Suffering in Ancient Worldview: Luke, Seneca and 4 Maccabees in Dialogue

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Suffering in Ancient Worldview investigates representative Christian, Roman Stoic and Jewish perspectives on the nature, problem and purpose of suffering. Tabb presents a close reading of Acts, Seneca's essays and letters and 4 Maccabees, highlighting how each author understands suffering vis--vis God, humanity, the world's problem and its solution, and the future. Tabb's study offers a pivotal definition for suffering in the 1st century and concludes by creatively situating these ancient authors in dialogue with each other. Tabb shows that, despite their different religious and cultural positions, these ancient authors each expect and accept suffering as a present reality that is governed by divine providence, however defined. Luke, Seneca and the author of 4 Maccabees each affirm that suffering is not humanity's fundamental problem. Rather, suffering functions as a cipher for other things to be displayed. For Seneca, suffering provides an opportunity for one to learn and show virtue. The author of 4 Maccabees presents the nation's suffering as retribution for sin, while the martyrs' virtuous suffering leads to Israel's salvation. For Luke, the Lord Jesus suffers to accomplish salvation and restoration for the world marred by sin and suffering, and the suffering of his followers is instrumental for Christian mission.

Reviews

this beautiful study is recommended by its rigor and by the method implemented to explore two Hebrew's major motifs with as much seriousness as finesse. (Bloomsbury translation) * Revue d'Histoire et de Philosophie Religieuses *
Brian Tabbs Suffering in Ancient Worldview is a careful and perceptive treatment of a topic that is always relevant. Scholars and students of Acts will especially find this monograph richly rewarding, complementing previous studies of suffering in LukeActs. Pastors will find much here that will strengthen and deepen pastoral application in ministry. * Themelios *
Tabb has chosen these three ancient voices, because they are roughly contemporary with each other and wrote on the problem of suffering [his] choice of a Stoic, a Hellenistic Jew, and a Christian theologian draws attention to both similarities and differences on the topic of suffering. * Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society *

Author Bio

Brian J. Tabb is Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, USA.