Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the NT: Long-Suffering
Subjects in this Topic:
LONG-SUFFERING ( ìáêñïèõìßá ), like another fruit of the Spirit, love ( ἀãÜðç ), has almost entirely non-pagan connexions. The Gr. word occurs 14 times in the NT, while its cognate verb is found 10 times, and the adverb only once (Act_26:3). Only the verb occurs in the Gospels: Mat_18:26; Mat_18:29 (Authorized and Revised Versions ‘have patience’), Luk_18:7 (Authorized Version ‘bear long,’ Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘is long-suffering’). It is both a Divine attribute and a Christian virtue. The word ‘long-tempered’ as opposed to ‘short-tempered’ is not in ordinary English use, but it expresses with fair accuracy the central thought in ìáêñïèõìßá . The Latin equivalent is longanimitas (Vulgate ), and Jeremy Taylor amongst others tried to transplant the word into English soil under the form of ‘longanimity,’ but without success.
OT use.—Long-suffering is one of God’s noblest attributes, and is made the subject of a special revelation in Exo_34:6. The Heb. phrase ’erek ’aph ( àָãָêְ àַó ) is found frequently in the books that follow, and Joel (Joe_2:13), Jonah (Jon_4:2), and Nahum (Nah_1:3) specially dwell upon this element in God’s character.
NT use.—It is significant that the word ìáêñïèõìßá is rare in pre-Christian Greek. In the NT it occurs several times in context with ὑðïìïíÞ (patience, endurance), from which it must be carefully distinguished (2Co_6:4; 2Co_6:6, Col_1:11, 2Ti_3:10, Jam_5:10-11). Trench (Synonyms) says ìáêñïèõìßá is used of persons, and ὑðïìïíÞ of things. As regards NT usage alone, this is near the truth (but see Jam_5:7, and cf. in OT Isa_57:15 [LXX Septuagint ] and in Apocr. [Note: Apocrypha, Apocryphal.] 1Ma_8:4). Perhaps we may more truly say that patience keeps a man from breaking down in despair, while long-suffering keeps him from breaking out in word or action because of some unsatisfied desire. This latter distinction is probably the key to several passages where ìáêñïèõìéá has been said to approximate to the meaning of ὑðïìïíÞ . In Heb_6:12; Heb_6:15, for instance, Abraham not only waited patiently for the promise; he did not in heart or word break out into murmurs against God’s delay, and this right attitude won him his reward. So in Jam_5:7 the husband-man without patience would break down with despair, but if his long-suffering gave out he would probably break out into pulling up his tardy plants. Long-suffering, then, is a passive virtue, and waits God’s time. It is the exact opposite of hasty action or hurried speech. Nevertheless, it is not carelessness. If God is long-suffering, He waits to give further opportunity for repentance, and this may not be presumed upon without risk (Rom_2:4; Rom_9:22, 1Pe_3:20, 2Pe_3:9).
1. Christ’s long-suffering character.—The word itself is not often used of, or by, Christ Himself, but the virtue which it expresses is frequently exemplified in the Gospels. It was His long toleration of manifest injustice that puzzled John the Baptist (Mat_11:3), and there is long-suffering too in His quiet reception of John’s complaint (Mat_11:4). In long-suffering He refused to call down fire from heaven on inhospitable Samaritans (Luk_9:54). It was long-suffering too that made Him yield to arrest without resistance (Mat_26:52-53, Jam_5:6-7), and refrain from returning scorn for scorn or threat for threat at His trial (Mat_27:12). And after His ascension we see Him exhibiting the same long-suffering spirit towards those who persecuted the disciples as they had persecuted the Master (1Ti_1:16, Act_9:4; cf. 2Pe_3:15).
In His teaching He bids His people be partakers of His own long-suffering character. The tares are not rooted up, but grow together with the wheat until the harvest (Mat_13:30). In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant the prayer of that unworthy man was for long-suffering (Mat_18:26), but a full pardon was given instead, until his subsequent conduct caused the withdrawal of the boon (Mat_18:29). In the parable of the Unjust Judge the word ìáêñïèõìåῖ (Luk_18:7) occurs in connexion with a difficult piece of interpretation, for the full discussion of which we have scarcely space here. Christ possibly had in mind a verse in Sir_35:18 [Gr. 32:22]. If ἐð ̓ áὐôïῖò refers to the elect, we may say that ìáêñïèõìåῖ here means the vindication of the cause rather than the punishment of the foe. But if we may refer the words to the enemies of the elect, the phrase will be parallel in thought to Rom_2:4.
2. Long-suffering a Christian duty.—In Mat_18:26; Mat_18:29 we noted the obligation resting on those who enjoy Christ’s long-suffering to exhibit it to others. This habit we find enforced in the Epistles (1Co_13:4, 2Co_6:6, Gal_5:22, 1Th_5:14, 2Ti_3:10). It is not a natural characteristic: it has to be acquired (Col_3:12). In Eph_4:2 it is explained as forbearance, or cessation of hostilities ( ἀíï÷Þ ). This implies that there may be wrong on both sides. But there is a power from without (Col_1:11, Gal_5:22), the Spirit of God, who will enable Christ’s people to reproduce His long-suffering in face, for instance, of opposition to the truth they teach (2Ti_4:2). In Jam_5:7-10 the word occurs four times. The Christian who is persecuted is to be as long-suffering towards his foe as the farmer who waits till the unproductive field bears a crop after fertilizing showers. There is, perhaps, in addition, a thought of man’s attitude towards God in times of trial. Christ’s long-suffering man refuses both to rail at his enemies and to question the dealings of his God.
Literature.—Trench, Synonyms; Cremer, Lex. s.v.; art. ‘Long-suffering’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible ; Paget, Studies in the Christian Character, 177; Morrison, Unlighted Lustre, 188.
H. C. Lees.