Includes bibliographical references (p. [279]-284) and indexes.

Suffering and a crisis of faith -- Sinners in the hands of an angry God : the classical view of suffering -- More sin and more wrath : the dominance of the classical view of suffering -- The consequences of sin -- The mystery of the greater good : redemptive suffering -- Does suffering make sense? : the books of Job and Ecclesiastes -- God has the last word : Jewish-Christian apocalypticism -- More apocalpytic views : God's ultimate triumph over evil -- Suffering : the conclusion.

Renowned Bible scholar Bart Ehrman discusses the contradictory explanations for suffering put forth by various biblical writers and invites all people of faith--or no faith--to confront their deepest questions about how God engages the world and each of us.