Why is There Suffering in the World?

A trove of ancient manuscripts was discovered buried in an earthen jar by a farmer working his field in the Egyptian desert in 1945. These codices were named for the location near where they were found, Nag Hammadi. The Nag Hammadi scriptures are among other "Gnostic Gospels" that were edited out of the Holy Bible during the 4th century by Emperor Constantine and Pope Clement in a move to restrict orthodox belief and exert tighter control over the new religion. 

As a devout Christian I have always adhered to the findings of the Nicene Council of 330 AD, as instructed by my pastoral elders. But recently I realized that I am neither a Roman citizen nor a 4th century Catholic. And, as a modern Protestant with several advanced degrees and 60-plus years under my belt, I may be permitted to revisit the original heretical teachings that so threatened the Empire.

Therefore, over a period of several years, I have put my trained eye to a deep study of one of these rediscovered Nag Hammadi books, the Tripartite Tractate, in an effort to discover and demystify the gnosis originally known and taught by Jesus and John the Baptist. In so doing, I have discovered that the Gnostic Gospel answers many of our most basic theological conundrums, such as "Why is there death?" "Why does God allow evil in the world?" and the subject of this article: "Why is there suffering in the world?" In fact, it is now my belief that had these details been included in the Holy Bible, much of the suffering due to ignorance would have been avoided.

Why is there suffering in the world?

This world in which we dwell is a temporary home. We are born into it, and we die out of it. Our time here is limited.

The Gnostic Gospel refers to our world as an "Economy," meaning a closed operational system of value and exchange. The resources of this world's economy are limited because we live in a bounded space. Those of us who live in this economy find ourselves in continual struggle with others over limited resources. Our continual struggle to "get what's coming to us" feels like an Endless War. We fight this battle against others and within our own egos.

The entities that came before us and live in the place called the Fullness are known as "aeons" and also the "First Order of Powers." The "Second Order of Powers" (us) were fashioned after the traits of the aeons. Whereas the Father and Son are immutable and indescribable, the aeons of the Fullness have awakened to themselves and, taken as a whole, are no more and no less than the sum of all the traits of the Father of ALL, broken out and individually named. 

As their descendants, we are naturally attracted upward, yet because we live in the Deficiency and struggle against the shadows of the Imitation, we are unprepared to "go home." We were given a desire for the things of this world,

"with the intention that it should draw them into a communion with the material. This was in order to provide them with a structure and a dwelling place, but also in order that by being drawn toward evil they should acquire a weak basis for their existence, so that instead of rejoicing unduly in the glory of their own environment and thereby remaining exiled, they might rather perceive the sickness they were suffering from and so acquire a consistent longing and seeking after the One who is able to heal them from this weakness" [The Tripartite Tractate, v. 98, 99].

In other words, because this world is only a temporary home, we would be wise not to become overly attached to it. And, because this world is the battleground of the Endless War against the Imitation and the phantoms of the Deficiency, we feel constantly under siege by those seeking dominion over us. We strive for perfection and happiness in a place that is far from perfect and full of power struggles. We dimly remember the Paradise of the Fullness from whence we came and we try in vain to reestablish Paradise on Earth, but to no avail. No wonder we feel depressed and anxious!

Fortunately, our progenitors in the Fullness dream of the day when we are all Redeemed by the Christ and a new Economy comes to the world, bringing an end to the Endless War. In that day, Paradise will replace the Deficiency, light will drive out darkness, and love will be the only Power remaining. This is known as the coming of the Kingdom of Christ, where all of our hopes for happiness reside.

Over the course of illuminating the Gnostic Gospel, I have designed a series of visual metaphors representing facets of Gnostic and Christian belief. For the fullest understanding of this article, I urge you to read the entire Gnostic Gospel Illuminated book.