--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men will never be great in theology until…" description: "\"Men will never be great in theology until they are great in suffering.\" — Charles Spurgeon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png" --- # Men will never be great in theology until they are great… ![“Men will never be great in theology until they are great in suffering.” quote by Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png) > “Men will never be great in theology until they are great in suffering.” [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness in theology requires deep personal suffering, as it builds empathy and authentic insight into divine matters. **In simple terms:** Theology needs suffering to be real. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship to deepen faith. Themes theology uffering empathy Mood reflective somber Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - prayer - counseling - leadership - teaching Key Concepts spiritual growth authenticity humility Questions to Reflect On - How has personal pain shaped your spiritual views? - Can suffering be a teacher without leading to arrogance? A Different Perspective Suffering alone does not guarantee theological depth without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [What a way to learn great theology! That's what comes to mind whenever I sing one of those old hymns. "And Can It Be"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/what-a-way-to-learn-great-theology-that-s-what-comes-to-mind-whenever/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [I consider Christian theology to be one of the great disasters of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/i-consider-christian-theology-to-be-one-of-the-great-disasters-of-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Back when the natural sciences, philosophy, and theology were one great intellectual hodgepodge, proving the existence of God was a relatively commonplace exercise. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/back-when-the-natural-sciences-philosophy-and-theology-were-one-great/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [There is no absurdity in theology so great that you cannot parallel it by a greater absurdity in Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/there-is-no-absurdity-in-theology-so-great-that-you-cannot-parallel/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [“On the cross, God subverted everything we intuitively understand about power … For many of us, coming to terms with the thought that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-johnson/on-the-cross-god-subverted-everything-we-intuitively-understand-about/) Matt Johnson > [I wouldn't have really committed myself to any kind of spiritual lifestyle, I don't think, if I had not endured great suffering. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-o/i-wouldn-t-have-really-committed-myself-to-any-kind-of-spiritual/) [Steve-O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-o/) > [Great suffering brings with it the power of great endurance. When sorrow is deepest all the forces of patience and courage are banded together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/great-suffering-brings-with-it-the-power-of-great-endurance-when/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Perhaps it is that great suffering is necessary to produce great art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/perhaps-it-is-that-great-suffering-is-necessary-to-produce-great-art/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [A morbid propensity that causes great suffering in domestic life is often curiously infectious to the very person for whom it creates most suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-leverson/a-morbid-propensity-that-causes-great-suffering-in-domestic-life-is/) [Ada Leverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-leverson/) > [The discipline of suffering, of great suffering- do you not know that only this discipline has created all enhancements of man so far? That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-discipline-of-suffering-of-great-suffering-do-you-not-know-that-2/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Anyone who has gone through great suffering is bound to have a greater sympathy and understanding of the problems of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/anyone-who-has-gone-through-great-suffering-is-bound-to-have-a/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“Did you catch the time-of-great-suffering thing?” Her expression softened. “Can you just make sure I’m not around when it happens?” “No can do,” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/did-you-catch-the-time-of-great-suffering-thing-her-expression/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [“Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/never-stop-just-because-you-feel-defeated-the-journey-to-the-other/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [The discipline of suffering, of great suffering - do you not know that it is this discipline alone that has produced all the elevations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-discipline-of-suffering-of-great-suffering-do-you-not-know-that/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The tension of the soul in unhappiness, which cultivates its strength; its horror at the sight of the great destruction; its inventiveness and bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-tension-of-the-soul-in-unhappiness-which-cultivates-its-strength/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Charles Spurgeon > [The more holy, the more humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-more-holy-the-more-humble/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [He is not humanity deified. He is not Godhead humanized. He is God. He is man. He is all that God is, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/he-is-not-humanity-deified-he-is-not-godhead-humanized-he-is-god-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Christ came to bring healing to those who are spiritually sick-you say that you are perfectly well, so you must go your own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/christ-came-to-bring-healing-to-those-who-are-spiritually-sick-you/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Who among you today is doing the most for your Master's kingdom? I will tell you. Lend me a spiritual thermometer by which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/who-among-you-today-is-doing-the-most-for-your-master-s-kingdom-i/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I do not know when I am more perfectly happy than when I am weeping for sin at the foot of the cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-do-not-know-when-i-am-more-perfectly-happy-than-when-i-am-weeping/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Light physical is said by Solomon to be sweet, but gospel light is infinitely more precious, for it reveals eternal things, and ministers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/light-physical-is-said-by-solomon-to-be-sweet-but-gospel-light-is/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Don't you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter? Then, have hope! Hope forever, for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/don-t-you-know-that-day-dawns-after-night-showers-displace-drought/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“A mother can translate baby-talk: she comprehends incomprehensible noises. Even so doth our Father in heaven know all about our poor baby talk, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-mother-can-translate-baby-talk-she-comprehends-incomprehensible/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [God is our portion, Christ our companion, the Spirit our Comforter, Earth our lodge, and Heaven is our home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-is-our-portion-christ-our-companion-the-spirit-our-comforter/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Jesus poured out his soul in life before he poured it out unto death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/jesus-poured-out-his-soul-in-life-before-he-poured-it-out-unto-death/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [There are believers who by God's grace, have climbed the mountains of full assurance and near communion, their place is with the eagle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-are-believers-who-by-god-s-grace-have-climbed-the-mountains-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-we-want-revivals-we-must-revive-our-reverence-for-the-word-of-god/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Believe only half of the praise and half of the criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/believe-only-half-of-the-praise-and-half-of-the-criticism/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Explore all 1,523 Charles Spurgeon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men will never be great in theology until they are great in suffering.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Spurgeon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-until-they-are-great-in-suffering/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-until-they-are-great-in-suffering/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/charles-spurgeon-82_faith_men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-unti_1733281.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men will never be great in theology until they are great in suffering.” — Charles Spurgeon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Spurgeon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men will never be great in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-until-they-are-great-in-suffering/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/men-will-never-be-great-in-theology-until-they-are-great-in-suffering/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```