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Suffering For Jesus In Paul And Peter's Lives

Both the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter emphasize the concept of suffering for Christ, presenting it not as an anomaly but as an expected and even purposeful aspect of the Christian life. This suffering is often linked to the example of Christ himself and is understood to have redemptive or sanctifying implications for believers.

Peter explicitly states that Christians are "called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21 [1, 5]). He further notes that it is "commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God" (1 Peter 2:19 [2]). This perspective suggests that suffering for one's faith is a direct imitation of Christ's own experience [8]. Believers are encouraged to "rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory" (1 Peter 4:13 [3, 4]). This sharing in Christ's sufferings is not merely an act of endurance but a participation that anticipates future glory [14]. The suffering of saints is seen as a persecution of Christ himself, as indicated in Zechariah 2:8 and Acts 9:4-5 [6].

Paul's writings similarly connect Christian suffering with Christ's suffering and resurrection. The Tyndale House commentary on 2 Timothy 2:8-13 highlights that Paul's suffering reflects Christ's suffering and points to the cross and resurrection as the "inner meaning of that Good News" [9]. Paul's own afflictions are presented as instrumental in bringing salvation to others, mirroring Christ's salvific work [9]. one tradition teaches that "all that live godly in Christ, shall suffer" (2 Timothy 3:12 [6]). The expectation of trouble for the faithful is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 3:3, which states, "we are destined for such troubles" [15].

John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, addresses the idea of supplying "that which was lacking in the sufferings of Christ" (Colossians 1:24). Calvin clarifies that this "defect or supplement refers not to the work of redemption, satisfaction, or expiation, but to those afflictions with which the members of Christ, in other words, all believers, behave to be exercised" [10]. This interpretation distinguishes between Christ's unique atoning suffering and the afflictions believers endure, which serve to unite them with Christ in a different sense. Calvin also emphasizes Christ's voluntary self-emptying and suffering as an example for believers to follow in submission [11]. one tradition argues that enduring ignominy and calamities in defense of righteousness leads to a "higher place in the kingdom of God" and, if slain, provides "entrance... to eternal life" [16].

The suffering endured by Christ, which serves as the ultimate example, included scorn and mocking, as predicted in the Psalms and Isaiah and fulfilled in the Gospels [7]. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, notes that Christ's sufferings were not merely the pains of martyrdom but were "judicially inflicted in satisfaction of justice" [13]. This distinguishes Christ's unique suffering from the suffering of believers, though both are forms of tribulation.

The early church fathers also recognized the significance of Christ's suffering. Irenaeus, for example, emphasized that it was Christ himself who suffered, affirming the unity of Christ's person in his suffering [12]. The concept of suffering for Christ, therefore, is deeply rooted in the New Testament and has been a consistent theme in Christian theology, understood as both an imitation of Christ and a participation in his redemptive narrative.

Sources

  1. 1 Peter “1 Peter 2:21 (NASB) — For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,”
  2. 1 Peter “For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. -- 1 Peter 2:19”
  3. I Peter “I Peter 4:13 (BSB) — But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.”
  4. 1 Peter “But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. -- 1 Peter 4:13”
  5. I Peter “I Peter 2:21 (BSB) — For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:”
  6. 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”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scorning and Mocking — The sufferings of Christ by, predicted -- Ps 22:6-8; Isa 53:3; Lu 18:32. Christ endured -- Mt 9:24; 27:29. Saints endure, on account of Being children of God. -- Ge 21:9; Ga 4:29. Their uprightness. -- Job 12:4. Their faith. -- Heb 11:36. Their faithfulness in declaring the word of God. -- Jer 20:7,8. Their zeal for God's house. -- Ne 2:19. The wicked indulge in, against The second coming of Christ. -- 2Pe 3:3,4. The gifts of the Spirit. -- Ac 2:13. God's threatening. -- Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15. God's ministers. -- 2Ch 36:16. God's ordinances. -- L”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
  9. 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.”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 60: in proportion to the measure of his gifts. The advantage derived in common by the Church is great enough, when, by their triumphs, she is inflamed with zeal to fight. 4. How maliciously they wrest the passage in which Paul says, that he supplies in his body that which was lacking in the sufferings of Christ! ( Col. 1:24 ). That defect or supplement refers not to the work of redemption, satisfaction, or expiation, but to those afflictions with which the members of Christ, in other words, all believers, behave to be exercised, so lon”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 49: what kind of body Christ assumed, but that, when he might have justly asserted his divinity he was pleased to exhibit nothing but the attributes of a mean and despised man. For, in order to exhort us to submission by his example, he shows, that when as God he might have displayed to the world the brightness of his glory, he gave up his right, and voluntarily emptied himself; that he assumed the form of a servant, and, contented with that humble condition, suffered his divinity to be concealed under a veil of flesh. Here, unquestion”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XVIII.--CONTINUATION OF THE FOREGOING ARGUMENT. PROOFS FROM THE WRITINGS OF ST. PAUL, AND FROM THE WORDS OF OUR LORD, THAT CHRIST AND JESUS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS DISTINCT BEINGS; NEITHER CAN I (part 3): too, makes it evident who it was that suffered; for when He asked the disciples, "Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?"(16) and when Peter had replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God;" and when he had been commended by Him [in these words], "That flesh and blood had not revealed it”
  13. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 129: dread in the prospect of death, so it was consistent with the feeling of depression and anguish under the obscuration of the favour of God. As the sufferings of Christ were not merely the pains of martyrdom, but were judicially inflicted in satisfaction of justice, they produced the effect due to their specific character. This of course does not imply that our Lord suffered as the finally impenitent suffer. Their sufferings are determined by their subjective state. The loss of the divine favour produces in them hatred, venting itself in ”
  14. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 4:13: inasmuch as--The oldest manuscripts read, "in proportion as"; "in as far as" ye by suffering are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that is, by faith enter into realizing fellowship with them; willingly for His sake suffering as He suffered. with exceeding joy--Greek, "exulting joy"; now ye rejoice amidst sufferings; then ye shall EXULT, for ever free from sufferings (Pe1 1:6, Pe1 1:8). If we will not bear suffering for Christ now, we must bear eternal sufferings hereafter.”
  15. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 3:3: 3:3 we are destined for such troubles: Suffering for the faith is often part of a Christian’s life (1:6; 2:14; Phil 1:29; 1 Pet 1:6; 2:21; 3:17; 4:19).”
  16. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 63: by disgrace and ignominy, we have a higher place in the kingdom of God; 2021 and if we are slain, entrance is thereby given us to eternal life. The Lord having set such a price upon us, let us be ashamed to estimate ourselves at less than the shadowy and evanescent allurements of the present life. 8. Since by these, and similar considerations, Scripture abundantly solaces us for the ignominy or calamities which we endure in defence of righteousness, we are very ungrateful if we do not willingly and cheerfully receive them at the ha”
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