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 continuing with the third part of our study of the Greek noun μακροθυμὶα (Strong's #3115), which means patience, longsuffering, forbearance, and its verb form μακροθυμὲω (Strong's #3114), which means to persevere, to endure, to suffer long. Μακροθυμὶα is used to express a slow human reaction toward another human being or to express God's waiting long to bring judgment against man.
Part One of our present study was taken from Galatians 5:22-23 and focused on the source producing long-suffering in the life of the believer. We learned that μακροθυμὶα is part of the fruit of God's Spirit and is used to describe the controlling of human reaction toward others for the purpose of allowing the Spirit of God to perform His will. Part Two of our study was taken from Ephesians 4:1-6, which taught us the necessity of μακροθυμὶα in Christian fellowship. We saw that true fellowship within the Church and successful ministry to other believers happens only when the Holy Spirit is in control of the human reaction; since believers need the ministry of God's Spirit, not the fleshly reactions and opinions of others. This week we study the necessity of μακροθυμὶα in the life of anyone serving the Lord in a ministry capacity.
While both of his letters to Timothy contain warnings that there will be, within the Church itself, false teachings and people who rebel against the truth of God's Word; it is in 2 Timothy 3 that Paul presents a foundation upon which the young pastor must base his life and ministry in order to counter apostasy in the Church. It is found in 2 Timothy 3:10-12.
The Public Ministry and Life
Paul lays the foundation by recounting what Timothy has already been doing, reminding him that he has closely followed nine things in Paul's life and ministry, seven of which are listed in verse 10. First on Paul's list is doctrine, and he encourages Timothy to continue to closely follow him. (We see Paul using strong and direct words relating to doctrine in Galatians 1:8-9 "But even if we, or an angel from out of Heaven, should preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone should preach a gospel to you beside what you received, let him be accursed.")
Listed next is godly conduct or manner of life. Paul is reminding Timothy that he has seen an example of a godly lifestyle, in as much as he (Timothy) has observed Paul living out his own teachings. Paul then reminds Timothy of purpose or motivation with respect to ministry and life itself. Fourth on Paul's list is faith or trust in the Lord.
Long-suffering (μακροθυμὶα), our word of study, is listed next. Paul presents himself as an example of the need to hold back the human response and reaction in order to be effective in ministry for Christ. Any believer, whose human reaction to others is unchecked, will soon be disqualified from ministry; since it is imperative for effective ministry that only God's Spirit touches the lives of others. Therefore, those who proclaim the Gospel of Christ must be under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Love is next on Paul's list, and then enduranceremaining under circumstances. Timothy has seen Paul remain under his circumstances, trusting the Lord through them all.
The Persecutions
The last two things comprising Paul's foundation for life and ministry are found in verse 11, namely his persecutions and afflictions. He specifies that these happened to him in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra, the region in Asia Minor that Timothy was from. So, Timothy actually observed the things Paul suffered in order to represent the truth of God's Word. Paul then reminds Timothy that while he, Paul, endured all of these persecutions and afflictions, the Lord delivered him from out of them all. Paul did not say that the Lord delivered him "from" the persecutions, but "from out of them." The Greek text is very specific and presents the fact that the Lord did not prevent Paul from being persecuted; but rather that, while Paul was being persecuted, the Lord delivered him from out of them.
The Promise
In verse 12, Paul tells Timothy that the ones desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted, and this statement is presented as a promise.
Taken all together, Paul's message to Timothy is that, in order to be effective for Christ and to represent the truth of God's word, Timothy must remember how Paul conducted himself in ministry and in his personal life. Paul emphasizes the fact that as he suffered the hardships of proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, the Lord was faithful to deliver him from out of them all. Paul also states that everyone desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. In this presentation, Timothy is being encouraged to continue to follow Paul's example of ministry and personal life when he deals with apostasy within the church.
Next week we will continue our study, from 2 Timothy 4, focusing on the necessity of longsuffering in the lives of those who would be effective for Christ.
*MAKROTHUMIA is the English font spelling of the Greek word μακροθυμὶα.
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.