Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 13 - 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). 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 focus our attention on the maturation process as it is presented by Paul in Romans 5:1-5.

Romans 5:1-5

1)

Therefore, after having been justified from out of faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2)

Through whom also we have had access by faith into this grace, in which we have been standing, and we are boasting upon the hope of the glory of God.

Paul states that after a believer has been justified from out of faith, he/she has peace
with God through Jesus Christ. The word "justified" is from the Greek word δικαιὸω (Strong's #1344), which is a judicial term used to represent someone who is "right" or "just" with the law. Therefore, Paul is teaching that a believer has been declared right with God's judicial requirements through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Because of this, we have peace with God. The Greek word translated peace is εἰρὴνη (Strong's #1515), which denotes more of a oneness with someone as opposed to the feeling of tranquility we usually ascribe to the word peace. The root of εἰρὴνη is εἲρω (Strong's #1515), which means to join two things together. Paul uses the word for "peace" with the present tense verb "we have" to indicate that the believer currently has peace or oneness with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only has the hostility been taken away, but we are now lined up rightly with God, through His own justice system, because of the sacrificial payment of Jesus Christ for our sins. Paul then states that we also have been standing by faith into this grace.

After listing these two things resulting from the work of Christ, Paul turns his attention to two things that we now boast about. The first is found in the last part of verse 2: "…we are boasting upon the hope of the glory of God." A Christian's boast is in the hope that one day he/she will be in the presence of the glory of God. The Greek word translated "hope" is ἐλπὶς (Strong's #1680), which means an assurance of something happening rather than a wish. Therefore, Paul is actually saying Christians are boasting upon the assurance we have of one day being in the presence of the glory of God.

3)

And not only that, but we also are boasting in tribulations, knowing that tribulation is working out endurance (ὑπομονὴ),

Paul lists tribulations as the second thing both he himself and other believers boast upon. While it is easy to identify with Paul when he boasts about the work of Christ and of the assurance the Lord provides for us, some will hesitate to embrace this part of Paul's teaching. The word Paul uses for tribulations is the Greek word is θλῖψις (Strong's #2347), which means "stress" or "pressure." It represents mental stress caused by circumstances. Paul teaches that we are boasting in tribulations because of what we know: tribulations (stressful situations) are working out (producing) endurance, our word of study. Through our trust in God's grace through Jesus Christ, we stand under any circumstances in order to endure. In these scriptures, Paul is teaching the same principles that James teaches in James 1:2-3: "Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you should fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith is producing endurance (ὑπομονὴ)." The teaching of James is in agreement with that of Paul; we are to count it all joy because we know what trials are producing: endurance.

4)

and endurance is working out proven character, and proven character is working out hope.

In verse 4, Paul teaches the importance of enduring. In remaining under our circumstances, by the supply of God's grace, our character as a person is being worked out. The Greek word for "proven character" is δοκιμὴ (Strong's #1382) which means, "to approve of something after testing." It is only through remaining under circumstances that character is produced which is tested and proved to stand in the grace of Christ. This process of maturity through proven character produces hope. This is the same word translated "hope" in verse 2 and represents an assurance of something happening rather than a wish.

5)

And hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through τηε Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The purpose and pinnacle of the development of Christian character is the ability to stand firm under circumstances in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. The believer who is standing firm in God's grace is testifying to the assurance that one day all believers will stand in the presence of the glory of God (see verse 2). This hope, which the world thinks is foolish, will not put the believer to shame; because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Again, remaining under circumstances and trusting the Lord in them, is an integral part of the learning process in our relationship with and growth in Jesus Christ; which is why Satan endeavors to make every circumstance so difficult that the believer is tempted to turn away rather than go through them. It is imperative then to remember that only through the supply of God's grace can we trust him and thereby receive His strength, which enables us to endure; so that He ultimately can create in us the character and firmness we so desperately need.

Next week we will study ὑπομονὴ from Romans 8:18-25, where Paul presents the development of hope (assurance) of our redemption in a world that has no hope.

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

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