[Greek] συμπάσχω (sympaschō), [Latin] compatior: join in suffering, share in suffering; Rom.8:17, 1Cor.12:26
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to suffer at the same time, to suffer with, and to sympathize.
Polybius’ Histories 4.7: An embassy from Messenia appeared, begging for assistance for their unjust suffering. When statements were heard, great sympathy was felt for the misfortunes of the Messians.”
Polybius Histories 15.19: “Hannibal therefore begged then not to consider whether he had committed a breach of custom, but much rather he was genuinely feeling for his country’s misfortunes.
New Testament: This term means to share in suffering. Those who are led by the Spirit of God become adopted sons/daughters of God. As children and heirs of God, we suffer with and are glorified with Him. As a body is one, it has many parts. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it. If one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
“If one part suffers all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.” 1Cor.12:26
The image of the body represents Christ’s relationship with believers. There is need for a diversity of function amounts of the body.
“The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if only we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Rom.8:16-17
We suffer and are glorified with Him. Christians, with the Spirit’s presence with them, share new life in relationship with God. Christians share in both sufferings and glory in Christ.
Destiny of glory: The sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the later (future) glory to be revealed for us!!! (Rom.8:18)
Perspectives on Suffering:
“Don’t waste your suffering.” St. John Paul II
“The greater you suffer, the greater God’s love for you.” St. Padre Pio
“If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you love.” St. Gemma Galgani
“Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.” St. Augustine.
“Trials are nothing else but the forge that purifies the soul of all its imperfections.” St. Maria Magdalen de Pazzi
“You will be consoled according to the greatness of your sorrow and affliction. The greater the suffering, the greater will be the reward.” St. Maria Magdalen de Pazzi
“The greatest good suffering can do for me is increase my capacity for God.” Joni Eareckson Tada
10 Reasons to Believe in a God Who Allows Suffering
- Suffering comes with the freedom to choose.
- Pain can warn us of danger.
- Suffering reveals what is in our hearts—
It has a way of revealing what is in our own hearts. Capacities for love, mercy, anger and pride can lie dormant until awakened by circumstances. Strength and weakness of heart is found not when everything is going our way by when suffering and trials test our character. The human heart is revealed and developed by enduring the pressure and heat of time and circumstance. Strength of character is shown not when all is well with our world but in the presence of human pain and suffering.
- Suffering takes us to the edge of eternity—
If death is the end of everything, then a life filled with suffering isn’t fair. But if the end of this life brings us to the threshold of eternity, the most fortunate people in the universe are those who discover, through suffering, that this life is not all we have to live for. Those who find themselves and their eternal God through suffering have not wasted their pain. They have let their poverty, grief, and hunger drive them to the Lord of eternity. They are the ones who will discover to their own never-ending joy when Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Pain looses our grip on this life—
In time, our work and our opinions are sought less and less. Our bodies become increasingly worse for the wear. Problems loom larger and larger while options narrow. Each new pain makes this world less inviting and the next life more appealing. In its own way, pain paves the way for a graceful departure.
- Suffering gives us an opportunity to trust God.
- God suffers with us in our suffering.
- God’s comfort is greater than our suffering.
- In times of crisis, we find one another—
Natural disasters and times of crises have a way of bring us together. Suddenly we remember our own mortality and that people are more important than things. Each time we discover God’s comfort in our own suffering, our capacity to help others is increased.
- God can turn suffering around for our good.
Conclusion:
Sympathy, compassion, compatible (in harmony with), compatibility, compassionate, sympathetic
Update: Many people in this post-Christian secular world lack a spiritual understanding of suffering. (Therefore suffering must be avoided at all costs!)
“Offering it up”: This becomes a form of redemptive suffering offered up for ourselves, others, for the salvation of souls, and the reparations for sin.
Many of us have been moved with sympathy for Israel (and angered) by the Hamas atrocities on Oct. 7.
Many of us also have been moved with sympathy for those in Gaza who are in danger during Israel’s ground war campaign to destroy Hamas.
Many of us have been moved with sympathy for all those Israelis now experiencing various forms of anti-Semitism.
Christ gives us a new meaning to suffering. Suffering allows us to unite and draw closer to Him.
This post is dedicated to all those who are persecuted, suffering, imprisoned, experiencing natural disasters, and sorrowful.
Next post: those who are hard-hearted