A. VERBS 1. basanizo (basanivzw, 928), to torment. It is translated “afflict” in 2 Peter 2:8. See TORMENT. 2. thlibo (qlivbw, 2346), suffer affliction, be distressed. The term refers to sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of people (1Th 3:4; 2Th 1:6,7); “narrow” (Matt 7:14); “oppressed” (Mk 3.9); “troubled” (2Co 1:6; 7.5); “afflicted” (1Ti 5:10); “distressed” (Heb 11:37); “troubled” (2Co 4:8). Both the verb and the noun (see B, No. 1), invariably refer, when used of the believer’s present experience, to what comes to them from without. See NARROW, TROUBLE, TROUBLE, PRESS, PASS (TRIBULATIONS).¶ 3. kakopatheo (kakopaqevw, 2553), (from kakos, bad; pathos, suffering). It means suffering hardships, just as the RVR translates it in 2Ti 2:3 and 9; “endure afflictions” (4.5); “he is afflicted” (Jam 5:13). See SUPPORT, SUFFER.¶ Note: For sunkakopatheo, see note at end of B, No. 4. 4. lupeo (lupevw, 3076), to sadden. It is translated as “afflict” only in 1Pe 1:6 (KJV, KJV, KJV). The VM and the VHA, adduce “saddened”. See SAD. 5. stugnazo (stugnavzw, 4768), to present a gloomy appearance (similar to stugnos, gloomy, grim, from a root, stug—, abhor; cf. stugetos, abhorrent, Tit 3:3). It is said of the human face (Mk 10.22), “afflicted”, and of the sky (Mat 16:3), “cloudy”. See CLOUDY.¶ In the LXX, Eze 27:35; 28.19; 32.10.¶ 6. suneco (sunevcw, 4912), similar to sunoce, accumulation or oppression of various things crowded together, and which means to hold together. It is used physically of being held up, or overwhelmed by a crowd, in Luk 8:45, among several other passages. It is translated “afflicted” in Mat 4:24, meaning that they were overwhelmed by them, overwhelmed. See ANGUISH, SQUEEZE. 7. talaiporeo (talaipwrevw, 5003), to be afflicted. It is used in Jam_9, in the middle voice (“afflictions”). It is derived from tlao, to suffer, to bear, and poros, hard substance, callus, which metaphorically came to mean what is miserable.¶ Note: Talaiporia (similar to No. 7), denotes misery, difficulty (Rom 3:16; Jam 5:1).¶ The corresponding adjective is talaiporos, “miserable” (Rom 7:24; Rev 3:17).¶ B. Names 1. thlipsis (qlivyi”, 2347) means mainly pressure (see A, No. 2), anything that overwhelms the spirit. In two passages in Paul’s Epistles it is used of future retribution, in the form of affliction (Rom 2:9; 2Th 1:6). In Mat 24:9 it is translated as “tribulation”. It is paired with stenocoria, anguish (Rom 2:9; 8.35); with anake, foolishness (1Th 3:7); with diogmos, persecution (Mat 13:21; Mc 4.17; 2Th_4). It is used of the calamities of war (Mat 24:21, 29; Mc 13.19, 24); of needs (2Co 8:13), lit.: “distress for you”, (Phi 4:14); the afflictions of Christ, which his followers (apart from what corresponds to his vicarious sufferings, which were exclusive to Him alone) must not avoid, whether they be bodily or spiritual afflictions (Col 1:24); of sufferings in general (1Co 7:28; 1Th_6; etc). See ANGUISH, NARROWNESS. 2. kakopatheia (kakopavqeia, 2552), (from kakos, evil, and pasco, to suffer). It is translated “affliction” in Jam 5:10:¶ In the LXX it appears only in Mal 1:13:¶ 3. kakosis (kavkwsi”, 2561), affliction, mistreatment. It is used in Act 7:34:¶ 4. pathema (pavqhma, 3804), (from pathos, suffering). It means affliction. This word is found frequently in the Epistles of Paul, and is found three times in Hebrews and four times in 1 Peter. It’s used. (a) of afflictions (Rom 8:18, etc.); of the sufferings of Christ (1Pe 1:11; 5.1; Heb 2:9); of those shared by believers (2Co 1:5; Phi 3:10; 1Pe 4:13; 5.1); (b) from a bad emotion, from a passion (Rom 7:5; Gl 5.24). The relationship between the two meanings is that emotions, whether they are good or bad, were considered to be the consequence of external influences exerted on the mind (cf. the two meanings of the English word “passion”). It is more concrete than No. 2, and expresses in sense (b) the uncontrolled nature of evil desires, in contrast to epithumia, the general and inclusive term, lit.: that into which one sets one’s heart (Trench, Synanyus .¶ LXXXVIII). Its concrete character is seen in Hebrews 2.9. See SUFFERING, SUFFERING. Note: (1) The corresponding verb form pathtos, used in Acts 26.23 of the sufferings of Christ, means destined to suffer.¶ (2) The term sunkakopatheo is used in 2Ti 1:8 and 2.3, meaning “to suffer labors together with ”, or “participate in works”, and is translated in 2Ti 1:8 as “participate in afflictions”.¶ (3) For kakopatheo, “suffer afflictions”, see A, No. 3.
Source: Vine New Testament Dictionary