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Grief (2)

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

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(πόνος, ὀδύνη, λύπη, πένθος and cognate forms)

In addition to the common vexations of life (Acts 4:2; cf. Acts 16:18) and the griefs arising from misfortune (2 Corinthians 12:7) and human mutability (deaths and partings, Acts 20:38), there are certain cases of mental distress recognized in the NT, which are significant of the life and thought of the early Church.

(1) To the sorrows of transgression the Church is naturally sensitive. Sin reaps grief among its sad harvest. Esau’s carelessness is followed by unavailing tears (Hebrews 12:17). Those lustful after riches pierce themselves with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). Proud Babylon despises God; a day of sorrow and mourning is at hand for her (Revelation 18). The widespread pain caused by transgression is illustrated by the case of the incestuous member of the Corinthian Church (2 Corinthians 2:1-7). First, St. Paul, as a spiritual father of the Church, has been compelled to write with tears, in deep suffering and depression of spirits (2 Corinthians 2:4; θλῖψις καὶ συνοχὴ καρδίας, to admonish the careless Church which has allowed the outrage to pass unrebuked (1 Corinthians 5:2); then the Church itself, realizing its shame, is plunged into sorrow (2 Corinthians 2:5; cf. 2 Corinthians 7:8; cf. 2 Corinthians 7:11); and the actual offender is in danger of being driven to despair by his excess of grief (2 Corinthians 7:7). Such distress has, however, a redeeming feature, inasmuch as it leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:8 f.). There is a worldly sorrow (τοῦ κόσμου λύπη) which, embittering and hardening instead of chastening (Hebrews 12:5-11, 2 Corinthians 7:8), worketh death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

(2) But the Christian life has its own set of mental distresses. The anguish of persecution at the hands of the world (Romans 8:35; cf. 1 Peter 2:19) is but one of the sorrows of the Christian’s Via Dolorosa; his increasing moral sensitiveness enlarges the possibility of mental pain. The spiritual life is one of travail (Romans 8:22-26, 2 Corinthians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:4; see article Groaning). The richer soul also bears the cross of a wide human sympathy (2 Corinthians 11:29, Philippians 2:25-28); and a conscientious ministry is one of suffering, anxiety, and tears (Acts 20:19; Acts 20:31, 2 Corinthians 2:1-4, Romans 9:2; cf. Hebrews 13:17).

(3) For the Christian conquest over grief see article Comfort.

(4) The grief of God over human perversity is recognized in Hebrews 3:10; Hebrews 3:17 (προσοχθίζω), and in Ephesians 4:30 the Christian is warned against grieving the Holy Spirit.

(5) The grief of Jesus is cited in Hebrews 5:7-10 as an indication that, so far from taking the priesthood to Himself, He shrank from the sacrificial function and ‘accepted it only in filial submission to the will of God,’ or ‘that the offering of prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears corresponded to the high priest’s offering for himself on the Day of Atonement (Hofmann, Gess).… An interesting parallel (also noted by Davidson) is Hosea’s reference to Jacob’s wrestling (12:4), in which he speaks of him as weeping and making supplication to the angel, of which we read nothing in Genesis’ (A. S. Peake, Hebrews [Century Bible, 1902], p. 134).

Literature.-A. Maclaren, Expositions: ‘2 Cor. ch. vii. to end,’ 1909, p. 8; J, Martineau, Endeavours after the Christian Life, 1876, p. 44: ‘Sorrow no Sin’; A. W. Momerie, The Origin of Evil, 1885, p. 12ff.: ‘The Mystery of Suffering’; H. Bushnell, Moral Uses of Dark Things, 1877; B. H. Streeter, ‘The Suffering of God,’ in HJ ^{[Note: J Hibbert Journal.]} xii. [April, 1914]; D. W. Simon, The Redemption of Man, 1889, ch. vii.

H. Bulcock.