Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

hUPOMONE* - Part 14 - 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 are in Part 14 of 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 emphasis throughout this study (Parts 1 — 13) has been the development of ὑπομονὴ as it is formed through the Christian growth process. In today's study we focus on the importance of the development of ὑπομονὴ in the believer who lives in a world subjected to hopelessness. Our study is from Romans 8:18-25.

Romans 8:18-25

18)

For I am calculating that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared to the coming glory that should be revealed^F1 toward us.

Paul begins his presentation of our journey through life by describing himself as one who calculates the comparison between what he suffers here and the glory which will be revealed toward us when we are with the Lord.

19)

For the eager expectation of the creation is eagerly waiting the revelation of the sons of God.

20)

For the creation was subjected to emptiness, not willingly, but on account of the One having subjected it, upon hope.

Paul then states that creation itself is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God; because creation has been subjected to emptiness, not voluntarily, but because of God who purposed to subject it. The Greek word translated "subjected" is the aorist passive form of ὑποτὰσσω (Strong's #5293), which literally means, "to place under" and is one of the words in the New Testament translated "submission." When this verb is in the active voice and the imperative (command) form, it is a command for a person to submit to another person or to a circumstance. When it is in the passive voice form, it expresses that God is making the decision to submit someone to His circumstances. Therefore, when submission is commanded, it is translated "submit;" when submission is forced upon someone, it is translated "subjection." As stated previously, its use here is in the passive voice (a form of the passive indicative) and represents that all of creation has been forced to be subjected to emptiness in this earthly life. Paul then says this subjection did not come willingly or voluntarily, but God Himself subjected creation. Paul then says that creation has been subjected in order to be without hope.

21)

Because even the creation itself will be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22)

For we know that all creation is groaning together and is laboring together in birth pains until now.

Paul teaches that creation itself will experience delivery from its slavery to corruption, or decay, and be released into freedom when the glory of the children of God is revealed. He then describes creation (all the components of creation) as "groaning together and…laboring together in birth pains" until this present time. In order to give understanding to the concept of all of creation groaning and laboring to give birth to freedom at redemption, Paul uses an analogy to the groaning and laboring of a woman who is in the process of giving birth to a child.

23)

And not only this, but also we ourselves having the first-fruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves are groaning in ourselves while eagerly waiting adoption — the redemption of our body.

Paul then says that even believers are subjected to this emptiness and we also groan within ourselves as we eagerly wait for our adoption, which is the redemption of our body.

24)

For ιν hope we were saved, but hope being seen is not hope; for why does anyone also hope for what he is seeing?

Paul says that in hope we were saved. The Greek word for hope is ἐλπὶς (Strong's #1680), which means an assurance or expectation of something happening rather than a wish. Peter said in 1 Peter 1:3, "Blessed is the God and "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One according to His great mercy, who has given to us a birth from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from out of the dead." Through salvation, we have experienced a heavenly or spiritual birth into a living hope. After salvation, we continue in this early life groaning along with all of creation until the redemption of our bodies; at which time, not only will we be free from the corruption of our bodies and of this physical life, but all of creation will be freed as well.

25)

But if we hope for what we are not seeing, through endurance (ὑπομονὴ) we eagerly wait for it.

Paul then states that true hope for redemption is not placed in what one can see, because that will pass away; but rather is eagerly waited for "through endurance." The word translated "endurance" is our word of study. Paul is teaching that the believer is to remain under the futility of life while looking and waiting for the redemption of the body, instead of constantly looking for a way out from under the forced subjection to emptiness and hopelessness.

In past studies, we have seen the importance of the growth process that a believer is encouraged to go through for spiritual development. Additionally, James tells us that the testing of our faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3). In spite of these scriptures, we are often tempted to look for greener pastures, accepting the philosophy that things will get better if we can manage to change our circumstances. But all of creation has been subjected to emptiness and the process of decay; so there is nowhere one can go to escape the futility of life. Therefore, endurance is an essential lesson that all believers must learn in order to be able to remain under the circumstances of life while trusting the Lord and having a vital expectancy that redemption is drawing near.

Next week we will study ὑπομονὴ from 2 Timothy 2:8-13, where Paul again presents the importance of endurance for the believer's earthly life.

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

F1: The infinitive of result ἀποκαλυφθῆαι, "to be revealed" is translated νὰ͂ἀποκαλυφθῇ, "that should be revealed."

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