Craig S. Keener: Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life

Craig S. Keener, Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life (Baker Academic, 2025), 269 pages, ISBN 9781540969439.

This book originated when Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, was asked by some Christians to prepare the church for the suffering to come (ix, xv). Professor Keener wrote Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life with special attention to the Chistian who believes a victorious and mature Christian does not undergo any suffering (ix, xiii). Thus, Dr. Keener’s main message is about the reality of suffering as a fundamental part of the Spirit-filled Christian life (xvi, xv). In order to reach a larger audience, the style of writing is in a “preaching,” rather than an “academic, mode” (xii, xvi). The book has important biblical references and multidenominational global examples, drawn from sources both contemporary and from years past (e.g., 8). He mainly employs his own readable translations from the Greek and Hebrew Bible. Throughout Prof. Keener supports the historical authenticity and authority of the Bible, including the Gospels and letters (xiii, 164).

Because of Dr. Keener’s orientation to develop the reality of suffering for even mature Christians, he begins by explaining why it is worth suffering for Jesus as we follow him (ch. 1). Then, he elaborates on the examples of apostles and prophets, whose mission includes suffering to advance God’s reign (chs. 2-3). Becoming an apostle or prophet today is especially attractive to charismatic Christians, but they may not find so attractive the costs. Even though some believe that prophecies today should always be favorable, Keener points out that biblical “encouragement” may refer simply to “exhortation,” and warnings for the future (35). Thus, a genuine prophet is “committed to speak what he hears from God” (1 Kings 22:14), not only “inspiring” messages (40). Rather, true prophecy prepares God’s people for “suffering hardship” (46). Moreover, the best way to discern genuine prophecy is to immerse oneself in God’s Word (44).

Suffering is expected not only for apostles and prophets, but for “all believers in Jesus” (47, ch. 4), since Scripture as a whole promises not only blessings but also hardships. The righteous experience suffering as testing, not judgment. We can prepare for future suffering by solidifying our faith through enduring and tests. Chapter 5 focuses on “the supreme model of Jesus for enduring suffering” (62). An important feature of intimacy with Christ is sharing in his sufferings (63). Keener has some surprising but well phrased comments: “Rejection of Jesus’s cross…, and of our sharing in Jesus’s cross…, is satanic theology” (referring to Mark 8:32-34) and “Those who would reign with Jesus must first suffer with him and for him” (69). He adds: “The real question for us is whether we actually trust Jesus’s message enough to stake our honor and life in this world on him.” Thus, he advises us from day to day, if we call Jesus Lord, to reject “Satan’s theology of success and power” and reject those “human interests that defy God’s interests” (72-73).

After Jesus’s model, Prof. Keener looks at early and later church models of carrying one’s cross or learning from the persecuted church (74, ch. 6), observing, “at least 70 per cent of the world’s population lives in countries with significant restrictions on religious freedom” (77-78). Christians are less than one-third of the world’s population yet experience three-quarters of all acts of religious intolerance (77). These are some of the startling statistics that he presents. However, secular media largely is silent about the thousands of faithful Christians genocidally martyred in northern Nigeria or Mozambique, with whom Keener has many close connections (80-88). He warns readers to remember the cost of our faith and willingly commit to pass the daily tests of life (95).

Chapter 7 is somewhat a break in sequence as Dr. Keener adds that a Spirit-filled Christian can be sick or disabled (99). He reminds us that Jesus treated sickness as an enemy (100), as did Francis McNutt many years ago in The Power to Heal (sickness is “in itself an evil and a curse,” 13). Our lives are God’s gift and God is ultimately in charge of when his servants die (100, 103). In the meantime, any miracle is a “kingdom foretaste” as God heals sovereignly (111, 113). We can pray expectantly for healing, but there are exceptions (113-115).

Chapter 8 discusses how the Spirit-filled Christian trusts God for life and ministry and shares possessions with those in need (122, 125): “More than a hundred Bible passages talk about the poor” (127). Christians are about 30 percent of the global population, but one half of the world’s migrants (133).

Chapter 9 deals with hardships general to all. He warns us not to blame the victims. If anyone is not yet convinced that Spirit-filled Christians can suffer, this chapter should end any doubt with its accounts of genocide, slavery, and addiction to worldly success. “God forges his purpose on the anvil of suffering” (161-62).

In “Suffering in God’s will” (ch. 10), Keener refers to hardships with short-term and long-term rewards (169). God’s grace commensurates for all hardship (165). At times, Keener appears overly to welcome suffering when he writes that God works sufferings for our benefit or God works our hardships for good and we should “embrace” trouble (173-75), appearing to forget that suffering has arisen from a fallen world, but then he clarifies that suffering can be used for good but that doesn’t mean God causes these sufferings. He cites Scripture but does not elaborate that we should never suffer for doing evil (183, 86-87). Romans 8:35-39 are important verses for Keener (e.g., 172) (“to the ones loving God, all things work together for good, to the ones being called according to (his) purpose”). The main point Paul makes is that God’s purpose is to conform us to God’s image and furthermore that no one can condemn us or separate us from God’s love, not so much that God uses all suffering for good.

Suffering concludes that all followers of Christ are called to overcome (ch. 11) because suffering is a “normal part of the Christian life” (203, 205). Suffering is temporary, but Scripture promises eternal rewards. For those especially interested in the end times, he closes by focusing on how Revelation as well points to suffering for Christians (204-206).

My own suggestions are minor. Someone might misinterpret Suffering and neurotically seek troubles and feel constantly guilty, while forgetting that God wants us to enjoy the life God has given us, receiving all good things “with thanksgiving” because “everything created by God is good” (1 Tim. 4:3-4). A robust progressive tithe is one way to accumulate resources for giving or to follow John Wesley’s plan to live simply but give generously (128-130). I would have appreciated some footnotes supporting technical New Testament data (e.g., 18). My own understanding of “apostle,” even for Paul, is a first century witness to the resurrected Jesus (e.g., 1 Cor. 9; Acts 1:21-22), not the broader definition of someone who lays the foundation in new spheres (11, 18). Since Dr. Keener is so regular in including female models (as well as male) and inclusive language for men and women, I was disappointed he left out Junia’s name in the list of apostles beyond the original Twelve (15-16). I also thought he should not have included Luke 23:34 (“Father, forgive them”) in his chart of parallels between Luke and Acts (73), because the best ancient manuscripts do not support Jesus having spoken these words. (See the discussion in The Prayer Life of Jesus: Shout of Agony, Revelation of Love, a Commentary, 234-36.) But these are all minor points.

What makes Suffering such a special book is the many firsthand contemporary and historical global examples of different types of suffering. Keener includes numerous examples from the West, East, and especially Africa. He frequently ends a chapter by exhorting the readers to immerse themselves in God’s Word (as he has done for us in the book) and practice day by day living the costly Christian Spirit-filled life. After reading this book, I do not see how anyone can claim that Spirit-filled Christians do not have to endure suffering. For those who use their resources for only their own comfort and enrichment, Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life is essential reading and beneficial to all.

Reviewed by Aída Besançon Spencer

 

Publisher page: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9781540969439_suffering

 

Read Craig Keener’s interview with PneumaReview.com: In the Midst: Biblical Hope and Suffering