Patience and Endurance

We might have come to think that in Christianity the concept of patience means to tolerate someone or something or wait for something without being anxious. There are more Greek and Hebrew words that are translated "patience" that have meanings other than to just wait. Sometimes the concept of patience is translated into English as "longsuffering". Other times as "endurance" and "constancy". We don't usually use that term in English although we would be understood if we did. We could read the English version of a bible forever and totally miss the meaning of the word and text. It isn't our fault but it isn't really the fault of all the translators either. We would have to know the original languages in order to not have the mistranslation problem. Let's see if we need to adjust our perception of what constitutes father God's examples of patience.

Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ⁷Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation (of them that hate me).

Longsuffering here means slow to anger. The Lord describes himself as patient, or longsuffering if we are willing to repent of our sins. He will remember sins against people for generations if they don't repent. Time with the Lord is different than for us. He never sleeps. He's always watching what we're doing. He sees people come and go over time.

Numbers 14:17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, ¹⁸The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation (of them that hate me).

When the Lord was losing patience with the Hebrew children and was ready to disinherit and kill them and start a new race under Moses, Moses reminded him of his self description.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. ⁹Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Patient here means slow to anger. If we have anger all the time we are fools. If we are slow to anger we are more mature. Terrible two's over everything while we are full grown adults means some part of us is not developed properly yet.

Jeremiah 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. ¹⁶Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. ¹⁷I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

This use of longsuffering is also slow to anger. We can ask the Lord for protection if we suffer on his behalf. When we separate ourselves to the Lord to be like him, he will sympathize with us.

There are two Greek words most used in the New Testament for the typically used English word "patience".
One of the two words for "patience" is:
ὑπομονή, hupomonē, hoop-om-on-aý. Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
The word hupomeno is used as "patient" as opposed to hupomone - "patience". Its definition is:
ὑπομένω, hupomenō, hoop-om-eń-o. To stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
A root word in hupomone and hupomeno is:
μένω, menō, meń-o. A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.
The other of the two words for "patience" is:
μακροθυμία, makrothumia, mak-roth-oo-meé-ah. Longanimity, that is, (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude: - longsuffering, patience.
The word for "patient" from this root is:
μακροθυμέω, makrothumeō, mak-roth-oo-meh'-o. To be long spirited, that is, (objectively) forbearing or (subjectively) patient: - bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure.
Makrothumia is used more for "longsuffering" than "patience" while hupomone is only used for "patience". We can see the difference between "hupomone/hupomeno/meno - cheerfully or hopefully staying in a certain place or state of dedication or expectancy even under trial or duress" and "makrothumia/makrothumeo - tolerating or enduring for a long time".

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ¹⁷But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. ²⁰For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. ²¹And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ²²And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth(hupomeno) to the end shall be saved.

Notice we are invited and instructed to be wise as serpents. It is a class act to be able to look like a sheep and be wise as a serpent yet get the job done while being harmless as doves. At the same time, we are not to go looking for the men that would give us a hard time. We are to beware of them. If we want to be part of father God's family we will experience persecution. Under such persecution we are required to undergo and bear the trial and persevere through it just like Jesus had to go through his trial. Bearing the trial may include addressing and conquering something or it may include something softer like lifting others up without being overwhelmed ourselves.

Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. ⁹Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted(pressured), and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. ¹⁰And then shall many be stumbled, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall lead many astray. ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall become cold. ¹³But he that shall endure(hupomeno) unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Pressure from the people in the world that are not a part of father God's family will test the resolve of those that are a part of father God's family. Jesus endured this kind of pressure through his whole ministry and was eventually killed by it. He did not cave because he knew who his father was and his relationship with father God was more important to him than the opinion of others. Many people will fall out of the relationship with father God and his sons body. Sin will attack our love. We must bear the trial and remain in the spiritual body of Jesus, even at the expense of our physical body.

Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. ¹⁰And the gospel must first be published among all nations. ¹¹But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. ¹²Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. ¹³And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure(hupomeno) unto the end, the same shall be saved.

If we remain steadfast in the body of Jesus during our trials we will receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost as to what testimony to share with kings and rulers. Since the Lord saw these trials coming and doesn't necessarily speak to us as to avoid them, we know this is something he probably wants us to do. Probably not on our behalf, but more for others. The Lord often sends a member of his body before kings and rulers to give them a chance to change before he has to remove them so he remains well represented. We may end up being the "fall guy", but the Lord will have made his statement to whomever to draw that line in the sand for them so they have the opportunity to come into his family. Our natural family and others may hate us but our spiritual family loves us and is waiting for us.

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹²Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. ¹⁵But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience(hupomone).

Three of four people, in type, that initially receive the word of God die again bearing no fruit. The only seed that bears fruit is in the person who keeps the word and brings forth fruit with endurance/constancy/perseverance. We can see we need this hupomone endurance/constancy/perseverance in our heart and not our head to bring forth fruit. Just longsuffering waiting won't bring forth fruit. The things that kill our faith and our fruit are the devil, testings and cares of this life.

Luke 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus [tarried behind](hupomeno) in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

We see the word describing the child Jesus staying behind is the same as the word used for endured. This has nothing to do with longsuffering. It has to do with staying in a "place". This place may be spiritual or physical.

Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: ¹¹And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. ¹²But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. ¹³And it shall turn to you for a testimony. ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ¹⁵For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. ¹⁶And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. ¹⁸But there shall not an hair of your head perish. ¹⁹In your patience(hupomone) possess ye your souls.

When we are put on the spot for being Christians, we will still be representing the Lord. He gives us what to say to represent his name. We need to not become angry, but possess our souls in endurance/constancy. Notice we need to possess our own souls. We need to know how to use our cheerful or hopeful constancy to keep our soul alive. Knowing we can remain a part of father God's family is important.

John 6:27 Work not for the food which perisheth, but for that food which endureth(meno) unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. ²⁸Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? ²⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Our "work" is to believe on Jesus. We want to obtain the food that stays/endures/dwells with us to give us eternal life. Believing on Jesus has to produce for us this food that gives us eternal life. This food has to have in it all that pertains to life. We need to know about this food and what to believe in order for this food to be spiritually and physically real enough to us to give us eternal life.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience(hupomone); ⁴And patience(hupomone), experience; and experience, hope: ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We have our standing with father God by being in the spiritual body of Jesus. Whatever standing Jesus can have with father God is potentially the same standing we can have. If Jesus can have peace with father God then we can have peace. Jesus became a raised from the dead human spirit through his birth as a human and his dieing with no sin on his soul and his resurrection. Jesus and father God offer this raised from the dead spirit to us as an act of grace to make our spirit raised from the dead. Our entrance into the spiritual body of Jesus is by taking the offer of this raised from the dead spirit into our own spirit making us raised from the dead. When we believe we take this raised from the dead spirit into our own spirit we have access by faith into the grace where we stand. If in and through the body of Jesus we apply grace in the form of father God's power to tribulations/pressures with the love of God in our hearts, then tribulations/pressures develop and mature patience/endurance/constancy. Enough successful constancy accumulates into good experience and enough good experience gives us hope.

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? ²⁵But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience(hupomone) wait for it.

We need constancy/endurance to wait and hope for our salvation that has not yet manifested as a spiritually resurrected body.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; ¹¹Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹²Rejoicing in hope; patient(hupomeno) in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Undergoing and enduring testings and pressures is a manifestation of part of our spiritual capability that we inherit in the spiritual body of Jesus. We are encouraged to look for this nature that we have by faith in Jesus.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through endurance(hupomone) and exhortation of the scriptures might have hope. ⁵Now the God of endurance(hupomone) and exhortation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: ⁶That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is the father of Jesus. We are in the spiritual body of Jesus. Our nature and character should be the same as Jesus. His nature and character should be the same as his fathers. As we come into the family of father God we can use biblical scriptures to learn about father God. Hopeful endurance/constancy and encouragement towards us is father God's nature. As we manifest this nature ourself towards each other in Jesus we come to the same mind. With this same mind we can glorify father God who authored Jesus and us as his children.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; ⁴Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. ⁵For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. ⁶And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring(hupomone) of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

The Greek word translated here as "comfort" and "consolation" is used for both comfort and exhortation. Comfort is somewhat backward looking while exhort is forward looking. The forward looking uses mean exhort or encourage. If we are looking at the past we may need comfort but if we are looking at the future we may need encouragement. Father God can be called the God of all encouragement who encourages us in all our trials... Those of us that are being afflicted with trials and encouraged by Christ can set the example for others who have to be cheerfully or hopefully enduring/constant during their afflictions/trials for their encouragement and salvation.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; ³Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience(hupomone) of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; ⁴Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

Patience of hope here could be cheerful endurance/constancy of expectation. Our election calls us to have a cheerful endurance/constancy of expectation because of our election to become a child of father God.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; ⁴So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience(hupomone) and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: ⁵Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: ⁶Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

God has rightly picked people who endure persecutions and tribulations with endurance/constancy and faith. When we endure we become worthy of the kingdom of God.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. ⁴And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. ⁵And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the [patient waiting](hupomone) for Christ.

The Lord can direct our hearts on how to endure for him and into God's love.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹But they that desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and [follow after](pursue) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience(hupomone), meekness. ¹²Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

We are called to lay hold on eternal life by faith. Pursuing and obtaining righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance/constancy and meekness contributes to that. Money does not. Money is a tool but the pride and disconnect from our spirit that can be associated with it can be overwhelming. Father God is looking out for us in warning us about this. He has seen it happen many times.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. ³Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. ⁵And if a man also contend in competitive games, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. ⁶The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. ⁷Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. ⁸Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: ⁹Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰Therefore I endure(hupomeno) all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: ¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Our personal sacrifice to get us to where we can reach the elect is honored by father God. We may need to suffer hardship. If we do, we must have endurance/constancy. If we suffer now, we will also reign with Jesus later.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ²That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience(hupomone).

Mature men should be spiritually very healthy in faith, love and endurance/constancy.

Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured(hupomeno) a great conflict(fight) of sufferings(hardship, affliction); ³³Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. ³⁴For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the robbery of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring(meno) substance. ³⁵Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompence of reward. ³⁶For ye have need of patience(hupomone), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. ³⁷For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Typically when we switch families from the worlds family to father God's family we will see friction and an alienation from the old family. We didn't see this from father God's family when we were in the world unless we were in conflict with them. It isn't in father God's nature to randomly attack all the tares just because they're tares. He knows they're tares. He's redeeming people out of the tares. Once we switch families the rules are different. It seems the "sour grapes" principle applies. Those that are dieing in their sins don't mind taking a poke at the ones that voluntarily left that fate and took hold of father God's offer to become spiritually raised from the dead. The endurance/constancy aspect of our new spiritual nature is very important because this gives us strength to write off our losses here and wait for the reward in heaven.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience(hupomone) the race that is set before us, ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured(hupomeno) the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. ⁴Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. ⁵And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷If ye endure(hupomeno) chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. ⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised(trained) thereby. ¹²Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; ¹³And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Jesus is the leader and completer of our faith. We can believe what Jesus authors in us. What he will author will be in line with father God's word. We cannot believe what Jesus wouldn't or couldn't believe or didn't author in us. Jesus experienced a lot of pressure from sinners. He set the example of enduring/bearing/undergoing trials by sinners. We can patiently finish our race without wearying by remembering Jesus finished his race on the cross.

We have to differentiate that pressure from that of father God who will be correcting and maturing us at the same time. We also have to endure/bear/undergo corrections from father God which will help train us to either avoid or deal with the trials from the world. There is an "afterword" to look forward to of holiness and the peaceable fruit of righteousness "after" we are trained.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; ³Knowing this, that the testing of your faith worketh patience(hupomone). ⁴But let patience(hupomone) have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Temptation means a putting to proof. Perfect means fulfilling in maturity.

When we are tested on the outside, our faith is tested on the inside. Endurance/constancy during the testing of our using our faith to deal with the test matures us to become complete. With diverse(various) testings we may have diverse responses with our faith. We may need a hard response or a soft response. We will learn to deal with many different things over time.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth(hupomeno) temptation: for when he is approved, he shall receive(lambano - take) the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. ¹³Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: ¹⁴But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ¹⁵Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

A common denominator in our tests that don't originate from father God is that they will appeal to our lusts. Our lust is something we desire in our heart that we either should not want or don't try to obtain through the great and exceeding promises that father God gives us to work with and live by. Father God will test us in other ways, but he won't test us with evil.

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently(hupomeno)? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently(hupomeno), this is acceptable with God. ²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²²Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

We have to subject ourselves to father God's judgments in things we encounter. Father God may have a work in progress in a situation we encounter. Jesus experienced resistance in his ministry including being killed. This resulted in his becoming a raised from the dead human spirit. Father God reserves the ultimate right to judge. It can be tricky to know when to allow something and when to defeat something. We may have been put somewhere to conquer something so we should not necessarily be passive. Notice "when ye do well". We have to know when we are doing well and getting friction as opposed to when we are at a fault. We should have a certain approach to what we do. We don't have to exchange barbs back and forth and we don't need to threaten people if we are offended or feel vexed. Who knows that by being offensive then, they might not come around and align with you in the future. We would have wasted an opportunity if we just shut someone down for something small. We have to bear with endurance/constancy these trials because we can't usually see how they will come out. Our offenders needed something to shake them up and show them there is another perspective. We take time to adapt to something new and so will they.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ³According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: ⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶And to knowledge self-control; and to self-control patience(hupomone); and to patience(hupomone) godliness; ⁷And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The promises that God gives us let us partake of his divine nature. These promises give us everything we need that pertains to life and godliness. They keep him at the center of our heart and make him our supplier. We know what these promises are by knowing father God and Jesus. We have peace and we know we are given grace when we know these promises and the promiser. Father God's divine nature is above lust and the associated corruption. Father God can create so he doesn't need to lust for something. If we have father God's divine nature we are also above lusting for something in our heart outside of father God's will or ability to provide for us. We can cast down lusting after bad things and create the good things. We have to start with our faith. Giving all diligence, or, as fast as we can, we add to our faith quality/excellence with some maturity. Then we have more knowledge which teaches us to have at least some self awareness of self control. When we learn some self control then we practice doing lots of self control. This is where our word hupomone comes in. We cheerfully perform with endurance/constancy our self control. Once we have our self under control then we can be godly, or holy, or devout, including to worship father God. After our thoughts and attitude are directed in a godly direction we can apply our godliness towards our brethren as kindness or brotherly love. Above kindness towards our brethren or brotherly love we can demonstrate a love feast. With this approach and level of training and discipline we can successfully use the great and exceeding promises to bear fruit.

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience(hupomone) of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John was a companion with his spiritual brethren in tribulation, the kingdom and the endurance/constancy of Jesus Christ. Our endurance/constancy is an important part of our entrance into the family of father God.

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ²I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience(hupomone), and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tested them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³And hast borne(carried/tolerated), and hast patience(hupomone), and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

The Lord was judging this church partly on their development in the area of endurance/constancy.

Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; ¹⁹I know thy works, and love, and service, and faith, and thy patience(hupomone), and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Again for this church. They were reviewed based partly on their endurance/constancy.

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; ⁸I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. ⁹Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. ¹⁰Because thou hast kept the word of my patience(hupomone), I also will keep thee from the hour of testing, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

If the Lord sees we already have endurance/constancy, we can skip the hour of testing that others will have to endure.

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. ⁸And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. ⁹If any man have an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience(hupomone) and the faith of the saints.

In history "beasts" have oppressed Christians. Our endurance/constancy and faith keep us from worshiping these beasts, even under duress, because we know the Lamb, Jesus.

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive(lambano - take) his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth(lambano - take) the mark of his name. ¹²Here is the patience(hupomone) of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. ¹³And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

We keep the commandments of God with endurance/constancy and faith and we don't worship the beast. If we have already passed away, we are resting and waiting for a reward for our works that have contributed to God's kingdom.

Let's look at the other word often translated as patience. Most of the time it is translated longsuffering.

Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. ²⁴And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience(makrothumeo) with me, and I will pay thee all. ²⁷Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. ²⁹And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience(makrothumeo) with me, and I will pay thee all. ³⁰And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ³¹So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. ³²Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: ³³Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Having longsuffering with our brethren may take some compassion. If we create compassion in our spirit we will probably find it easier to be longsuffering.

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ²Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: ³And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. ⁶And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. ⁷And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, [bearing long](makrothumeo) with them? ⁸I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Father God bears long, or is longsuffering, with his elect.

Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering(makrothumia) the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: ²³and that He might make known the riches of His glory on vessels of kindness, that He before prepared for glory, whom also He did call--us-- ²⁴not only out of Jews, but also out of nations, ²⁵as also in Hosea He saith, `I will call what is not My people--My people; and her not beloved--Beloved, ²⁶and it shall be--in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God.'

Father God has the goal of making some of us his children. He is tolerating the ones that won't become his children with longsuffering until he can make his wrath known to them.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering(makrothumia), gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Our raised from the dead Christ spirit manifests in part as longsuffering. We see a lot of soft and nice properties in the Christ spirit. They make it easy for a lot of people to be together and get along. They fall into the category of promoting that we love our neighbor as ourself. Notice we have to crucify our own flesh and the fleshly passions and lusts. We have to actively pursue doing this to and for ourselves.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ²With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering(makrothumia), forbearing one another in love; ³Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Longsuffering helps us behave worthy of our calling. We see the soft natured properties here too. Peace, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering and forbearing each other in love. These all contribute to helping our common Christ spirit have dominion in our relationship with each other.

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering(makrothumia); ¹³Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

As God's holy and beloved elect, we are to clothe ourselves with longsuffering. We see that we are kept at the same level with each other and are to share mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness with each other. We are all forgiven and we have to share that forgiveness with each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. ¹¹Wherefore exhort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. ¹²And we ask you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ¹³And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, encourage the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient(makrothumeo) toward all men. ¹⁵See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Faith and love are spiritual and covering our chest which is where our spirit is centered at. Hope is mental and the helmet of hope is covering our mind which is a machine designed to be operated by a spirit. We hope with our mind and believe with our spirit of faith. When something wants to oppress our mind we can remember we are hoping for salvation. We will all eventually be with Jesus and God as part of that same body and that same family. We build our own body up as much as we build each other up. We can make the work of spiritual leaders much easier if we don't need admonishing in the first place and if we cooperate with them in the second place. On the line of loving our neighbor as ourself we should exhort, edify, warn, encourage, support and be longsuffering(makrothumeo). With father God's resources available to us we don't need to render evil for evil to anyone. The people we render evil to may become part of father God's family some day. We are setting the example and perhaps by showing them the love that father God is showing us we will entice them.

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ¹⁶Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering(makrothumia), for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

We are still in the age where the salvation work done 2000 years ago is still available to us. We might be on a long road to sonship and Jesus wants us to have confidence in his longsuffering as he leads us.

2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering(makrothumia) and doctrine.

Since everybody will be facing judgment, either as spiritually alive or spiritually dead, it is a high priority to preach father God's word. For those that need it we should reprove, rebuke, exhort(encourage) with doctrine. We should do this with longsuffering(makrothumia).

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence(eagerness) to the [full assurance](entire confidence) of hope unto the end: ¹²That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience(makrothumia) inherit the promises. ¹³For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, ¹⁴Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ¹⁵And so, after he had [patiently endured](makrothumeo), he obtained the promise.

As our example, we see that Abraham had to wait about 25 years before he was able to sire Isaac. We inherit God's promises through faith and longsuffering. Father God wants us to show the same eagerness with confidence all our life towards inheriting his promises.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. ¹⁸For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit: ¹⁹By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; ²⁰Which sometime were disobedient(unbelieving), when once the longsuffering(makrothumia) of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

We may have some suffering while being the contact person on behalf of father God when we share the good news of what Jesus accomplished for us. Jesus suffered to accomplish it and we may suffer to share it. The ark took 120 years to make. God waited that long to save the eight people that were righteous.

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering(makrothumeo) to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

As we see now looking back in time, we don't need the Lord to come immediately to fix everything. He is very dynamically building his kingdom with each person that comes into father God's family. Everything is working according to their plan. Jesus became the spirit of a raised from the dead son of God so we can become a raised from the dead son of God with Jesus' spirit in us. Now he is making himself available for a period of time until he ends this age. He is still watching and controlling things favorably enough for most of us. Things could be worse. People may come and go of old age. They each get more time to repent than if the Lord came back sooner. When the Lord does come, time to get our spirit raised from the dead is up, as it is for all those that have already passed away.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ¹⁵And account that the longsuffering(makrothumia) of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

We don't have to worry long term about setting up a kingdom here since everything here will be reworked anyway. We can do enough to get along comfortably but we can remember that things here are temporary. The more important consideration is that we have our spirit raised from the dead and we are found by father God to be in peace and without spot and blameless. No sin. The Lord from his end will be longsuffering while we do our best to agree with father God in our corrections and maturation.

We have a few examples of scriptures where both hupomone and makrothumia are used.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering(makrothumia); not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? ⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; ⁶Who will render to every man according to his deeds: ⁷To them who by [patient continuance](hupomone) in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: ⁸But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, ⁹Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; ¹⁰But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: ¹¹For there is no respect of persons with God.

It's simple that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. We can count on the richness of father God's goodness and his forbearance and longsuffering(makrothumia). If we maintain a cheerful endurance/constancy in doing good we are seeking glory, honor and immortality.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed, and though I give my body that I may glory, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. ⁴Love [suffereth long](makrothumeo), and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth(hupomeno) all things.

Father God just loves that he can run his whole kingdom based on love. Love is longsuffering(makrothumeo) and love endures(hupomeno) all.

2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: ⁴But in all things exhibiting ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience(hupomone), in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, ⁵In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; ⁶By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering(makrothumia), by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, ⁷By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; ¹⁰As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

When we can operate out of the kingdom of father God we can go through a lot and still have that family relationship with father God. This is a whole different list than the "love your neighbor" list, but it is similar in that it is the work end of father God's ministry to others. Part of what we need of course is much endurance/constancy and longsuffering.

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience(hupomone) and longsuffering(makrothumia) with joyfulness; ¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us qualify to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Father God is working to qualify us to be able to inherit God and be one of his saints. So that we can agree with him on this agenda we need to know what his will is. We should pursue knowing father God's will so we can walk worthy of Jesus and be fruitful in good works and come to know father God. Our walk needs our two study words, hupomone and makrothumia working in us powerfully. Father God will strengthen our walk with all his might according to his glorious power until we have all the cheerful endurance/constancy and longsuffering we need.

2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. ¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering(makrothumia), love, patience(hupomone), ¹¹Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Longsuffering and endurance/constancy help us endure persecutions.

James 5:7 Be patient(makrothumeo) therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath [long patience](makrothumeo) for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. ⁸Be ye also patient(makrothumeo); stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. ⁹Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. ¹⁰Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience(makrothumia). ¹¹Behold, we count them happy which endure(hupomeno). Ye have heard of the patience(hupomone) of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

We are the precious fruit of the earth. We have to wait for the Lord to collect his fruit during the harvest age. We may have afflictions through our life as we represent the Lord. After enduring our affliction we receive the Lords compassion.

There are a couple examples that use patience/patient but aren't either hupomone or makrothumeo.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient(mild, gentle), not a brawler, not covetous; ⁴One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; ⁵(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) ⁶Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Here patient means mild and gentle.

To represent Jesus in an official capacity we must be mild and gentle.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. ²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient(enduring of ill, forbearing), ²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We need forbearance to help give others exactly what they need to get out of the snare of the devil.