Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 4 - 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. Our main text is the same as last week's, Hebrews 12:1-2, where we find the Christian life described as the running of a race; but we will also consider Galatians 5:7-9, Paul's description of the disciplines needed for the running of that race.

We first studied the use of ὑπομονὴ in the believer's growth process from James 1:1-4 and saw, through James' presentation, that the testing of a believer's faith is working out or producing in him/her the ability to remain under (ὑπομονὴ) circumstances. From this we learned that James' command to believers is 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.

Last week we saw the same principle presented in Hebrews 12:1-2. In these verses, this concept of remaining under circumstances is demonstrated once again as being necessary for the Christian growth process and is presented in the context of an athletic event. Our focus last week was on the main clause found in these two verses, "…through endurance (ὑπομονὴ) we should run the race being set before us…" The analogy used in this text makes it clear that we are not engaged in a short-term endeavor, but rather in one requiring a long term trust and reliance on the Lord. And it is a race that requires discipline.

The Coach's Corner

Hebrews 12:1-2

1)

For indeed therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, having laid aside every weight and the sin easily entrapping us, through endurance (ὑπομονὴ) we should run the race being set before us,

2)

while looking away unto Jesus the author and completer of the faith, Who over against the joy being set before Him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God.

Our focus has been on the main clause for the purpose of understanding the two aspects of running the race which are shown here. The first aspect has to do with the kind of race we are to run - the race being set before us. The phrase "being set before us" is a present participle which denotes a continuous action or lifestyle. The author, through use of the present participle, is describing the race as one that is continuously being set before us. The Greek text indicates that this is being set in front of us all the time, step by step.

The second aspect about the race involves our word of study, ὑπομονὴ. It is used to describe the way the race should be run—through endurance (remaining under). This is a disciplinary term. To understand it, think about how an athlete prepares for a race. He/she remains under the disciplines required for running the race. The writer of Hebrews is presenting that running the race is through endurance, through the discipline of remaining under.

The Apostle Paul joins the writer of Hebrews in depicting the Christian life as the running of a race. Although he does not use the word ὑπομονὴ, Paul's writing emphasizes the disciplines needed by race participants. Both this week and next we will explore three places where Paul teaches the importance of discipline. Our text for this week is Galatians 5:7-9.

Galatians 5:7-9

7)

You were running well; who hindered you that you should not be persuaded^F1 by the truth?

8)

The persuasion is not from the One calling you.

9)

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

False teachers had come into the area of Galatia and were telling believers that they had to live under the law. Paul addresses this problem in Galatians 5:7-9. He uses the imperfect tense, which expresses continuous action in past time, to express the fact that the Galatian believers had previously been running well. Paul then asks, "who hindered you that you should not be persuaded by the truth?" The Greek word translated "hindered" is ἐγκὸπτω (Strong's #1465), which means "to cut in on someone" or "to hinder." He is saying that false teachers had cut in on the running of the Galatians' believers race causing some of them to detour, to run in a direction other than the one being set down before them by the Lord. Paul describes this influence as "persuasion" and writes that it is hindering their entire race, because "A little leaven leavens the whole lump."

Paul's writing conveys the understanding that the persuasion of false teaching can hinder and even divert believers from running the race that the Lord has set before them. Since every believer can be persuaded by many things, it is important to heed only that persuasion which is coming from "the One calling you." The word "calling" is a present participle used to describe the Lord as the One who is continually calling us to run the race.

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

F1: The negative particle with the infinitive of purpose μὴ͂πεὶθεσθαι, "not to be persuaded," is translated νὰ͂μὴ͂πεὶθησθε, "that you should not be persuaded."

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