hUPOMONE* – Patience, endurance, perseverance – Part 4
hoop-om-on-ay’
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 continue our study of the Greek noun
uÒpomonh/ (Strong’s #5281),
which means “patience, endurance, perseverance.” Its meaning expresses
a remaining under or endurance in circumstances. Our main text is the
same as last week’s, Hebrews 12:1-2, where we find the Christian life described as the running of a race; but we will also consider Galatians 5:7-9, Paul’s description of the disciplines needed for the running of that race.
We first studied the use of
uÒpomonh/ in the believer’s growth process from James 1:1-4
and saw, through James’ presentation, that the testing of a believer’s
faith is working out or producing in him/her the ability to remain
under (
uÒpomonh/) circumstances. From
this we learned that James’ command to believers is to let “remaining
under” produce its complete work, in order that spiritual maturity—
trust in the Lord through any circumstance of life, in any area of
life—can develop.
Last week we saw the same principle presented in Hebrews 12:1-2.
In these verses, this concept of remaining under circumstances is
demonstrated once again as being necessary for the Christian growth
process and is presented in the context of an athletic event. Our focus
last week was on the main clause found in these two verses, “…through
endurance (
uÒpomonh/) we should run
the race being set before us…” The analogy used in this text makes it
clear that we are not engaged in a short-term endeavor, but rather in
one requiring a long term trust and reliance on the Lord. And it is a
race that requires discipline.
The Coach’s Corner
- 1)
- For
indeed therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, having laid aside every weight and the sin easily
entrapping us, through endurance (
uÒpomonh/) we should run the race being set before us,
- 2)
- while
looking away unto Jesus the author and completer of the faith, Who over
against the joy being set before Him, endured the cross, having
despised
the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God.
Our focus has been on the main clause for the purpose of understanding
the two aspects of running the race which are shown here. The first
aspect has to do with the kind of race we are to run – the race being
set before us. The phrase “being set before us” is a present participle
which denotes a continuous action or lifestyle. The author, through use
of the present participle, is describing the race as one that is
continuously being set before us. The Greek text indicates that this is
being set in front of us all the time, step by step.
The second aspect about the race involves our word of study,
uÒpomonh/.
It is used to describe the way the race should be run—through endurance
(remaining under). This is a disciplinary term. To understand it, think
about how an athlete prepares for a race. He/she remains under the
disciplines required for running the race. The writer of Hebrews is
presenting that running the race is through endurance, through the
discipline of remaining under.
The Apostle Paul joins the
writer of Hebrews in depicting the Christian life as the running of a
race. Although he does not use the word
uÒpomonh/,
Paul’s writing emphasizes the disciplines needed by race participants.
Both this week and next we will explore three places where Paul teaches
the importance of discipline. Our text for this week is Galatians 5:7-9.
- 7)
- You were running well; who hindered you that you should not be persuaded
F1
by the truth?
- 8)
- The persuasion
is not from the One calling you.
- 9)
-
A little leaven leavens
the whole lump.
False teachers had come into the area of Galatia and were telling
believers that they had to live under the law. Paul addresses this
problem in Galatians 5:7-9.
He uses the imperfect tense, which expresses continuous action in past
time, to express the fact that the Galatian believers had previously
been running well. Paul then asks, “who hindered you that you should
not be persuaded
by the truth?” The Greek word translated “hindered” is
eÏgko/ptw (Strong’s #1465),
which means “to cut in on someone” or “to hinder.” He is saying that
false teachers had cut in on the running of the Galatians’ believers
race causing some of them to detour, to run in a direction other than
the one being set down before them by the Lord. Paul describes this
influence as “persuasion” and writes that it is hindering their entire
race, because ”
A little leaven leavens
the whole lump.”
Paul’s writing conveys the understanding that the persuasion of false
teaching can hinder and even divert believers from running the race
that the Lord has set before them. Since every believer can be
persuaded by many things, it is important to heed only that persuasion
which is coming from “the One calling you.” The word “calling” is a
present participle used to describe the Lord as the One who is
continually calling us to run the race.
*hUPOMONE is the English font spelling of the Greek word
uÒpomonh/.
F1: The negative particle with the infinitive of purpose
mhÈ pei/qesqai, “not to be persuaded,” is translated
naÈ mhÈ pei/qhsqe, “that you should not be persuaded.”
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