Patience & Perseverance - markmayberry.net

1 Patience & Perseverance By Mark Mayberry 6/2/2013 Introduction Patience is greatly needed in a society that exists on fast food, frozen dinners and instant communication. Our culture says, You can have it all! Right now! However, this is not true. Longsuffering is necessary for real living. The race does not always go to the swift; often it belongs to the patient, persistent and persevering. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) and Perseverance is listed among the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1:6). Let us seek to understand these blessed words and apply them to our lives.

2 Galatians 5:22 (NASB95) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, Patience , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 2 Peter 1:6 (NASB95) 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, Perseverance , and in your Perseverance , godliness, Defining Greek Words Makrothumia Thomas defines [makrothumia] as a compound of makros [long, far distant] and thumos [passion, anger], meaning Patience , long-suffering [3115]. BDAG say it refers to (1) state of remaining tranquil while awaiting an outcome, Patience , steadfastness, endurance; (2) a state of being able to bear up under provocation, forbearance, Patience toward others; (a) of human beings; (b) of transcendent beings: God & Christ.

3 Thayer defines this Greek word as (1) Patience , endurance, constancy, steadfastness, Perseverance ; esp. as shown in bearing troubles and (2) Patience , forbearance, long-suffering, slowness in avenging i Vine says that Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger and is associated with mercy, and is used of God. Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope.

4 Ii Unger s bible Dictionary says that Longsuffering (Hebrew: EREK APPAYIM, slow to anger; Greek: MAKROTHUMIA), that disposition of God in accordance with which he delays the punishments of It is also mentioned as one of the Christian graces, and is shown in bearing troubles and ills, in a slowness in avenging wrongs. iii 2 Baker s Dictionary of Theology: LONGSUFFERING. New Testament words built upon the stem MAKROTHYMIA are generally translated longsuffering or Patience . The LXX evidences this Greek stem as equivalent to the Old Testament EREK APPIM ( slow to anger ).

5 HYPOMONE is the most common New Testament synonym, pointing to bearing up under suffering or despair, whereas the MAKROTHYMIA word group suggests self-restraint in the face of unsatisfied desire. iv The International Standard bible Encyclopedia says, The words EREKH APPAYIM, translated longsuffering, mean lit., long of nose (or breathing ), and, as anger was indicated by rapid, violent breathing through the nostrils, long of anger, or slow to wrath. The adj. is applied to v The New bible Dictionary says The word in the New Testament rendered longsuffering, , which is the rendering of EREKH APPAYIM in the LXX, is lit.

6 , long of mind or soul (regarded as the seat of the emotions), opposed to shortness of mind or soul, irascibility, impatience, vi Trench defines this word as a long holding out of the mind before it gives room to anger. vii In summary, we speak of a short-tempered person, but unfortunately the English language does not have a corresponding term to describe a long-tempered person. Yet, this phrase would precisely express MAKROTHUMIA. One who is patient is literally long-tempered. This word expresses a certain attitude toward both people and circumstances. It expresses the attitude to people which never loses Patience with them, however unreasonable they may be, and which never loses hope for them, however unlovely and unteachable they may be.

7 It expresses the attitude to events which never admits defeat, and which never loses its hope and its faith, however dark the situation may be, and however incomprehensible events may be, and however sore the chastening of God may be. viii Hupomone Thomas defines [hupomon ] as derived from hupomen [to stay behind, to await, endure], meaning a remaining behind, a patient enduring [5281]. BDAG say it refers to (1) the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, Patience , endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, Perseverance ; (2) the act or state of patient waiting for someone or something, expectation.

8 Thayer defines this Greek word as (1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance; in the New Testament, the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; patiently, and steadfastly; (2) a patient, steadfast waiting for; (3) a patient enduring, sustaining, Perseverance . ix Vine defines HUPOMONE as lit., an abiding is almost invariably rendered Patience . x 3 Unger s bible Dictionary says, Longsuffering (Hebrew EREK APPAYIM, slow to anger; Greek: MAKROTHUMIA), that disposition of God in accordance with which he delays the punishments of xi The New bible Dictionary says, In the Old Testament the quality of longsuffering is frequently attributed to God, and represents the restraint of His anger in the face of provocation.

9 Whenever He is described as longsuffering, or as being slow to , it is almost invariably in association with His gracious and merciful character towards sinful and rebellious men. xii Baker s Dictionary of Theology says, Longsuffering, a communicable attribute of God, expresses his goodness and forbearance as he endures the sinner s persistent obstinacy and wickedness and tirelessly calls him to repentance rather than to visit him with immediate judgment (Romans 2:4; 9:22). xiii The says, It is attributed to , of His bearing long with sinners and slowness to execute judgment on them.

10 Xiv Exemplified by Deity God often shows great longsuffering toward saints and sinners (Exod. 34:6-7). He does not wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). This disposition was evidenced in the days of Noah, when God allowed that great patriarch 120 years to build the ark and warn his fellowmen of the coming judgment (1 Pet. 3:20). Paul considered himself a beneficiary of God s longsuffering (1 Tim. 1:15-16). We should, too. In fact, the longsuffering of God forms the foundation of our hope of salvation (2 Pet. 3:15). Exodus 34:6-7 (NASB95) 6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.