Apostolic Suffering in view of Durability and Rugged Discipleship – a quick look at a clear pattern in Scripture

Part of what the apostolic is to do is to help prepare the foundation for the church.

Some will hear this and think it sounds esoteric, if not a bit quasi-self-important.   In truth, it is neither.  When we look at the book of Acts and ALL the N.T. letters, we see apostolic foundation laying at work.   The letters were how Paul, especially, was able to remotely build the foundation (remember in 1 Corinthians: he liked to build his own foundations and not build on others’; and he also called himself an “expert builder.”).   In these letters, he is not functioning as a “teacher,” so much as he is functioning as an apostolic teacher.   He is exerting his spiritual authority as someone sent with a calling to the Gentiles to address situations that either the Spirit is directly telling him to address or situations that his friends and coworkers have relayed to him regarding fledgling churches.   He is not teaching for the sake of truth; he is teaching to lay the foundation for discipleship of people who are months old in the faith.  So these are very much life-situated and dynamic letters written to help secure or straighten the foundation of these young and tenuous churches.

When we look at these letters as real-life, disciple-making teachings for fledgling believers rather than archaic cultural containers for precious doctrine/theology, then we begin to better pay attention to what the rhetorical task (i.e., what are they trying to accomplish?) of the apostles were… not to mention what themes seem to repeat over and over again among the letters.  One of the themes I recently began paying attention to is the theme of suffering, and I believe it is related intimately to the rhetorical task of rugged disciple-making that I’ve been writing about in the last two posts.

Think about how many times Paul talks about how much he personally suffers.   Why?  I always thought it was to communicate his dedication to Christ and how much he loved the people he was writing to.  These may very well be.  But I’m beginning to realize that this was part of his disciple-making and modeling for others.  So when he tells Timothy to imitate him and remember his life and teaching, Timothy will remember this b/c he was with him for some of the sufferings.  When he tells the Corinthians to follow him as he follows Christ, I believe this suffering is also part of what they are to follow him (and Christ!) into.   In fact, variations of the word “suffer” occur 53 times in the epistles!

To paint broad strokes, here are some examples I’ll list (taken from a Bible Gateway word search from the English word; with more sophisticated bible reference tools [which I do not own], we could go deeper):  (I intend to put a more finished work on this together for a Bakke DMin class I’m working on.)

• Romans 8:17-21 -  17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (In this passage, Paul teaches that not only is suffering a universal experience in a fallen world, but it is a characteristic of coheirs with Christ.)

• Romans 5:2-4 - ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. (In this passage, Paul reminds the Romans that suffering is part of God’s redemptive plan for us. It produces what we need.)

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 - 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.  8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.  (In this passage, Paul uses the interesting expression, “sufferings of Christ” that “flow over into our lives.” N.L.T. has “suffer for Christ” and Message has “hard times that come from following the Messiah.”  But what if there is something more mystical in this “of Christ” as Paul also references in Colossians 1:24?)

• 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 - Paul Boasts About His Sufferings - ¹⁶I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.¹⁸Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. ¹⁹You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! ²⁰In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. ²¹To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. ²²Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. ²³Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. ²⁷I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? ³⁰If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. ³²In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. ³³But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands. (In this passage, Paul uses sufferings as his main basis for apostolic credibility!  This is something that NEVER gets talked about among the Charismatic groups that [wrongly] talk about apostolic ministry in terms of hierarchy, power and authority [see C. Peter Wagner].)

• Philippians 1:29 - For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, (In this passage, Paul uses a troubling phrase “granted to you,” stating that it is a GIFT to suffer for Jesus!  Another thing that doesn’t get talked about often, but here in this Apostolic teaching, it does.)

• Philippians 3:10 - I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (This passage we know well and admire.  But what we don’t take into account is the train of thought Paul was leading up to with these famous words.  A few verses later, Paul says… ¹⁵All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.¹⁷Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.  The point?  Paul sees his life and desire to share in Jesus’ sufferings as part of the mature  pattern/example that others should imitate.)

Two more important passages that would be worth developing:

• 2 Timothy 1:8-18 - ⁸So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ⁹who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.¹¹And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹²That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.  ¹³What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. ¹⁵You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.¹⁶May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.¹⁷On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. ¹⁸May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. (Here, Paul flat out exhorts Timothy to join him in his suffering for the gospel.  He also embeds his exhortation to keep the pattern and guard the deposit he learned from Paul with references to his sufferings.   Suffering is the context and even part of the curriculum!  He then follows this exhortation with with mention of others who did or did not stay loyal to a suffering and chained Paul.)

• Colossians 1:23b-29 – …This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.  ²⁴Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  ²⁸We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Here, Paul talks about the mystical topic of Christ’s afflictions.  He talks about them as if they were a cup with a predetermined amount.  His apostolic work that brings him personal suffering for Christ fills up that predetermined amount.  And he rejoices in it b/c it blesses the church.  It’s a passage worth studying b/c suffering is very much at the heart of the advance of the apostolic mission of Jesus for the church.)

Some more references to Paul or his readers suffering:

• 1 Thessalonians 1:6 – You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:2 – We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14 - For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:5 - All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
• 2 Timothy 2:9 - for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained
• 2 Timothy 3:11 - persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Other apostolic teaching on suffering from three more apostolic teachers:

• Hebrews 5:7-9 -  ⁷During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

• James 5:7-11 - ⁷Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!  ¹⁰Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

• I Peter 1:6-11 -  ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ¹⁰Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

• I Peter 2:18-25 -  ¹⁸Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  ²²“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

• I Peter 3:13-18 - ¹³Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”  ¹⁵But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ¹⁸For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

• I Peter 4:1, 12-19 -  ¹Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. … ¹²Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And,”If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” ¹⁹So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

• I Peter 5:8-11 -  ⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  ¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

(to be continued) - If you’ve made it this far down, then you must be innately interested in the topic!  I hope to spell out repercussions and implications of this in a soon to be future post after returning from vacation and from a three day prayer-writing retreat.