33. Patience. Long-Suffering. Forbearance

It is important to distinguish between ὑπομονή and θακροθμία,―έω, Both are rendered ‘patience' and ‘long-suffering'; the latter once ‘bear long,' and once ‘suffer long.' They are found together in Col. 1:1111Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11) and in 2 Cor. 6:4, 64But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, (2 Corinthians 6:4)
6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2 Corinthians 6:6), where ὑπομονή is given as the first mark of what commends the "servants of God," as it is the first sign of apostolic power in chap. 12:12. They are together in reverse order, 2 Tim. 3:1010But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10), in the apostle's manner of life. Jas. 5:1111Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11) speaks of ‘the patience' (ὑπ.) of Job, and in verse 10 of the prophets as an example of ‘long-suffering' (μα.), ‘patience ' A. V.
ὑπομονή (from ὑπομένω to sustain ') is once rendered ‘enduring,' 2 Cor. 1:66And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (2 Corinthians 1:6); ‘patient continuance,' Rom. 2:77To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7); and this fully enters into the thought of the word: it is a patient endurance,' that does not succumb under trial and suffering. See Luke 8:15; 21:1915But 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. (Luke 8:15)
19In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19) (comp. Psalm 39:77And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. (Psalm 39:7), where "what wait I for" is «πομονή in the LXX, 38:8); Rev. 13:10; 14:1210He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10)
12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12), and in the expression "he that endureth to the end," Matt. 10:2222And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22) and 24:13 (the verb); see also Rom. 5:3, 43And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (Romans 5:3‑4); Jas. 1:3, 43Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3‑4); Heb. 10:36; 12:136For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
1Wherefore 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 the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1). In Rom. 15:55Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (Romans 15:5) it is traced to its divine source for us; and, though never applied to God directly, because there could be no such testing or pressure in regard to Him, the Lord Jesus in the place He has taken as Man is our perfect example in it, Heb. 12:2, 32Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured 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. (Hebrews 12:2‑3) (the verb), who endured ' the cross, and the contradiction of sinners against Himself; with which may be compared 2 Thess. 3:55And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5) and Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10).
μακροθυμία is from μακρόθυμος., long-suffering.' What has been observed as to God in connection with ὑμπομονή just serves to bring out the distinction between this word and μακροθυμία, which if a trait of grace in the saint, is most fully an attribute of God. The distinction has been put thus by Archbishop Trench: "μακροθυμία will be found to express patience in respect of persons, ὑπομονή in respect of things;" and scriptural usage, it is believed, confirms this. From Exod. 34:66And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6) μακοόθυμοςis constantly used of God in the LXX: for μακροθυμία, in the N. T. in the same way, see Rom. 2:4; 9:224Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22); 1 Tim. 1:1616Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16); 1 Pet. 3:2020Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20); 2 Pet. 3:1515And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15): it is the verb μακροθυμέω in verse 9 is ‘long-suffering,' and Luke 18:77And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (Luke 18:7) ‘bear long.' We may see much of the force of μακρόθυμος in Pro. 15:18; 16:3218A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. (Proverbs 15:18)
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (Proverbs 16:32), where in the LXX it answers to our "slow to anger," though the patient restraint of spirit expressed in the word is not confined to anger. For μακροθυμέω see Matt. 18:26, 2926The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (Matthew 18:26)
29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (Matthew 18:29); Jas. 5:7, 7, 8, 107Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:7‑8)
10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (James 5:10) ('be patient' and ‘have patience' in A. V.); and more generally 1 Cor. 13:44Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (1 Corinthians 13:4); 1 Thess. 5:1414Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:14), ('be patient,' A. V.). For μακροθυμία, similarly, see 2 Tim. 4:22Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2); Heb. 6:1212That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12) ('patience'). In Eph. 4:22With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2) and Col. 3:12, 1312Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:12‑13), it is followed by ἀνέχομαι, "forbearing one another," which would be its manifestation. Expressing then ‘a long holding out of the mind before it gives room to action or passion,' it is applied to God, in His forbearance towards those who provoke Him.
ἀνοχή ‘forbearance,' the substantive, is only found in Rom. 2:4; 3:254Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25); but the verb ἀνέχομαι, as we have seen, occurs in Eph. 4:22With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2); Col. 3:1313Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13), and in some other places, generally rendered ‘suffer' in the sense of ‘bearing with.' (It is a compound of this word with κακός that is used in 2 Tim. 2:2424And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2 Timothy 2:24) only ― 'patient of ills and wrongs.') But as a substantive it has a little more defined sense, being according to classic usage an armistice or suspension of hostilities, and hence of a temporary character. Its fitness will then be seen in Rom. 3:25, 2625Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:25‑26) to express the difference between the ‘passing-over' of sins in the forbearance (ἀνοχή) of God before the cross, and the ‘justification' of the believer as the result of its finished work. (See πάρεσις and ἄφεσις, No. 10.)
ἐπιεικής (from ἐπί and εἴκω, ‘to yield') is another word translated ‘patient ' in A. V. in 1 Tim. 3:33Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (1 Timothy 3:3)—associated there with ἄμαχος ‘not a brawler,' or ‘not addicted to contention,' as in Titus 3:22To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. (Titus 3:2), where it is ‘gentle,' also Jas. 3:1717But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17) and 1 Pet. 2:1818Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (1 Peter 2:18). In Phil. 4:55Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5) (in a substantive form) it is ‘moderation.' See also 2 Cor. 10:11Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: (2 Corinthians 10:1) for the noun, ‘gentleness,' and Acts 24:44Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. (Acts 24:4) ‘clemency.' Difficult to represent by any one word in English, it is ‘equity' in contrast to the strict letter of the law, hence readiness to waive all rigor and severity even as to just legal redress (as Bishop Ellicot expresses it); it is the opposite of standing upon one's rights, ‘mild,’ ‘gentle.' As compared with πρᾳότης (for which see No. 34) in the expression "meekness (πρ.) and gentleness (ἐπ.) of Christ," 2 Cor. 10:11Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: (2 Corinthians 10:1): the first would be more the state of the inner mind, the second must necessarily express itself in relation to others. ἐπιεικής is used by the LXX in Psalm 86:55For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalm 86:5) (85.) of the Lord for what answers to our ‘ready to forgive.'