Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 8 - 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.

We are continuing our study of the noun ὑπομονὴ (Strong's #5281), which means "patience, endurance, perseverance." Its meaning is in reference to remaining under or endurance in circumstances. Our study continues from Hebrews Chapter 12, where the author presents the Christian life as the running of a race. In verses 1-3, we see three aspects of the race, two of which are being presented here as review (The Experience of the Race and The Example of Endurance) and the last of which (Encouragement for Endurance, found in verse 3) is the focus of this week's study.

The Experience of the Race

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 (ὑπομὲνω) the cross, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God.

In verses 1,2, the author presents the experience of the actual race that Christians should be running. He says that they should run a race course which is continually being placed in front of them and that their race must be run through endurance—by remaining under the discipline of the race. He then presents the conditions in which the race should be run: having the encouragement and testimony of the Old Testament saints (those mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews); putting aside every distraction that weighs them down and the sin that so easily entangles them (because it keeps them from running the race); and looking toward Jesus as their goal and finish line (Heb. 12:2a). So, Jesus is presented as the goal of the believer, and as the finish line of the believer.

The Example of Endurance

After describing how the race is to be run (Heb. 12:1-2a), the author holds Jesus forth as the example of One who has run the race as it should be run—through endurance (Hebrews 12:2b). In this presentation of Jesus as our example, joy is presented as the focal point or goal - "Who, over against the joy being set before Him (Heb. 12:2a)." The use of the present participle denotes that this joy was continuously being set before Him. The joy of the finished work of the cross was continually being set before Jesus as His goal and purpose for coming into this earthly life. The goal of joy was continually before Him as He "endured" the cross. In this scripture, the word endured is the verb form (ὑπομὲνω, Strong's #5278) of our word of study ὑπομονὴ and its use here shows that Jesus remained under the suffering of the cross while continuously viewing the joy of its completed work.

The Encouragement for Endurance: Part 1

3)

For consider the One who had endured (ὑπομὲνω) such opposition by sinners toward Himself, in order that you should not become weary by fainting in your souls.

The writer of Hebrews begins this section by commanding believers to "consider" the Jesus who endured. The Greek word translated "considered" (found only here in the New Testament) is ἀναλογὶζομαι (Strong's #357) and is a mathematical term denoting "careful assessment." The root for this word is ἀναλογὶα (Strong's #356), the same source of the English word "analogy." The command given here is for believers to make a close assessment or comparison between their own trials and those of Jesus, focusing on His endurance against opposition by sinners. The Greek word translated "had endured" is the perfect participle verb form of our word of study ὑπομονὴ. The perfect tense expresses the abiding effect of the Lord's endurance of suffering. His example of endurance should encourage us to continue on in spite of the difficulties of our trials.

The purpose for the command to "consider" Jesus' endurance of suffering is presented by the conjunction ἵνα (Strong's #2443) used with the subjunctive mood: "...in order that you should not become weary..." To explain what he means by "become weary," the author uses a modal participle, "by fainting in your souls." The Greek word for soul is ψυχὴ (Strong's #5594), which represents the seat of understanding, will, feelings, and passions. This gives the understanding that believers can become weary, even discouraged or depressed, when they do not have understanding.

The writer of Hebrews presents the race being set before us as a long distance one rather than a short sprint. And he anticipates a time when believers might become so weary that they decide to quit running the race. So Christians need to be ever mindful of the purpose for the race that is being set before them. It is not for building up of our physical strength. Running a spiritual race is for building up spiritual strength, and one of the purposes the Lord has for causing believers to remain under difficult circumstances is to drain their physical strength. It is erroneous to think that when I am weak, the Lord will infuse my physical body with His strength. The Bible actually teaches that a believer is made physically weak by circumstances so that we will depend on Christ, who is our strength. John the Baptist expressed this understanding when he said, "It is necessary that He should increase, and that I should decrease."

Paul expressed this same understanding in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. In describing himself as one who was caught up into paradise and "…heard unspeakable words which a man is not permitted to speak," he says that he was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him; so that he would not become arrogant as a result of the revelations he had been given. Paul asked the Lord to remove this thorn three times. In response, the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) This response changed Paul's life forever. Indeed, his whole approach to life and its trials changed at that moment. He had been asking for relief in the flesh, but the Lord told him that God's power is made complete in weakness, not in strengthening weakness. Paul then said, "Therefore, I will rather gladly boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may overshadow me. On account of which I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, on behalf of Christ." (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10) Paul's approach to life thereafter was to take pleasure in the circumstances that weakened him, because he understood the secret to experiencing the fullness of Christ's power. His summary statement is: "For whenever I should be weak, then I am powerful." (2 Corinthians 12:10b)

Next week our study of ὑπομονὴ will be taken from Hebrews 12:4-8, as we continue our focus on the encouragement given for running the race through endurance.

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

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