far from being treated gently and indulgently, we may say, that not only was he subjected to a perpetual cross while”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. II.(2)--THE HEATHEN PERVERTED JUDGMENT IN THE TRIAL OF CHRISTIANS. THEY WOULD BE MORE CONSISTENT IF THEY DISPENSED WITH ALL FORM OF TRIAL. TERTULLIAN URGES THIS WITH MUCH INDIGNATION. (part 1): In this case you actually(3) conduct trials contrary to the usual form of judicial process against criminals; for when culprits are brought up for trial, should they deny the charge, you press them for a confession by tortures. When Christians, however, confess without compulsion, you aply the torture to induce them to deny. What great perverseness is this, when you stand o”
Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 33 Moreover, they teach that every Christian ought to train and: 33 Moreover, they teach that every Christian ought to train and subdue himself with bodily restraints, or bodily exercises and labors that neither satiety nor slothfulness tempt him to sin, but not that we may merit grace or make satisfaction for sins by such exercises. 34 And such external discipline ought to be urged at all times, not only on a few and set days. So Christ commands, 35 Luke 21:34: Take heed lest your hearts 36 be overcharged with surfeiting; also Matt. 17:21: This kind goeth”

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