Page 624 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

STROW - SUFFERING

STROW. To scatter; disburse; broadcast (Ex. 32:20; 2 SUDDEN. Any instant; unexpected (Nu. 6:9; 35:22;
Ch. 34:4; Mt. 25:24; Mk. 11:8). Jos. 10:9; Is. 30:13; Mk. 13:36; Lk. 2:13; 9:39; Ac. 9:3;
STUBBORN. Self-willed; obstinate in one’s own way 22:6; 1 Th. 5:3). (2) Hastily; speedily (1 Ti. 5:22). [For
and opinion; inflexible even in the face of the truth (De. the imminency of Christ’s return see Rapture.]
21:18; Ju. 2:19; 1 Sa. 15:23; Ps. 78:8; Pr. 7:11). [See SUFFER. (1) To allow (Ge. 20:6; Ex. 12:23; Mt.
Humility, Impenitence, Impudent, Presumptuous, Pride, 3:15; 19:14; Ac. 27:7). (2) To endure; to bear pain (Mt.
Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Stiffhearted.] 16:21; 17:17; 1 Co. 9:12; 2 Th. 2:14). (3) Trouble;
STUDY. To give diligence to; to endeavor with much pain; sorrow. [See Comfort, Suffering, Trial,
effort (1 Th. 4:11; 2 Ti. 2:15). Tribulation.]
STUFF. Baggage (1 Sa. 10:22; 25:13; 30:24). SUFFER HUNGER. To be hungry (Ps. 34:10; Pr.
STUMBLING BLOCK. Something which causes a 19:15).
person to stumble (Le. 19:14). The term “stumbling SUFFERING. Trouble; pain; persecution; sorrow;
block” refers to anything a Christian does to hinder the distress; injury; loss.
spiritual progress of another person (Ro. 14:13; 1 Co. The Fact of Suffering. The Bible says that every child
8:9; Re. 2:14). [See Cornerstone, Rock, of Adam will suffer (Job 5:7). The Christian is subject to
Stumblingstone.] the normal afflictions of this sinful world, plus he will
STUMBLINGSTONE. Christ is the stumblingstone to also suffer for his faith (Ac. 14:22; Ro. 8:18; 2 Ti. 3:12;
those who reject His salvation (Is. 8:14; 1 Pe. 2:8). Free 1 Pe. 4:12).
redemption through faith in Christ’s blood is a The Extent of the Christian’s Suffering. What types of
stumblingstone to those who desire to justify themselves suffering can the Christian expect? (1) Financial lack (1
through good works and religion (Ro. 9:32, 33; 1 Co. Ti. 6:6-8). God does not promise financial prosperity to
1:23). [See Cornerstone, Grace, Jesus Christ, Rock, His people in this life. He has often required that His
Stumbling Block.] children be relatively poor. He promises to meet our
SUAH (speaking, entreating). 1 Ch. 7:36. needs (Ps. 37:25; He. 13:5), not necessarily our wants.
SUBSTANCE. Possessions (De. 11:6; He. 10:34). The widow’s meal barrel did not fail, but it is also true
SUBTIL. Deceitful; crafty; cunning; with guile. The that she had to scrape the bottom every day (1 Ki.
17:12-16)! God uses our want to teach us manifold
word is used both in a bad sense (Ge. 3:1; 27:35; 2 Sa. lessons and to keep us humble and dependent upon
13:3; Pr. 7:10; Mt. 26:4; Ac. 13:10; 2 Co. 11:3) and Him. (2) Sickness (2 Co. 12:7-10; Ph. 2:25-27; 1 Ti.
(rarely) in a good sense (Pr. 1:4). [See Beguile, Deceit, 5:23; 2 Ti. 4:20). (3) Emotional sufferings (2 Co. 1:8;
Dissimulation, Entice, False Teaching, Feign, Flattery, 7:5; Ps. 119:25, 28, 82-83,143). (4) Persecution (Mk.
Satan, Sincere, Sleight, Wilily, Winketh.] 10:30; Ac. 14:22; 2 Co. 11:23-27; 2 Ti. 3:12; 1 Pe.
SUBURBS. The parts of a city which lie without the 4:1-4). (5) Spiritual and moral imperfection. The
walls; the area surrounding a city (Le. 25:34; Nu. 35:2; Christian suffers because of his imperfect condition. The
Jos. 14:4; 1 Ch. 6:55; Eze. 45:2). indwelling Spirit yearns for perfect holiness, but in
SUBVERT. To overturn; to overthrow; to turn out of practice we are far from that. One of the greatest
the way (La. 3:36; Ac. 15:24; 2 Ti. 2:14; Tit. 1:11; sufferings for the child of God is his fallen condition. In
3:11). this present world, we live in a “body of this death” (Ro.
SUCCESS. The favorable or prosperous termination 7:24). (6) The curse of the fallen world. The believer
of any thing attempted; a termination which answers must endure pain and hardship in the storms, famines,
the purpose intended (Webster) (Jos. 1:8). pestilences, wars, and other tragedies of life (Ro.
SUCCOTH (booths, huts, tents). Ge. 33:17. 8:22-23). (7) Lack of visible success. God’s people are
SUCCOTHBENOTH (2 Ki. 17:30). [See Idolatry.] not promised any certain standard of visible success in
this life. Many of God’s choicest saints labored with very
SUCCOUR. Help; protection; assistance (2 Sa. 8:5; little evident success. Noah preached for 120 years and
21:17; Ro. 16:2; 2 Co. 6:2; He. 2:18). saved only his immediate family. Jeremiah saw almost
SUCCOURER. A helper (Ro. 16:2). no visible results from his preaching. The crowds turned
SUCH LIKE. Such; the like (Eze. 18:14; Mk. 7:8; Ga. away from the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 6). Adoniram
5:21). Judson labored in Burma for 12 years before he had his
SUCKING CHILD. Nursing infant (Nu. 11:12; Is. first Burmese convert.
11:8; 49:15). The Purpose of the Christian’s Suffering. (1) Sin’s
SUCKLING. Nursing infant (De. 32:25; 1 Sa. 15:3; curse. This present world is under God’s curse because
Je. 44:7). of sin, and the Christian participates in the normal

624 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity