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OUTLINE OF TOPICS

I. A Definition of Human Suffering 3

    A. Scriptural instances of human suffering 3  003  004  005  006  007  008  009  010

    B. A proposed definition of human suffering 11

II. The Scope of Human Suffering 11

    A. Images of Human Suffering 11  011  012  013  014  015  016  017  018  019  020  021  022  023

    B. Categories of Causes or Occasions of Suffering 24

    C. The Tenure of Human Suffering 24  024  025  026

Ill. The Root Causes of Human Suffering 27

    A. Unbiblical Views of the Root Causes of Human Suffering 27  027  028  029  030  031  032  033  034

    B. A Biblical view of the Root Causes of Human Suffering 35  035  036  037  038  039

IV. God's Role in Human Suffering 40

    A. Scriptures that Appear to Make God the Author of Human Suffering 40  040

    B. God's Relationship to Human Suffering 41  041  042

V. A Biblical Attitude toward Responsibility for Human Suffering 43  043  044  045  046  047  048

VI. God's Gracious Prevention and Alleviation of Some Suffering 49

    A. God's Gracious Prevention and Alleviation of Some Suffering for All Human Beings 49

        1. God's general mercy 49  049  050
        2. God's general benevolence 51  051  052

    B. God's Gracious Prevention and Alleviation of Some Suffering for Some Human Beings 53  053

        1. God's special mercy 54  054  055  056  057
        2. God's special love 58  058  059  060

VII. A Biblical View of Deliverance from Suffering in the Present Life 61

    A. Scriptures Quoted in Support of Present Deliverance from All Suffering 61  061

    B. Scriptures that Teach that Present Suffering is Part of God's Plan 62  062  063  064

    C. A Scriptural Perspective on Present Deliverance from Suffering 65  065  066

    D. The Relationship of Present Deliverance from Suffering to the Revealed Will of God 67  067  068  069

VIII. An Enlarged Conception of God's Role in Human Suffering 70  070  071  072  073  074

IX. God's Purposes in Suffering in Believers' Lives 75  075  076  077  078  079  080

X. God's Uses of Suffering in Believers' Lives 81  081  082  083  084  085  086  087  088  089

Xl. Appropriate Responses to Human Suffering 90

    A. How Should Believers Respond to Various Sources, Forms, and Degrees of Suffering? 90  090  091  092

    B. Should Believers Attempt to Prevent and Alleviate Suffering? 93  093  094  095  096  097  098  099  100  101  102  103  104  105  106  107  108  109  110  111  112  113  114  115  116  117  118  119

XII. The Search for Meaning in Suffering 120

    A. What is the Meaning of the Sufferings of Fallen Humanity in General? 120  120

    B. What is the Meaning of Job's Suffering? 121  121  122  123  124  125  126

    C. What is the Meaning of Christ's Suffering? 127  127