What Does It Mean To Endure?

This is a word study from the Bible to see what it really means to endure. There are seven different areas in which God wants us to endure:

1. IN PERSECUTIONS, TRIBULATIONS AND AFFLICTIONS.

1 Corinthians 4:12b. Paul says, "Being persecuted, we suffer (endure) it."

2 Timothy 2:12, "If we suffer (endure – that is, remain under persecutions in faith and patience), we shall also reign with Him."

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."

The NIV and NAS translate it, "perseveres under trial."
Wuest translates it, "remains steadfast under trial."

2. IN ALL THINGS.

2 Timothy 2:10. "I endure all things for the elects' sake…"

1 Corinthians 13:7. "Love…endures all things."

There doesn't seem to be a loophole does there? We are exhorted to endure in all things and in all situations.

3. TO THE END.

Matthew 10:22, "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved." (hupomeno) (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13.) cf. Mark 4:17.

We mustn't give up half way through our trial. We must remain under with faith and hope until God's moment of deliverance. God's deliverance will always come. It doesn't always come when we want it to. But as we remain under the trial, trusting God, putting our hope in Him, our faith is purified and strengthened and we learn to trust God in a much deeper way. It is in this times that we truly find that God is faithful. He is our Rock. He is our Fortress. He is our Buckler. And He will never forsake us even in the trial.

4. TO ONE ANOTHER.

1 Corinthians 13:4. "Love suffers (or endures) long."

Colossians 3:12-14. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering: forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

1 Thessalonians 5:14. "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."

James 5:7,8. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh."

5. IN CHASTENING.

Hebrews 12:7. "If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?"

6. IN SOUND DOCTRINE.

2 Timothy 4:3. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (anechomai – hold up)

Hebrews 13:22, "I beseech you, brethren, suffer (endure) the word of exhortation."

There are many who would rather have their ears tickled than endure sound doctrine. What is sound doctrine? It is adhering to God's word in the practical areas of life. Here's just one example. Titus chapter 2 lists the things that are sound doctrine. It is exhortation to older men, young men, servants and even to the women.

Sound doctrine is teaching women "to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." There are many women who do not want to be keepers at home. They'd rather have their career than stay home and change diapers, scrub floors and cook meals. But this is sound doctrine! In fact, it says that if we turn away from this we actually blaspheme the Word of God!

7. IN WAITING FOR GOD'S PROMISES.

Hebrews 6:15. Abraham…"after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

SIX GREEK WORDS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND "ENDURE".

There are actually six different words used in the New Testament for enduring. Let's have a closer look at these.

1) ANECHOMAI

This word is made up of two words:

'Ana' – up; 'Echomai' – to hold on.
It means to 'to hold up against a thing, to bear with, to endure.'
This word is also translated "with child" in Mark 13:17 and Romans 9:10 – meaning to hold on with child until the due time of deliverance.

1 Corinthians 4:12b. Paul says, "Being persecuted, we suffer (endure) it."

2 Thessalonians 1:4. Paul encouraged the Thessalonian Christians for their "patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure."

2 Timothy 4:3. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Hebrews 13:22, "I beseech you, brethren, suffer (endure) the word of exhortation."

2) KAKAPATHEO

It comes from two words:

'kakus' – evil; 'pascho' – to suffer.
It means 'to sustain or endure evil afflictions.'

2 Timothy 2:3,4. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

2 Timothy 2:8,9, "Remember that Jesus Christ…was raised from the dead according to my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble (kakopatheo), as an evil doer, even unto bonds…"

2 Timothy 4:5. Paul encourages Timothy to "endure afflictions."

3) HUPOMENO

Also made up of two words:

'hupo' – under, 'meno' – to remain.
It means 'to remain under, that is, to endure or sustain a load of miseries, adversities, persecutions or provocations in faith and patience. It is not resigned acquiescence, but positive fortitude.'

Matthew 10:22, "Ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved."

Read also Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13. Cf. Mark 4:17.

Romans 12:12, "Patient (hupomeno) in tribulation."

1 Corinthians 13:7. "Love…endures all things."

2 Timothy 2:10. "I endure all things for the elects' sake…"

2 Timothy 2:12, "If we suffer (remain under persecutions in faith and patience), we shall also reign with Him."

Hebrews 12:7. "If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?"

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." The NIV and NAS translate it, "perseveres under trial." Wuest translates it, "remains steadfast under trial."

James 5:11. "Behold, we count them happy which endure."

4) HUPOPHERO

It means 'to bear from underneath, to undergo hardship.'

2 Timothy 3:11, "What persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me."

1 Peter 2:19, "For this is thankworthy (grace – charis), if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable (grace – charis) with God."

5) MAKROTHUMEO

It means:
'to endure patiently, to be longsuffering.'
Makrothumeo involves exercising understanding and patience toward persons while hupomeno involves being patient toward things or circumstances."

1 Corinthians 13:4. "Love suffers (or endures) long."

Colossians 3:12-14. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering: forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

1 Thessalonians 5:14. "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."

James 5:7,8. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh."

6) KARTEREO

It means:
'to be strong, steadfast, firm, to endure, hold out, bear the burden.'

Hebrews 11:27, "he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." In this scripture it means that Moses endured exile with strength and courage.

We mustn't give up half way through our trial. We must remain under our trials with faith and hope until God's moment of deliverance. God's deliverance will always come. It doesn't always come when we want it to but as we remain under the trial, trusting God, putting our hope in Him, our faith is purified and strengthened and we learn to trust God in a much deeper way. It is in these times that we truly find that God is faithful. He is our Rock. He will never forsake us even in the trial.

THE BLESSINGS OF ENDURING.

1) WE WILL RECEIVE A CROWN OF LIFE.

James 1:12. "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

2) WE WILL BE HAPPY.

James 5:11. "Behold, we count them happy which endure."

3) WE WILL REIGN WITH THE LORD.

2 Timothy 2:12, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny him, he also will deny us."

EXAMPLES OF ENDURANCE.

JESUS: Hebrews 12:2,3; 2 Peter 3:9

PAUL: 2 Timothy 3:11, "What persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me."

ABRAHAM: Hebrews 6:15.

MOSES: Hebrews 11:27, "he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."

 

Prepared by Nancy Campbell

PO Box 681687, Franklin TN 37068-1687