Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 2 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
Patience, endurance, perseverance

Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.

This week we continue our study of the Greek noun ὑπομονὴ (Strong's #5281), which means "patience, endurance, perseverance." Its meaning expresses a remaining under or endurance in circumstances. It is helpful for the understanding of ὑπομονὴ to consider it in contrast to μακροθυμὶα (Strong's #3115), which means patience or longsuffering toward people.

Last week we studied ὑπομονὴ as it appears in two texts from Luke. The meanings found there - the endurance of circumstances for growth and a virtue characteristic of the believer - are also found in teachings throughout the rest of the New Testament. This week our study is taken from James 1:1-4.

Verse 1: Introduction

1)

James, slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion, greeting.

James, the Lord's half-brother and first leader of the Church in Jerusalem, writes this letter about faith to the Jews who have been scattered from their homeland. The key verse that expresses this theme is found in James 2:20: "But are you willing to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from works is dead?" The word used here for "works" (ἔργον, Strong's #2041) means "activity." James is teaching the dispersed, believing Jews about the contrast between living religiously and living by a faith which itself produces activity - a living faith.

Verses 2-4: The Development of Faith

Verses 2-3: The Process of Faith

2)

My brothers, count it all joy whenever you should fall into various trials;

James begins his letter with a command. With it, he tells believers what they are to do and when they are to do it. First, they are to "count it all joy." The Greek word translated "count" is ἡγὲομαι (Strong's #2233), which means "to lead, to be a leader." The Greek word translated "joy" is χαρὰ (Strong's #5479), which is the word used by the Greeks to express "satisfaction." Next, James tells believers when they are to count it all satisfaction - "Whenever you should fall into various trials." Although most English versions translate the conjunction ὅταν (Strong's #3752) as "when," it is literally rendered "whenever." James is saying that believers are to let satisfaction be the leading thought of their mind, whenever (or at the time when) they should fall into various trials.

3)

knowing, that the testing of your faith is working out endurance (ὑπομονὴ).

In verse 3, James explains why believers are to be satisfied in the midst of trials. It is because of knowing something. The word translated "knowing" (γινὼσκω, Strong's #1097) is a present participle and expresses that satisfaction in the midst of trials is to be based on continually knowing that the trial is the testing of faith to produce endurance. (The word for "testing" is δοκὶμιον (Strong's #1383) and expresses a test by which something is approved.) James then writes that this testing of faith has a purpose - the working out of "endurance" (our word of study ὑπομονὴ). James completes the explanation of the process of the development of faith by stating that whenever believers encounter trials, they should be satisfied in knowing that it is a test of faith which is causing them to remain under the circumstances, trusting the Lord

Verse 4: The Production of Faith

4)

But let endurance (ὑπομονὴ) have its complete work, in order that you might be complete and whole, lacking in not one thing.

In this verse, James presents another command, one that expresses the principle of the development of faith: "Let endurance have its complete work." The adjective translated "complete" is τὲλειος (Strong's #5046), which means "to bring something to completion or to the end." Since the process of learning to live a life of faith produces a faith which causes the believer to remain under circumstances, James is giving the command to remain under, so that the endurance process can complete its work of development. Then he states the purpose for letting endurance complete its work: "In order that you might be complete and whole, lacking in not one thing." So, the purpose for remaining under is to bring believers to completeness (maturity), to make them whole. The word translated "lacking" is λεὶπω (Strong's #3007) and is a modal participle describing what is meant by believers becoming complete and whole: to not lack in maturity and wholeness in Christ in any area of his life.

James presents that the testing of a believer's faith is working out or producing in him/her the ability to remain under (ὑπομονὴ) circumstances. Everyone's first reaction to difficulties is to want to escape them; but James commands believers to let "remaining under" produce its complete work, in order that spiritual maturity— trust in the Lord through any circumstance of life, in any area of life—can develop.

Next week, from Hebrews 12:1-2, we continue our study of the importance of ὑπομονὴ as an element in the believer's growth process.

*hUPOMONE is the English font spelling of the Greek word ὑπομονὴ.

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