Buffet
What Does 'Buffet' Mean in the Bible?
The English word 'buffet' in biblical translations comes primarily from two Greek verbs: kolaphizō, meaning 'to strike with the fist' or 'to maltreat,' and hypōpiazō, which literally means 'to strike under the eye' or 'to give a black eye.' These terms describe acts of physical violence but are frequently employed in figurative senses to convey spiritual struggle, divine discipline, or voluntary self-denial. Unlike the modern association with a meal service, the biblical 'buffet' is an action of force.
Buffet in the Passion Narratives
The most direct uses of 'buffet' occur in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' trial and abuse following his arrest. After his condemnation by the Jewish council, soldiers and guards spit in his face, strike him, and 'buffet' him (Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65). This physical violence was meant to humiliate and inflict pain, fulfilling prophecies about the suffering Servant (Isaiah 50:6, 53:5). The buffeting of Jesus was not random brutality but part of his voluntary submission to the path of redemption, absorbing human hatred and violence to accomplish salvation.
Paul's Use: Suffering and Spiritual Discipline
The apostle Paul uses the concept of buffeting in two significant, metaphorical ways. First, he describes a 'thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me' (2 Corinthians 12:7). This persistent 'buffeting' was some form of chronic weakness or hardship that God allowed to keep Paul dependent on divine grace. Paul learned that Christ's power is 'made perfect in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9), transforming the buffeting from a curse into a means of experiencing sustaining grace.
Second, Paul uses the language of buffeting for spiritual self-discipline: 'I buffet my body and make it my slave' (1 Corinthians 9:27, using hypōpiazō). Here, buffeting is a voluntary, metaphorical act, the rigorous training and self-control an athlete employs to win a prize. Paul applies this to the Christian life, emphasizing the need to master one's desires and impulses to remain faithful in ministry and avoid disqualification.
Buffet in Peter's Epistle and Other Passages
The theme appears in 1 Peter 2:20, where enduring unjust suffering, including being 'buffeted' for doing good, is presented as commendable before God. This connects directly to the example of Christ, who 'suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps' (1 Peter 2:21). The word also appears in Luke 18:5 in some translations, where a persistent widow is said to 'wear out' or 'bruise' (hypōpiazō) an unjust judge with her continual pleas, illustrating the power of persistent prayer.
From Literal Blows to Spiritual Metaphor
The progression from literal to metaphorical buffeting traces a key biblical theme: the transformation of suffering. What was inflicted on Jesus as evil became the instrument of salvation. What Paul experienced as a debilitating weakness became the channel for Christ's power. What believers practice as difficult self-discipline leads to spiritual victory and reward. The 'buffet' thus moves from being a symbol of victimization to one of empowerment through submission, to God's will, to God's grace, and to God's calling.
Biblical Context
The term appears in the Synoptic Gospels' passion narratives (Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65) describing the physical abuse Jesus endured after his trial. Paul uses it metaphorically to describe a chronic 'thorn in the flesh' (2 Corinthians 12:7) and the spiritual discipline of self-control (1 Corinthians 9:27). Peter references it when discussing enduring unjust suffering (1 Peter 2:20), and a related Greek word appears in a parable about persistent prayer (Luke 18:5).
Theological Significance
The concept of buffeting teaches profound truths about the nature of Christ's suffering, it was physical, humiliating, and voluntary. It reveals a theology of grace in weakness, where God's power is perfected not in human strength but in acknowledged limitation (2 Corinthians 12:9). It also underscores the biblical call to active spiritual discipline, where believers are to 'train' themselves for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7), mastering their fleshly impulses through the Spirit's power. Ultimately, it connects Christian suffering to Christ's example, framing hardship as potentially purposeful and formative.
Historical Background
In the first-century Greco-Roman world, buffeting or striking with fists was a common form of punishment, humiliation, and interrogation for slaves, lower-class individuals, and prisoners. Roman soldiers were known for such brutality. The metaphorical use by Paul would have resonated in a culture familiar with athletic training (the Isthmian Games were held near Corinth) and the philosophical ideal of mastering one's passions. Understanding this context highlights the severity of Jesus' maltreatment and the radical nature of Paul's call to voluntary, spiritual self-discipline.