The Concept of "Suffering" in Zoroastrianism and Christianity: A Comparative Approach Based on Pahlavi Texts and the New Testament

There is ample evidence of suffering in various parts of the New Testament as well as in Pahlavi texts. Through the existing narrations and also the answer that these religions give to the saints and ordinary people for their suffering, one can understand the existential wisdom of suffering in Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Putting together textual evidence about a single concept namely suffering, this study intends to explain and compare the position of this idea in Christianity and Zoroastrianism based on Pahlavi literature and the New Testament. It seems that Zoroastrians, due to their dualism, have identified the reason for the existence of suffering in life and consider it to be on the part of the devil, and consequently the approach of the believers of this religion is also well-known. However, according to Christianity, suffering in life is necessary to become a believer, and we are confronted with the concept of "holy suffering" or the suffering inflicted by God.