Persecution & Hardship (see also Sacrifice & Mortification)
Page Epigraph: For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ... 31 ... as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (I Cor 1:26-29, 31)
Verse Observations: Ps 71:20
*God's provision - II Cor 9:11, 8
So is the devil going to flee away or not? Look at poor Job.
II Tm 3:12 How is this true seeing that many societies throughout history looked favorably upon good Christians and encouraged belief?
How can one rejoice despite suffering? (I Thes 5:16, Rom 12:15, Phil 2:17) How can one be in perfect peace even while he suffers? Is 26:3 And yet it's true what Heb 12:11 says, "for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant"? And isn't there a time for everything? (Eccl 3:4 -- a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance)
Why didn't God take care of Paul? (II Cor 11:27)
I don't understand these verses (Mt 11:28-30 [Jesus' light yoke]). After all, doesn't Jesus say the way to salvation is hard and narrow? (Mt 7:13-14) Don't we have to always pray and not lose hope? (Lk 18:1) Don't we have to not give up, so that we will reap an abundant harvest? (Gal 6:9) Doesn't Jesus say first count the cost of following him? (Lk 14:28-33) And in many other ways the bible makes clear that living Christianity is hard.
It’s strange to say, “not a hair of your head will perish” if you’re being put to death. What exactly does Jesus mean here? (Lk 21:16, 18)
Can a person with the gift of giving be poor? (Rom 12:8)
Lk 16:20-22 (Parable of Lazarus) I'm sorry, but I just don't see how God could leave one of his children like that. Now Paul and his companions were often homeless, but not this kind of homelessness (Lk 16:21 & ESV Study Bible note saying these were wild street dogs, not friendly pets). (Mt 6:33 [God's provision]) Also, this man contributed nothing to mankind. How could God's power not work in one of his own? I also don't think God could ever allow this in one of his children.
Why does Jesus treat the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia differently? They both were the only 2 churches against which he had no complaints, but Smyrna had to suffer tribulation, and Philadelphia was promised to be saved out of it, because of their faithfulness, though they had both been faithful. (Rv 2:9-10, 3:8-10)
Verse Observations: Ps 71:20
*God's provision - II Cor 9:11, 8
So is the devil going to flee away or not? Look at poor Job.
II Tm 3:12 How is this true seeing that many societies throughout history looked favorably upon good Christians and encouraged belief?
How can one rejoice despite suffering? (I Thes 5:16, Rom 12:15, Phil 2:17) How can one be in perfect peace even while he suffers? Is 26:3 And yet it's true what Heb 12:11 says, "for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant"? And isn't there a time for everything? (Eccl 3:4 -- a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance)
Why didn't God take care of Paul? (II Cor 11:27)
I don't understand these verses (Mt 11:28-30 [Jesus' light yoke]). After all, doesn't Jesus say the way to salvation is hard and narrow? (Mt 7:13-14) Don't we have to always pray and not lose hope? (Lk 18:1) Don't we have to not give up, so that we will reap an abundant harvest? (Gal 6:9) Doesn't Jesus say first count the cost of following him? (Lk 14:28-33) And in many other ways the bible makes clear that living Christianity is hard.
It’s strange to say, “not a hair of your head will perish” if you’re being put to death. What exactly does Jesus mean here? (Lk 21:16, 18)
Can a person with the gift of giving be poor? (Rom 12:8)
Lk 16:20-22 (Parable of Lazarus) I'm sorry, but I just don't see how God could leave one of his children like that. Now Paul and his companions were often homeless, but not this kind of homelessness (Lk 16:21 & ESV Study Bible note saying these were wild street dogs, not friendly pets). (Mt 6:33 [God's provision]) Also, this man contributed nothing to mankind. How could God's power not work in one of his own? I also don't think God could ever allow this in one of his children.
Why does Jesus treat the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia differently? They both were the only 2 churches against which he had no complaints, but Smyrna had to suffer tribulation, and Philadelphia was promised to be saved out of it, because of their faithfulness, though they had both been faithful. (Rv 2:9-10, 3:8-10)
