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How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil
This clear and accessible treatment of key biblical themes related to human suffering and evil is written by one of the most respected evangelical biblical scholars alive today. Carson brings together a close, careful exposition of key biblical passages with helpful pastoral applications. The second edition has been updated throughout.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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1848 people want to read
About the author
D.A. Carson
338 books732 followersDonald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.
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September 11, 2008
Five stars aren't enough: ********** !
This book should be required reading for every Christian. It is, I think, the best treatment on the subject of the existence or, rather, problem of evil and suffering in a world governed by an all-powerful and all-good God. Less abstractly: the problem of suffering in a Christian theistic world. It is not just scholarly, or just pastoral, it is both. And it does both well.
What made my reading of it extra special, I think, was that I read this almost right after I read Bart Ehrman's God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question-Why We Suffer. Carson's How Long O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil was perhaps the most thorough and complete decimation of a contrary position as I have seen. It was not meant as a response to Ehrman; indeed, it was written long before Ehrman's book. But if both are read side-by-side, especially by the Christian (I would include the honest, open, and objective atheist, but I fear the existents in that set to be about equal to the existents in the set of unicorns), you will witness a knock-out blow reminiscent of early Mike Tyson. The opening chapter alone destroys Ehrman's thesis, and shows his analysis of the situation to be about as deep as a puddle. So after reading Ehrman this book was like the balm of Gilead for me! But enough about Ehrman...
Carson writes this book as both a scholar and a pastor. He has a Ph.D. from Cambridge, has authored numerous books, and is one of the most respected biblical scholars of our times. But he has also served as a pastor. He has a pastors heart. His many years as pastor and world-traveler have provided him with a rich resource of real-life situations that are very apropos. The reader, therefore, is in for a rare treat. As the eminent J.I. Packer states: "The two sides of the author, the biblical scholar who reads, thinks, and misses no detail and the pastoral teacher who understands people, feels with them, and cares for them, combine here to give us a treatment of suffering under God's sovereignty which is outstandingly accurate, wise, and helpful."
Carson wrote this book with the Christian in mind. He claims it is not meant for unbelievers. In one sense I understand, why try to sanctify the unjustified? But I think unbelievers can profit from this book in ways Ehrman could have. Straw men and misunderstandings and superficial analysis of the problem of suffering in a Christian worldview can be avoided by taking Carson's arguments and exegesis into account.
Carson also does not write for all those undergoing suffering right this moment, though some could surely profit. As he put it, this book is more preventative or preemptive. It is meant to provide a strong framework for understanding and thinking about suffering such that when that storm comes, and it will come, the Christian may be better prepared. As a framework, there are gaps. Carson does not mean to give a thorough and exhaustive analysis of every situation under the sun. Just enough to provide a solid structure from which to build on. Enough to weather storms. Though this book should be read by all Christians, as I said above, that doesn't mean by all Christians now. We've already said that it isn't for those going through a time of severe suffering. They might not be able to read the words through their tears. This book would help the Christian who has not suffered in thinking about suffering with a solid framework, especially if they take it to heart. However, for the Christian who has endured suffering, it is simply a beautiful message from the God of comfort.
For those who have thought about this issue, the book certainly does speak to the intellect. The ammo is here to provide a cogent answer to scoffers trying to make use of the problem of evil. But it is so much more than that that when you're through, the intellectual problem of evil seems so petty. Yeah, this book will help with answering the atheist, but that isn't its intention. It's intention is to help you face the trials. Maybe even more important, it prepares you for how to deal with and help others who are suffering. This book will make all Christians who read it able to serve their Christian friends as our Lord served us. But it doesn't give you a list of things to "say." The "right words" to make the suffering all better. Those Christians who give pat answers and make glib references to Scripture are soundly taken out to the wood shed by Carson. The last chapter is specifically devoted how to deal with people's suffering, though the virtues of a good comforter are portrayed throughout the book.
Carson offers many "pieces of the puzzle" for why suffering happens, but notes that none of them, none, can fully account for each and every instance of suffering. They are helpful, but not ultimately. At the end of the day, mystery is appealed to. The concept and function of mystery in a Christian worldview is almost to beautiful and majestic to put into words. So, many instances of suffering can be understiid by those various pieces of the puzzle. "When we suffer, there will sometimes be mystery. Will there also be faith?" Not only does this show that Carson's intended reader is the Christian, it also provides the impetus for Carson to invoke some powerful resources of Christian theology. Carson invokes sovereignty and providence. He also includes moral responsibility. All of these lead to a discussion of compatibilism, which Carson defends biblically (as opposed to a philosophical discussion, but some of his points can be brought over). All of this, in turn, is used as a comforting balm for the suffering Christian. The mystery of providence is comforting, says Carson. And indeed it is.
Some are tempted to mock a resort to mystery. Some, like Ehrman, claim that appealing to mystery is the same as saying there is no answer. Of course that inference is horrible. How one gets from, "I don't see the reason," to the proposition, "There is, therefore, no reason whatever," is beyond me. Those who chide mystery usually appeal to a premise called "noseeum." This premise reasons its way to the conclusion, "thereisnun." This inference pattern has been shown to be suspect.
The "noseeum" argument is that argument employed by atheists in giving the evidential argument from evil. That is, they acknowledge the logical argument is dead, and so now argue from evidences to alleged cases of gratuitous suffering. A paradigm case is Bambi suffering in a forest fire (this also assumes a certain view on natural evils which I do not hold, but I don't need to flesh that out for our purposes). The argument is that it appears that there could be no good reason, no God-justifying-good, for this case of evil. They acknowledge that what matters is not that one can't conceive of a God-justifying-good, but that there actually be no God-justifying-good. They then argue for a strong link between appearance and reality, that's the induction that makes this not the traditional "logical argument from evil." The Skeptical theists, mainly: Alston, Bergmann, Rea, and Wykstra, offer arguments to the effect that there is no warrant to move from what we see to any actuality, especially given certain assumptions of the Christian worldview, viz., Creator/creature distinction, doctrine of Incomprehensibility, our epistemic condition, the massively large and complex nature of an infinite God's plan, etc. This undercuts the "noseeum" argument.
Bergman says of this inference:
An aspect of this inference should make us wary. ...It takes 'the insights attainable by finite, fallible human beings as an adequate indication of what is available in the way of reasons to an omniscient, omnipotent being." But this is like supposing that when you're confronted with the activity or productions of a master in a field in which you have little expertise, it is reasonable for you to draw inferences about the quality of her work just because you 'don't get it.' You've taken a year of high school physics. You're faced with some theory about quantum phenomena, and you can't make heads or tales of it. Certainly it is unreasonable for you to assume that more likely than not you'd be able to make sense of it" (Bergman & Snyder, Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion, p. 18-19).
Carson does not get into any of this in the book, so don't worry! The book can be read by the scholar and the layman. I'm just pointing out one rejoinder to the complaint against appeals to mystery.
This book will help you form a biblical framework which will help you to at least view future instances of suffering in ways that don't lead to sub or unbiblical thoughts about God. It will call you to praise God when thinking about past sufferings you have made it through. And though it will help you answer the nay-sayer, the ignorant atheologian, what is more helpful is that it will help you to help others. To help fellow Christians...at the right time. I'd rather help one Christian in a time of suffering than answer 1,000 atheist's challenges to the faith from the existence of suffering and evil in the world. So, this book deserves to be read. And if you've read it, read it again. I cannot offer a better review than this. The book is to beautiful to summarize. And, if I were to try, I would go far beyond the 10,000 character limit imposed by goodreads. My main goal was to press home how important this book is, how you need to read it. I hope to have done that.
This book should be required reading for every Christian. It is, I think, the best treatment on the subject of the existence or, rather, problem of evil and suffering in a world governed by an all-powerful and all-good God. Less abstractly: the problem of suffering in a Christian theistic world. It is not just scholarly, or just pastoral, it is both. And it does both well.
What made my reading of it extra special, I think, was that I read this almost right after I read Bart Ehrman's God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question-Why We Suffer. Carson's How Long O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil was perhaps the most thorough and complete decimation of a contrary position as I have seen. It was not meant as a response to Ehrman; indeed, it was written long before Ehrman's book. But if both are read side-by-side, especially by the Christian (I would include the honest, open, and objective atheist, but I fear the existents in that set to be about equal to the existents in the set of unicorns), you will witness a knock-out blow reminiscent of early Mike Tyson. The opening chapter alone destroys Ehrman's thesis, and shows his analysis of the situation to be about as deep as a puddle. So after reading Ehrman this book was like the balm of Gilead for me! But enough about Ehrman...
Carson writes this book as both a scholar and a pastor. He has a Ph.D. from Cambridge, has authored numerous books, and is one of the most respected biblical scholars of our times. But he has also served as a pastor. He has a pastors heart. His many years as pastor and world-traveler have provided him with a rich resource of real-life situations that are very apropos. The reader, therefore, is in for a rare treat. As the eminent J.I. Packer states: "The two sides of the author, the biblical scholar who reads, thinks, and misses no detail and the pastoral teacher who understands people, feels with them, and cares for them, combine here to give us a treatment of suffering under God's sovereignty which is outstandingly accurate, wise, and helpful."
Carson wrote this book with the Christian in mind. He claims it is not meant for unbelievers. In one sense I understand, why try to sanctify the unjustified? But I think unbelievers can profit from this book in ways Ehrman could have. Straw men and misunderstandings and superficial analysis of the problem of suffering in a Christian worldview can be avoided by taking Carson's arguments and exegesis into account.
Carson also does not write for all those undergoing suffering right this moment, though some could surely profit. As he put it, this book is more preventative or preemptive. It is meant to provide a strong framework for understanding and thinking about suffering such that when that storm comes, and it will come, the Christian may be better prepared. As a framework, there are gaps. Carson does not mean to give a thorough and exhaustive analysis of every situation under the sun. Just enough to provide a solid structure from which to build on. Enough to weather storms. Though this book should be read by all Christians, as I said above, that doesn't mean by all Christians now. We've already said that it isn't for those going through a time of severe suffering. They might not be able to read the words through their tears. This book would help the Christian who has not suffered in thinking about suffering with a solid framework, especially if they take it to heart. However, for the Christian who has endured suffering, it is simply a beautiful message from the God of comfort.
For those who have thought about this issue, the book certainly does speak to the intellect. The ammo is here to provide a cogent answer to scoffers trying to make use of the problem of evil. But it is so much more than that that when you're through, the intellectual problem of evil seems so petty. Yeah, this book will help with answering the atheist, but that isn't its intention. It's intention is to help you face the trials. Maybe even more important, it prepares you for how to deal with and help others who are suffering. This book will make all Christians who read it able to serve their Christian friends as our Lord served us. But it doesn't give you a list of things to "say." The "right words" to make the suffering all better. Those Christians who give pat answers and make glib references to Scripture are soundly taken out to the wood shed by Carson. The last chapter is specifically devoted how to deal with people's suffering, though the virtues of a good comforter are portrayed throughout the book.
Carson offers many "pieces of the puzzle" for why suffering happens, but notes that none of them, none, can fully account for each and every instance of suffering. They are helpful, but not ultimately. At the end of the day, mystery is appealed to. The concept and function of mystery in a Christian worldview is almost to beautiful and majestic to put into words. So, many instances of suffering can be understiid by those various pieces of the puzzle. "When we suffer, there will sometimes be mystery. Will there also be faith?" Not only does this show that Carson's intended reader is the Christian, it also provides the impetus for Carson to invoke some powerful resources of Christian theology. Carson invokes sovereignty and providence. He also includes moral responsibility. All of these lead to a discussion of compatibilism, which Carson defends biblically (as opposed to a philosophical discussion, but some of his points can be brought over). All of this, in turn, is used as a comforting balm for the suffering Christian. The mystery of providence is comforting, says Carson. And indeed it is.
Some are tempted to mock a resort to mystery. Some, like Ehrman, claim that appealing to mystery is the same as saying there is no answer. Of course that inference is horrible. How one gets from, "I don't see the reason," to the proposition, "There is, therefore, no reason whatever," is beyond me. Those who chide mystery usually appeal to a premise called "noseeum." This premise reasons its way to the conclusion, "thereisnun." This inference pattern has been shown to be suspect.
The "noseeum" argument is that argument employed by atheists in giving the evidential argument from evil. That is, they acknowledge the logical argument is dead, and so now argue from evidences to alleged cases of gratuitous suffering. A paradigm case is Bambi suffering in a forest fire (this also assumes a certain view on natural evils which I do not hold, but I don't need to flesh that out for our purposes). The argument is that it appears that there could be no good reason, no God-justifying-good, for this case of evil. They acknowledge that what matters is not that one can't conceive of a God-justifying-good, but that there actually be no God-justifying-good. They then argue for a strong link between appearance and reality, that's the induction that makes this not the traditional "logical argument from evil." The Skeptical theists, mainly: Alston, Bergmann, Rea, and Wykstra, offer arguments to the effect that there is no warrant to move from what we see to any actuality, especially given certain assumptions of the Christian worldview, viz., Creator/creature distinction, doctrine of Incomprehensibility, our epistemic condition, the massively large and complex nature of an infinite God's plan, etc. This undercuts the "noseeum" argument.
Bergman says of this inference:
An aspect of this inference should make us wary. ...It takes 'the insights attainable by finite, fallible human beings as an adequate indication of what is available in the way of reasons to an omniscient, omnipotent being." But this is like supposing that when you're confronted with the activity or productions of a master in a field in which you have little expertise, it is reasonable for you to draw inferences about the quality of her work just because you 'don't get it.' You've taken a year of high school physics. You're faced with some theory about quantum phenomena, and you can't make heads or tales of it. Certainly it is unreasonable for you to assume that more likely than not you'd be able to make sense of it" (Bergman & Snyder, Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion, p. 18-19).
Carson does not get into any of this in the book, so don't worry! The book can be read by the scholar and the layman. I'm just pointing out one rejoinder to the complaint against appeals to mystery.
This book will help you form a biblical framework which will help you to at least view future instances of suffering in ways that don't lead to sub or unbiblical thoughts about God. It will call you to praise God when thinking about past sufferings you have made it through. And though it will help you answer the nay-sayer, the ignorant atheologian, what is more helpful is that it will help you to help others. To help fellow Christians...at the right time. I'd rather help one Christian in a time of suffering than answer 1,000 atheist's challenges to the faith from the existence of suffering and evil in the world. So, this book deserves to be read. And if you've read it, read it again. I cannot offer a better review than this. The book is to beautiful to summarize. And, if I were to try, I would go far beyond the 10,000 character limit imposed by goodreads. My main goal was to press home how important this book is, how you need to read it. I hope to have done that.
November 20, 2021
The opening chapter to this book was phenomenal and there is a great short summary of the book of Job (would be worth reading for that alone). I really appreciate Carsons ability to attack this sensitive topic of suffering with biblical fire and heart-felt compassion as he himself is both a respected scholar and a pastoral teacher who truly cares for people. The topic of suffering is currently hitting close to home for me personally, but I recommend this book to any believer. It provides a framework for thinking about suffering such that when that storm comes (which it will), the Christian may be better prepared. To the one who has not endured a season of suffering it is a framework for when life does take an unexpected turn. To the one who has endured or is currently positioned in a season of suffering, it is a comforting and beautiful message from God our father.
March 10, 2019
I appreciate books that help me fix my brain onto theological truths that work themselves into my heart. Thoughts precede emotions. So in bereavement, it did my heart good to think on and wrestle with suffering and God’s sovereignty. Though it is a more “heady” book, I was brought to tears as I read the chapters titled, The Suffering People of God; Illness, Death, Bereavement; and From the Vantage of the End.
April 21, 2023
For what it's for, it's an important and helpful work. As Carson points out repeatedly, this book is not for those in the midst of misery and suffering now (though the final chapter does speak to them). Instead, it "is more in the way of preventative medicine" (247). And the reason for this is that one "of the causes of devastating grief and confusion among Christians is that our expectations are false." Once we enter into tragedy or suffering, if our beliefs are "out of step with the God who has disclosed himself in the Bible and supremely in Jesus, then the pain from the personal tragedy may be multiplied many times over as we begin to question the very foundations of our faith" (9).
Carson works through first steps and false steps. Then he moves on to examine the price of sin, social evils, poverty, war and natural disasters. He pursues this track through several other important questions and topics, and ends analyzing the providence of God. He will make a case for what he calls "compatibilism." This is where we hold, with Scripture, the full sovereignty of God in tandem with human liberty, as it regards suffering, evil, etc. As he will say earlier in the book, "free will must not be defined in such a fashion as to make God contingent" (35).
I found much of the book beneficial. I especially appreciated his approach to justice, and what is going on when I pray to God for justice (180). I shared this section with my congregation in a letter just this past week. I highly recommend the book.
Carson works through first steps and false steps. Then he moves on to examine the price of sin, social evils, poverty, war and natural disasters. He pursues this track through several other important questions and topics, and ends analyzing the providence of God. He will make a case for what he calls "compatibilism." This is where we hold, with Scripture, the full sovereignty of God in tandem with human liberty, as it regards suffering, evil, etc. As he will say earlier in the book, "free will must not be defined in such a fashion as to make God contingent" (35).
I found much of the book beneficial. I especially appreciated his approach to justice, and what is going on when I pray to God for justice (180). I shared this section with my congregation in a letter just this past week. I highly recommend the book.
April 28, 2022
Outstanding.
February 9, 2022
One of Carson's classic works, taking a close look at suffering and how Christians make sense of it. This is no trite response to the problem of evil in the world, and from the very beginning Carson flags things like kids with inoperable cancer, or the problem of natural disasters.
As Don himself says early on, if you're looking for a book to give someone who is going through a difficult time, this may not be the one for you, but, knowing that all of us will face suffering at some time in our lives, this is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to understand what we're going through better, and help us hold on to our faith in the midst of trial.
As Don himself says early on, if you're looking for a book to give someone who is going through a difficult time, this may not be the one for you, but, knowing that all of us will face suffering at some time in our lives, this is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to understand what we're going through better, and help us hold on to our faith in the midst of trial.
October 14, 2023
the author describes this book as preventative medicine because it focuses on reframing the viewpoint of suffering before it happens. when we are confused, angry, hurting, etc, it becomes much easier to question God, so it is helpful to have a firm foundation on His immutable character that we can rest upon in the midst of suffering. an encouragement to be proactive instead of reactive
plus the author has some insightful things to say about compatibilism
plus the author has some insightful things to say about compatibilism
December 18, 2024
A helpful book that is to be read as a preparative aid to those going through suffering. Thoughtful, biblical, and compassionate while clear also.
5/5 🌟
2nd read for Typical Problems in Counseling: 12/9-18/2024
1st read for Trauma and Crisis Counseling: 6/14-21/2023
5/5 🌟
2nd read for Typical Problems in Counseling: 12/9-18/2024
1st read for Trauma and Crisis Counseling: 6/14-21/2023
April 10, 2022
A job well done.
As Carson states this is “preventative care” for the Christian in times of intense suffering. Carson is very clear and orderly with the way he lays out this book and the scope/depth he wants to cover.
What is most commendable about this book is the consistent pastoral tone throughout the book while providing deep yet accessible theological work on the topic of suffering.
Carson won’t pull any punches, he won’t keep you from envisioning horrific scenes of depravity, he won’t offer you cheap theodicies, but he won’t leave you hanging. He clearly and carefully fleshes out different types of suffering we face, suffering throughout the biblical storyline, and God’s providence.
Over and over again Carson engages with biblical texts that are more commonly hidden from or explained away by others. He helpfully points out missteps or errors we can make, not just from poor theology but from too much or too little emphasis in certain areas. Yet again he does not do this with chest out and chin up, but with what I believe is a sincere gentleness and humility towards the reader.
This would be the first book I hand to someone to start thinking through suffering and evil. Again as “preventative medicine.” I realize it’s not a topic that people desire to dive into in times of joy or even ordinary times. But if we’re honest with the reality of the world, we know what life on this side of eternity contains. As Carson conveys, the goal is not to think through suffering to avoid lamenting and weeping over whatever calamity may come, rather to establish deep roots that find their refuge and hope in the Lord on the mountains and in the valleys.
If nothing else, this book will remind you that as Christians we do not grieve without hope and we worship both a personal and sovereign God.
In my own life having read something of this quality prior to the passing of my father would have aided me greatly, not in lessening the sting of death and suffering but allowing me to cling tightly to the Lord in his everlasting arms and with tears ask “How long O Lord?”
As Carson states this is “preventative care” for the Christian in times of intense suffering. Carson is very clear and orderly with the way he lays out this book and the scope/depth he wants to cover.
What is most commendable about this book is the consistent pastoral tone throughout the book while providing deep yet accessible theological work on the topic of suffering.
Carson won’t pull any punches, he won’t keep you from envisioning horrific scenes of depravity, he won’t offer you cheap theodicies, but he won’t leave you hanging. He clearly and carefully fleshes out different types of suffering we face, suffering throughout the biblical storyline, and God’s providence.
Over and over again Carson engages with biblical texts that are more commonly hidden from or explained away by others. He helpfully points out missteps or errors we can make, not just from poor theology but from too much or too little emphasis in certain areas. Yet again he does not do this with chest out and chin up, but with what I believe is a sincere gentleness and humility towards the reader.
This would be the first book I hand to someone to start thinking through suffering and evil. Again as “preventative medicine.” I realize it’s not a topic that people desire to dive into in times of joy or even ordinary times. But if we’re honest with the reality of the world, we know what life on this side of eternity contains. As Carson conveys, the goal is not to think through suffering to avoid lamenting and weeping over whatever calamity may come, rather to establish deep roots that find their refuge and hope in the Lord on the mountains and in the valleys.
If nothing else, this book will remind you that as Christians we do not grieve without hope and we worship both a personal and sovereign God.
In my own life having read something of this quality prior to the passing of my father would have aided me greatly, not in lessening the sting of death and suffering but allowing me to cling tightly to the Lord in his everlasting arms and with tears ask “How long O Lord?”
March 13, 2019
I’m glad I read this book. Carson is up front in describing it as a framework through which to view suffering and pain and evil. He tells the reader that it is perhaps best read before suffering. I cried through several chapters, struck by the heaviness of suffering, the goodness of God, and the kindness that He has shown me. Carson’s Voice is humble and accessible. I gladly recommend this book to friends.
August 29, 2021
A very thorough, if rather dry, exposition on what Scripture says about a good God and suffering. Carson's approach centres on thinking through God's character and the encouragement that can provide in suffering. He also briefly deals with the issue of reconciling God's sovereignty and Human personal moral responsibility, which I'm sure I'll reference over and over again.
February 7, 2022
Thorough and biblical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2020
Couched as preventative medicine and not for those in the midst of suffering, D.A. Carson delivers on an excellent reflection on suffering and evil. He addresses the expected major headings and sets forward his view of "compatibalism" balancing God's sovereignty and human responsibility. I believe he keeps a balanced view of Scripture in this.
I was refreshed by his cautions against some of the extreme forms of impassibility that render God impersonal and without feeling.
The book has perhaps the best short summary of the book of Job that I've ever read, and it would be worth reading for that alone.
I was surprised by some of the topics he addressed in the book including the divine healing movement and the already / not yet framework of the kingdom as a means to understand suffering. However, I thought that in both cases these were very helpful.
I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it, but I could not give five stars just based on the accessibility. D.A. Carson is a good theologian, but he leans more academic than pastoral in some places. With that said, it is more pastoral than some other books I've read addressing this subject.
I was refreshed by his cautions against some of the extreme forms of impassibility that render God impersonal and without feeling.
The book has perhaps the best short summary of the book of Job that I've ever read, and it would be worth reading for that alone.
I was surprised by some of the topics he addressed in the book including the divine healing movement and the already / not yet framework of the kingdom as a means to understand suffering. However, I thought that in both cases these were very helpful.
I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it, but I could not give five stars just based on the accessibility. D.A. Carson is a good theologian, but he leans more academic than pastoral in some places. With that said, it is more pastoral than some other books I've read addressing this subject.
February 4, 2022
Reading this has pushed me to think more deeply about suffering and evil. The books content is super insightful, but I found the structure to be confusing at times. Overall, a good book and I love the chapter on the mystery of God’s providence (chapter 11).
September 13, 2023
I would contrast D.A. Carson's writing on suffering with Philip Yancey's books (
Where is God When It Hurts
and others). This book is a thoughtful Bible study; Yancy provides fewer Biblical references and far more about the human side of suffering and evil - both for the sufferer and the observer. Carson rightly points out that he is not writing for the atheist but the believer, and he also makes the point that this book was not intended to be given to someone whose suffering is fresh and very painful at the moment. If anything, he says, he is trying to prepare us for the moment when we will suffer in the future.
Other reviewers made the point that this book is highly accessible for the lay reader, and I would echo that. I had the audio book and felt that it was easy to follow and keep the thread of his discussion. The problem with audiobooks is that frequently I find myself listening when I don't have access to a Bible (such as driving on a trip). There is an entire chapter on Job which made me want to get my personal Bible and write notes in it to capture his insights - even though I have often studied Job.
Toward the end of the book, Carson devotes a section to compatiblism - I think he invented the term. He makes the point that two statements about God appear to contradict each other, but both are true and therefore most be compatible in ways that are hidden to humans. An example (Carson's): “God is absolutely sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions in such a way that human responsibility is curtailed, minimized, or mitigated.” On the other hand, “Human beings are morally responsible creatures—they significantly choose, rebel, obey, believe, defy, make decisions, and so forth, and they are rightly held accountable for such actions; but this characteristic never functions so as to make God absolutely contingent [i.e., dependent on something outside himself]” In my spiritual tradition, we express this by saying that to speak accurately about Biblical truths you often must "say two things" - so that you don't "go into the ditch" on one side or the other.
Returning to the difference between D.A. Carson and Philip Yancey: Carson writes with the language of the Calvinist tradition - just as in the quote above, his main descriptor of God is that He is sovereign. I was struck by the dearth of references to God's grace (although Carson clearly believes in the grace of God).
At the end of the second edition, he has updated his appendix on the subject of AIDS, which was a roiling controversy among Christians with not a lot of knowledge when he first wrote in 1991. By the second edition, 2006, the situation had altered considerably, so he clarifies early misconceptions and addresses questions such as "Is AIDS God's judgement on homosexuals?" He felt that the topic of AIDS was a good current event to discuss in light of the points in his book. My reaction was that the appendix was out of place in the Second Edition because treating the topic of AIDS dated the book to concerns of a passing controversy.
If you're looking for a good review of the Bible on the subject of suffering, I recommend this book. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, so it would be even more rewarding to read the book as a small group Bible study where the discussion questions would help review what he has said and refine application of what the Bible says about suffering.
Other reviewers made the point that this book is highly accessible for the lay reader, and I would echo that. I had the audio book and felt that it was easy to follow and keep the thread of his discussion. The problem with audiobooks is that frequently I find myself listening when I don't have access to a Bible (such as driving on a trip). There is an entire chapter on Job which made me want to get my personal Bible and write notes in it to capture his insights - even though I have often studied Job.
Toward the end of the book, Carson devotes a section to compatiblism - I think he invented the term. He makes the point that two statements about God appear to contradict each other, but both are true and therefore most be compatible in ways that are hidden to humans. An example (Carson's): “God is absolutely sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions in such a way that human responsibility is curtailed, minimized, or mitigated.” On the other hand, “Human beings are morally responsible creatures—they significantly choose, rebel, obey, believe, defy, make decisions, and so forth, and they are rightly held accountable for such actions; but this characteristic never functions so as to make God absolutely contingent [i.e., dependent on something outside himself]” In my spiritual tradition, we express this by saying that to speak accurately about Biblical truths you often must "say two things" - so that you don't "go into the ditch" on one side or the other.
Returning to the difference between D.A. Carson and Philip Yancey: Carson writes with the language of the Calvinist tradition - just as in the quote above, his main descriptor of God is that He is sovereign. I was struck by the dearth of references to God's grace (although Carson clearly believes in the grace of God).
At the end of the second edition, he has updated his appendix on the subject of AIDS, which was a roiling controversy among Christians with not a lot of knowledge when he first wrote in 1991. By the second edition, 2006, the situation had altered considerably, so he clarifies early misconceptions and addresses questions such as "Is AIDS God's judgement on homosexuals?" He felt that the topic of AIDS was a good current event to discuss in light of the points in his book. My reaction was that the appendix was out of place in the Second Edition because treating the topic of AIDS dated the book to concerns of a passing controversy.
If you're looking for a good review of the Bible on the subject of suffering, I recommend this book. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, so it would be even more rewarding to read the book as a small group Bible study where the discussion questions would help review what he has said and refine application of what the Bible says about suffering.
December 8, 2023
Really helpful book! Very pastoral and Carson’s language doesn’t shy away from the pain and reality of evil. His use of scripture is helpful and his pastoral reflections shine through.
4 stars for his rejection of a classical understanding of God’s impassibility, in his “the suffering God” chapter. He draws strawmen and misapplied those strawmen to suffering and evil.
A classical understanding of God’s impassibility is FAR more comforting than a changeable God who merely reacts to our life’s situations. The unchangeableness of God’s character cements his promises and, no, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have emotions. It means that any emotions he shows is not reactionary and in accord with his perfect and infinitely measured love, justice, mercy, and holiness. Christ assuming a human nature means he was subject to passion and suffering, but this is according to his humanity, and makes him a worthy high priest for us, since he sympathizes with our suffering as humans.
The transcendent Creator cannot suffer, in Himself. And Praise God, for it. A shame that Carson would reject it.
Take that chapter out of the book though, and it’s solid and gives good points to consider.
4 stars for his rejection of a classical understanding of God’s impassibility, in his “the suffering God” chapter. He draws strawmen and misapplied those strawmen to suffering and evil.
A classical understanding of God’s impassibility is FAR more comforting than a changeable God who merely reacts to our life’s situations. The unchangeableness of God’s character cements his promises and, no, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have emotions. It means that any emotions he shows is not reactionary and in accord with his perfect and infinitely measured love, justice, mercy, and holiness. Christ assuming a human nature means he was subject to passion and suffering, but this is according to his humanity, and makes him a worthy high priest for us, since he sympathizes with our suffering as humans.
The transcendent Creator cannot suffer, in Himself. And Praise God, for it. A shame that Carson would reject it.
Take that chapter out of the book though, and it’s solid and gives good points to consider.
July 20, 2020
D.A.Carson is phenomenal! This is my first Carson book and I enjoyed it so much that I've just bought a few of his other works!
It is so refreshing to read a Christian writer dealing with 'life issues' such as suffering and evil, a good God or a tyrant with such deft touch, insight, understanding, empathy and moreover, Biblical understanding! This book has forced it's way into my favourites and will be read (God willing) ever other year!
It has the right balance between philosophy and revelation, reality and expectation, and complexity and understandability.
My takeaway line is in the Appendix dealing with AIDS, "...God is more interested in our holiness than in our health..."
What more needs to be said?
A truly 5-star read! Very highly recommended!
It is so refreshing to read a Christian writer dealing with 'life issues' such as suffering and evil, a good God or a tyrant with such deft touch, insight, understanding, empathy and moreover, Biblical understanding! This book has forced it's way into my favourites and will be read (God willing) ever other year!
It has the right balance between philosophy and revelation, reality and expectation, and complexity and understandability.
My takeaway line is in the Appendix dealing with AIDS, "...God is more interested in our holiness than in our health..."
What more needs to be said?
A truly 5-star read! Very highly recommended!
May 12, 2020
Good preventative medicine.
First, be clear on what this book is not.
This book is not an apologetic book to address the objections of a skeptic or doubts of a believer regarding the problem of evil.
This is also not a book to help people going through an acute season of loss, grief, or pain. This is no salve for the suffering soul. For that, I'd send you to Sittser's A Grace Disguised or Lewis' A Grief Observed.
This a robust framework for Christians to equip them to think biblically about suffering. This is what we need before we suffer, because it gives Scripture’s categories for thinking about suffering.
First, be clear on what this book is not.
This book is not an apologetic book to address the objections of a skeptic or doubts of a believer regarding the problem of evil.
This is also not a book to help people going through an acute season of loss, grief, or pain. This is no salve for the suffering soul. For that, I'd send you to Sittser's A Grace Disguised or Lewis' A Grief Observed.
This a robust framework for Christians to equip them to think biblically about suffering. This is what we need before we suffer, because it gives Scripture’s categories for thinking about suffering.
April 10, 2023
Pastoral, practical, and abundantly helpful. Carson’s work on the problem of evil is comprised of relatively short chapters, each of which help the reader to rethink evil and suffering as it’s presented in the narratives of scripture and witnessed in the world around us. As he reminds us of the devastation of our own sin and the sorrow with which it’s accompanied, Carson likewise encourages the reader to rest in the sovereignty and providence of our Lord.
October 25, 2023
Read the *majority* of this for a class. (Going to count it. 😅) A good resource on deeper questions on suffering, biblical and thorough. I don’t love D.A. Carson’s writing style (very academic and “head-y”- and I had to re-read some sections a few times). For a book on the same topic, I prefer Tim Keller’s book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, though this one is a bit more academic if you’re looking for that!
December 12, 2024
A must read for all believers in order to be ready for the day when suffering does come upon us.
Carson's chapters on death and how to die will really stuck with me. So often in America, we do not give thought to our death or dying at all, but it is a reality we will all face. It would serve us well and honor the Lord if we gave intentional thought and prayer toward dying well as well as living well.
Carson's chapters on death and how to die will really stuck with me. So often in America, we do not give thought to our death or dying at all, but it is a reality we will all face. It would serve us well and honor the Lord if we gave intentional thought and prayer toward dying well as well as living well.
July 29, 2020
A fantastic and challenging book, this is Carson at his best; making use of his biblically defined view of compatibalism to make sense of a difficult issue. Answers the questions behind the questions those that are suffering are likely to ask.
September 8, 2021
Really helpful and thoughtful. Considering/thinking about suffering before it happens is like preventative medicine.
Think biblically about suffering and not “sub-biblically.”
It is better to sit and weep with someone than to give unwanted answers. Jesus asked “why” on the cross!
Think biblically about suffering and not “sub-biblically.”
It is better to sit and weep with someone than to give unwanted answers. Jesus asked “why” on the cross!
August 8, 2023
Carson does extremely well tackling some very difficult issues and subjects. But he does so with great integrity and love/care. It’s not a book to read when you are suffering but before. Yet he does give helpful tips to help others. Doctrinal excellence on a difficult subject
March 13, 2017
One of the best books I've read! Challenging but worth it.
April 26, 2023
Vintage Carson.
May 13, 2024
Great to read BEFORE the dark days come.
I'll be buying our pastors a copy!
I'll be buying our pastors a copy!
January 13, 2024
A very comprehensive look at suffering from a Biblical perspective that does not shy away from... Really anything. From death to free will this book tries to tackle a lot. And while many things don't have resolutions the honest attempt is there so I appreciated it.
May 25, 2011
All in all, a very good book. I particularly appreciate the balanced, compassionate approach to the problem of suffering. I like the exposition of the book of Job and its explanation of the mystery of unjust suffering while retaining a conception of God as supreme controller. I had ignored Job and focused on Paul in my discussions on suffering. This was a mistake. The problem of unjust suffering, whether caused by human sinfulness (as the murder of Job's workers and the theft of his land) or by "natural" disaster (as the death of his 10 children), is the crux of Job, probably the first book written in the Old Testament. And Job's answers, and the tensions that he is willing to live with, are the basis and foundation of Paul's thought.
Carson provides further justification for his compatibilist views in chapter 11. This chapter is very good and shows that the biblical authors (including Jesus) all hold to a view of absolute divine sovereignty, absolute divine goodness, human freedom, and human responsibility. Carson correctly points out that those who limit God's sovereignty or His personhood believe a subset of truth about God. My favorite passage is Genesis 50:19-20 where Joseph speaks to his brothers about selling him into slavery. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Carson explains "The parallelism is remarkable. Joseph does not say that his brothers maliciously sold him into slvery, and that God turned it around, after the fact, to make the story have a happy ending. How could that have been the case if God's intent was to bring forth the good of saving many lives? Nor does Joseph suggest that God planned to bring him down to Egypt with first-class treatment all the way, but unfortunately the brothers mucked up His plan somewhat resulting in the slight hiatus of Joseph spending a decade and a half as a slave or in prison. ... As Joseph explains, god was working sovereignly in the event of his being sold into Egypt, but the brothers' guilt is not thereby assuaged (they intended to harm Joseph); the brothers were responsible for their action, but God was not thereby reduced to a merely contingent role; and while the brothers were evil, God himself had only good intentions." The other great text, where virtually everyone is a compatibilist, is the crucifixion. Jesus says in no uncertain terms that his death is the result of his Father's plan. But the guilt of humanity is not in any way diminished.
I have held to the same view for a long time because I believed that one had to mis-exegete the Bible in order to come down on one side or the other of freedom and sovereignty. I chose to leave the mystery. Carson gave my position a name: compatibilism. It is a mystery, and it should be. The idea that we can understand everything about an infinite God is very nearly blasphemous.
My major disagreement is with a very small section on pages 128-130. I think that Carson takes some hyperbolic language as proof of several things that may or may not be true. Possibly the most offensive is his argument that Sodom and Gomorrah would have been saved if they had seen the miracles. In the context, I take it as an obvious use of hyperbolic language (Sodom and Gomorrah being embodiments of evil in the Old Testament). The point is that these towns are doing evil things, even more so than the most evil cities of the Old Testament.
This book is a great read, and well worth the time.
Carson provides further justification for his compatibilist views in chapter 11. This chapter is very good and shows that the biblical authors (including Jesus) all hold to a view of absolute divine sovereignty, absolute divine goodness, human freedom, and human responsibility. Carson correctly points out that those who limit God's sovereignty or His personhood believe a subset of truth about God. My favorite passage is Genesis 50:19-20 where Joseph speaks to his brothers about selling him into slavery. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Carson explains "The parallelism is remarkable. Joseph does not say that his brothers maliciously sold him into slvery, and that God turned it around, after the fact, to make the story have a happy ending. How could that have been the case if God's intent was to bring forth the good of saving many lives? Nor does Joseph suggest that God planned to bring him down to Egypt with first-class treatment all the way, but unfortunately the brothers mucked up His plan somewhat resulting in the slight hiatus of Joseph spending a decade and a half as a slave or in prison. ... As Joseph explains, god was working sovereignly in the event of his being sold into Egypt, but the brothers' guilt is not thereby assuaged (they intended to harm Joseph); the brothers were responsible for their action, but God was not thereby reduced to a merely contingent role; and while the brothers were evil, God himself had only good intentions." The other great text, where virtually everyone is a compatibilist, is the crucifixion. Jesus says in no uncertain terms that his death is the result of his Father's plan. But the guilt of humanity is not in any way diminished.
I have held to the same view for a long time because I believed that one had to mis-exegete the Bible in order to come down on one side or the other of freedom and sovereignty. I chose to leave the mystery. Carson gave my position a name: compatibilism. It is a mystery, and it should be. The idea that we can understand everything about an infinite God is very nearly blasphemous.
My major disagreement is with a very small section on pages 128-130. I think that Carson takes some hyperbolic language as proof of several things that may or may not be true. Possibly the most offensive is his argument that Sodom and Gomorrah would have been saved if they had seen the miracles. In the context, I take it as an obvious use of hyperbolic language (Sodom and Gomorrah being embodiments of evil in the Old Testament). The point is that these towns are doing evil things, even more so than the most evil cities of the Old Testament.
This book is a great read, and well worth the time.
August 16, 2012
This is a very detailed study on suffering and the evil that entangles us. This will prepare your heart for suffering that comes and how to not let evil overwhelm your spirit. A very gospel centered look on suffering and evil. As with the gospel, when facing suffering, it starts on who we say God is. So many times we want the why and the fix. Jesus is not our handy man, sugar daddy, Santa Claus, he is the beginning and the end. How we handle suffering reveals what is in our heart whether it is from our own hand or someone else's hand, how we respond reveals how we view the Lord. I very much appreciated the insight to Job thru this study. That his integrity to who God was even when his friends encouraged him to repent. True repentance with integrity is something to take seriously because it is taking God seriously at his word.
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