Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 12 - 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 ὑπομονὴ (Strong's #5281) from 2 Peter 1:5-7. This noun means patience, endurance, perseverance, and contains the concept of remaining under or endurance in circumstances. The focus throughout this study (parts 1 — 12) has been, and continues to be, the development of ὑπομονὴ as it is formed through the Christian growth process. This week we study the final two phases of the maturation process, as found in 2 Peter 1:7, again focusing on the development of ὑπομονὴ. (Although Part 12 specifically focuses on 2 Peter 1:7, verses 5-7 are printed here for your convenience.)

2 Peter 1:5-6

5)

But also on account of this very thing, after having brought in all diligence, completely supply in your faith the virtue (ἀρετὴ), and in the virtue the knowledge (γνῶσις),

6)

and in the knowledge the self-control (ἐγκρὰτεια), and in the self-control the endurance (ὑπομονὴ), and in the endurance (ὑπομονὴ) the godliness,

7)

and in the godliness (εὐσὲβεια) the brotherly love (φιλαδελφὶα), and in the brotherly love the agape (ἀγὰπη) love.

Peter begins his teaching on the growth process by saying that the believer should let faith supply virtue (1:5). As we have established in previous parts of this study, faith here refers to the presence and activity of the divine nature of God in the heart of the believer. In the New Testament, virtue, ἀρετὴ (Strong's #703), means quality of character, moral excellence, or excellence of character. As the Greek text makes clear, Peter is writing about the excellence of God's character when he refers here to virtue. Therefore, he is teaching that the interaction of a believer's spirit with God's indwelling Spirit produces the excellence of God's character in the believer.

Peter then writes that knowledge is supplied out of virtue. The Greek word translated "knowledge" is γνῶσις (Strong's #1108) and means the understanding or insight of the Lord. Peter is saying that the believer is to let God's character and virtues be developed in him/her from out of the presence and interaction of God's Spirit with his/her spirit. Once His character and virtues have been developed, the believer is to let God's understanding and insight be developed within him/her.

Peter next writes that the believer is to let self-control be supplied from out of knowledge. He uses the Greek word ἐγκρὰτεια (Strong's #1466), which is translated here as self-control (or temperance in some translations). It means to have one's passions, desires, and appetites controlled from within. ̓Εγκρὰτεια comes from the preposition ἐν (Strong's # 1722) meaning "in," and κρὰτος (Strong's #2904) meaning "grip." Hence, ἐγκρὰτεια literally means "to be gripped or controlled from within."

Peter continues to explain the growth process by writing that endurance is supplied from out of self-control. The word used here for endurance is our word of study ὑπομονὴ (Strong's #5281), which means "to remain under." ̔Υπομονὴ is the usual word from which the English translation "patience" is rendered, because it is associated with patience or remaining under circumstances [whereas μακροθυμὶα (Strong's #3115) is translated "longsuffering" and refers to patience with people— literally meaning "to be slow in human reaction toward others."] Our word, ὑπομονὴ, represents the growth process that allows a Christian to remain under circumstances and trials. When a believer has allowed his/her physical desires to be controlled by the Spirit of God, he/she is then able to endure the circumstances of life, experiencing the Lord and the changes He brings through those circumstances. This clearly indicates that a Christian will not be able to remain under life's circumstances until his/her physical desires have been brought under the control of the Spirit of God.

Peter then writes that godliness is supplied from out of endurance. The word translated "godliness" is εὐσὲβεια, which means reverence, respect, or godliness. Its meaning conveys an understanding of respect toward the Lord as expressed in one's attitude, speech, and lifestyle. In the context of Peter's teaching, the believer is told to allow an attitude of respect for the Lord to be developed through remaining under the circumstances and trials of life. As every believer knows, we do not always have a good attitude toward the Lord as we go through life's difficulties. We often question God— when hardships arise, when a loved one is taken in death. But Peter's text reveals that the Lord is developing and forming an attitude of true respect within each believer toward Himself through the process of remaining under the circumstances of life. Therefore, true reverence and respect for the Lord are developed from out of the believer's willingness to remain under circumstances. The reverse is also true: an unwillingness to trust the Lord and remain under circumstances causes the believer to develop an attitude of disrespect toward the Lord.

The last two phases of the growth process, presented in verse 7, have to do with a believer's relationship to others. Each must be developed out of an established, mature relationship with the Lord. This means that a believer must be mature in his personal relationship with the Lord before he can have a right spiritual relationship with others.

The first of these two (sixth phase of the growth process) is "brotherly love." The Greek word translated "brotherly love" is φιλαδελφὶα (Strong's #5360), which means to have a family love for the members of the Body of Christ. Thus, the believer is to let love for the Lord's family develop from out of a healthy reverence for God. It is important to understand that a believer's reverence for the Lord must be developed first; and then, out of that relationship, love for the brethren is developed. This blueprint for Christian growth reveals that conflict between believers is not based solely on someone's inability to get along, but actually shows the lack of a healthy relationship with the Lord—a necessity which can only be developed through remaining under the trials of life.

The second of these two (seventh phase of the growth process) is "agape" love. The Greek word translated "agape" is ἀγὰπη (Strong's #26) and means "to be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others." In this final phase of the growth process, Peter is saying that a believer is to allow the development of agape love—a love characterized by the sacrificial denial of self for the purpose of ministering and guiding others (both believers and non-believers) to Jesus Christ through His Truth.

Next week we will study, from Romans 5, Paul's presentation of ὑπομονὴ, focusing again on its development through the growth process.

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

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