Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 5 - 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 with 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 remains the same as that of the previous two weeks, Hebrews 12:1-2, where we find the Christian life likened to the running of a race.

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.

When we first considered the use of ὑπομονὴ from Hebrews 12:1-2 (Part Three of this study), we saw that the author presented it in the context of an athletic event. Our focus was on the main clause found in these two verses, "…through endurance (ὑπομονὴ) we should run the race being set before us…" We gained the understanding that we are not engaged in a short-term endeavor, but rather in one requiring a long term trust and reliance on the Lord—an endeavor requiring discipline.

Last week we also focused our study on the element of discipline as emphasized by Paul in Galatians 5:7-9. Although he does not use the word ὑπομονὴ, Paul's writing emphasizes the discipline needed by race participants. He writes to believers in Galatia who had previously been running well and asks them, "Who hindered you that you should not be persuaded by the truth?" (Galatians 5:7). The Greek word translated "hindered" is ἐγκὸπτω (Strong's #1465), which means "to cut in on someone" or "to hinder." He indicates that false teachers had cut in on the running of the Galatian 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.

This week we continue to focus on the importance of discipline as seen in teachings from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and 2 Timothy 4:7.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24)

Do you not know that the ones running in a race course indeed all are running, but one receives the prize? Run in this way, in order that you might obtain.

25)

But everyone competing, controls himself in all things; those indeed therefore in order that they might receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable.

In this text, Paul says that each competitor in a race "…controls himself in all things." The word translated "controls" is ἐγκρατεὺομαι (strong's #1467). It applies to athletes who abstain from unwholesome foods, wine, and sexual indulgence while preparing for an athletic contest. Paul is again using the analogy of the foot race to teach that every Christian is involved in a contest and must control or discipline himself in all things.

Anyone who has ever been involved with sports knows that an athlete who does not impose discipline upon him/herself is not going to perform well, because what an athlete does or does not do can hinder his/her performance. I learned this first hand as a younger man, (much younger, actually). While my coaches were the ones to lay down the rules, I was the one who had to discipline myself to follow them. So I got myself into bed at the required time. I ate foods to build up my strength and stayed away from things that would hinder my performance.

26)

I therefore run in this way, as not uncertainly; I fight in this way, as not beating air;

Paul changes the picture here somewhat - from track and field to the boxing ring - but still keeps the concept of the athlete for making his point about disciplining the flesh in the Christian struggle. In this analogy, Paul refers to shadow boxing, an exercise wherein a boxer beats at the air using his own shadow as his opponent. Paul says that he does not fight uncertainly - he is not shadowboxing, he is not beating the air when he fights - to the contrary, he knows who his opponent is. He states that his enemy is his flesh. If a person has the physical ability to participate in the sport, the only thing that can hinder him/her is a lack of discipline of the flesh.

27)

But I beat my body, and lead it into servitude, that not somehow after having preached to others I myself should become disqualified.

Paul says "…I beat my body." The word "beat" is ὑποπιὰζω (Strong's #5229), which means "to beat black and blue, to cause bruising." He also says that he can preach, but he could become disqualified if his flesh is not disciplined and under control. Paul is teaching, with very emphatic speech, that effective living for Christ—to have words and a life that influences others—requires that the flesh be harshly disciplined.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

7)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

In verse 7, Paul uses three words to describe three essential aspects of the Christian life. While maintaining the context of athletic participation, he chooses the perfect tense verbs (which express a present condition that has developed over the past) "have fought," "have finished," and "have kept" to describe the concluding condition of his journey through this life. The word for fight is ἀγὼν (Strong's #73), which means to be involved in the contest or the conflict—we get our English word agony from this word. The word for course is δρὸμος (Strong's #1408), which originally meant to track the course of a star but is used here to represent the racecourse.

8)

In summary, the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me in that day; and not only to me but also to all the ones loving His appearance.

Paul says the crown of righteousness is waiting for him and that the Lord will
give it to him "in that day." The Greek word translated "crown" is στὲφανος (Strong's #4735), which represents the wreath given to victors in the public games. Paul's focus is ever on the finish line and the crown of righteousness that is waiting for him.
Every Christian has a short-term and a long-term function in life. We tend to develop a strong short-term function in order to handle whatever our issues might be for that day or week, but have trouble with our long-term function. When a difficult situation drags on for days, weeks, months, or even years, we try to find a way out, to find a different track to run. Job is a perfect example of this. In the short run he did just fine; but as his health continued to deteriorate, his attitude began to change. The duration of his illness began to wear him down. We too have a tendency to wear down over the long-term trial.

We would do well to keep in mind the teaching of Ephesians 6:11 where Paul states that Satan employs a methodical attack on the believer. And, in order to do well, we must follow his command to "Put on the whole armor of God, to be able to stand against the methods of the devil." The word translated "methods" is the plural of the Greek word μεθοδεὶα (Strong's #3180), which means a system or method. Its use here reveals that Satan plans a series of attacks in an attempt to wear a believer down. Additional information on the enemy's tactics is revealed from the Greek word translated "persecution" throughout the Bible. It is διὼκω (Strong's #1377) and means, "to chase or pursue." Satan chases believers in an attempt to make us weary and discouraged, so that we will decide to quit running the race.

For this reason, Paul says in Galatians 6:9, "… we should not be weary while doing good, for in its own time we will reap, by not fainting." Furthermore, the writer of Hebrews, in teaching the importance of long-term faith, says in 12:9-11 "… we have had fathers as correctors of our flesh, and we respected them; shall we not much more be submitted to the father of spirits, and we shall live? For they indeed disciplined us for a few days according to that which seemed good to them; but He disciplines us based upon that which is beneficial, for us to partake of His holiness. And all discipline indeed does not seem to be of joy for the present, but of grief; but afterward it gives back the peaceable fruit of righteousness to the ones having been exercised through it. On account of which, straighten up the hands hanging down and the knees which have become enfeebled; and make straight tracks for your feet, in order that the lame should not be turned out of the way, but rather healed." The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to not buckle under when they are going through the disciplinary process, but to "lift up the hands hanging down and the knees that have become enfeebled, and make straight tracks for your feet." He states that the purpose for this admonition is that "the lame should not be turned out of the way," that is — out of the way of the course, but rather they should be healed through the discipline process.

Next week we will continue our study of ὑπομονὴ from Hebrews 12:1-2 as we focus on the three conditions necessary for running the race through endurance.

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

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