📖 Biblical Definition
To suffer, biblically, is to undergo pain, hardship, or loss — but Scripture gives suffering a distinct Christian shape. Christ suffered for us, leaving an example that we should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21). The saints suffer with Christ as participation in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10; Romans 8:17): not redemptive in the same way, but covenantally united. Paul writes: "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). The KJV also uses suffer archaically for "permit" — "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not" (Mark 10:14). Either sense, the Christian holds the cup with the Master and finds the bitter cup turned to wine.
📜 KJV Continual Tense
In KJV: suffereth — sustained, never-giving-up endurance under hardship.
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1 Corinthians 13:4: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind." The continuous tense is the love that does not run out of patience — not "suffered once," but "keeps on suffering long."
1 Peter 2:21: "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." The example-giving is past; the following is present and continuous.
Romans 8:17: "if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Continuous suffering paired with continuous glorification.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
To bear; to undergo; (KJV) to permit.
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To bear; to feel pain or distress; to undergo; in older English (and KJV) also to permit ("suffer the little children"). In Scripture especially the saint’s participation in Christ’s sufferings.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Peter 4:12-13 — "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you... But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings."
Philippians 1:29 — "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."
Mark 10:14 — "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Avoided as senseless or pathologized as something to be cured rather than received as participation in Christ’s sufferings.
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The age treats all suffering as enemy — pain to numb, hardship to escape, trauma to heal. Scripture treats Christian suffering as gift: it is given (Phil 1:29), it is participation (1 Pet 4:13), it produces character (Rom 5:3-4). None of this excuses cruelty — but it reframes the saint’s posture toward unavoidable suffering.
Recover the participation: when the saint suffers for Christ’s sake, Christ is suffering with him.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek paschō; Latin sufferre.
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['Greek', 'G3958', 'paschō', 'to suffer']
['Greek', 'G3804', 'pathos', 'passion, suffering']
Usage
"Christ suffered first; we suffer with Him."
"Charity suffereth long."
"Suffer the little children to come."