Cain – RCS

Timofey Gennadievich Pushkov (Archimandrite Feognost) PhD in Theology, priest of the Lugansk Diocese (village of Prosyanoye, 40 let Pobedy Str, 8-a, 92444, LNR, Markovskii District)
abbas2000thg@gmail.com

Pushkov T.G. Mystery of sufferings, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], pp. 14–53.

doi: 10.24412/2308-0698-2025-14-14-53

Language: Russian

The Bible contains conflicting views on the nature and meaning of suffering. This was pointed out by the American agnostic biblical scholar Bart Ehrman. However, the problem is resolved when we view the Bible as a collection of ancient Eastern literature. Each work presents a unique perspective that reflects the multifaceted nature of suffering in real life. In some places, suffering is the result of a mistake; in others, it is caused by external influences from evil forces; and in others, it serves as a test of righteous people. Also, as in the book of Ecclesiastes, suffering can be the result of internal burnout
The article is divided into two parts. The first part provides an overview of the various views on the nature of suffering found in the Bible. The second part provides an overview of the biblical advice on how to deal with suffering. The culmination is a reflection on the mystery of Christ’s suffering.

Key words: Sufferings, Bible, Christ, Cross, Cain, original sin, Christianity, theodicy

URL: https://rcs-almanac.ru/pushkov2025-en/

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Vyacheslav Anatol’evich Ostanin master of theology, lecturer, Theological Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (der. Kolbino, 25a, Leningrad region, Vsevolozhsk district, Russia, 188680)
ostaninslava@yandex.ru

Ostanin V. A. On the question of interpreting story of Cain and Abel: two prototypes of the same path of redemption, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2024, vol. 13, pp. 18–33.

doi: 10.24412/2308-0698-2024-13-18-33

Language: Russian

The article is devoted to one of the forms of interpretation of the Old Testament story about Cain and Abel as a prototype of the passion of Christ, which is widespread in the Christian tradition. At the beginning of the article, the author examines the origins of this tradition, mainly analyzing the textual component of a fragment of the Book of Genesis, based on the evidence of MT (Masoretic text). The article examines in detail the text and context of the story of the birth of Cain and Abel, the attitude and perception of the first pains and torments of Eve, and understanding of the birth of the first son as the fulfillment of the promise given in Gen. 3:15–16. The author examines the attitude to the birth of Abel and the understanding of sacrifice not only as a prototype of the future sacrifice of Christ, but also as a confrontation between the one born according to the flesh and the one born according to the spirit. Therefore, this article pays special attention to the misconception of the birth of Cain, according to MT, as perceived by God’s promised way of salvation/redemption by Eve and Adam, as well as the perception of the birth of Abel as a deep internal crisis from the unfulfilled expected promises.

Key words: Cain, election, idolatry, Abel, vanity, election according to the spirit, promise, gain, atonement, sacrifice, type

URL: https://rcs-almanac.ru/ostanin-2024-en/