Spiritual Gifts part 243: From context to meaning: patience in the Greek.

Spiritual Gifts Part 243: How context brings out meaning with the two Greek words for “patience”.

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First stop is faith.
 And from there the only way to get to love is through patience!
 
The Greek word is makrothumia.

makrothumia = a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation and without complaint or irritation - 'patience.'

makros = “long” in place or time
 
thumos = passion, indignation, rage, temper, angry heat

hupomone.
 
hupomone is needed to be able to bear up with HOPE under persecutions and sufferings.

hupo = under or beneath, below
 
meno = to remain in a place and/or state, with expectancy concerning a future event - 'to await’

Makrothumia is between faith and love and it’s where we learn to handle our anger. It is patience with respect to people. Its opposite is anger and revenge.

Hupomone is between love and suffering. Here we learn to handle adversity. It is endurance, putting up with circumstances we don’t like. Its opposite is cowardice and despair.

Makrothumia means forbearance which creates a gracious lenient attitude toward others.
 

Hupomone means courageous endurance; a patient steadfast waiting with hope.

Makrothumia literally means “long temper”.

Hupomone literally means “remaining under”.

Makrothumia means NOT lashing out, not easily provoked.

Hupomone means NOT quitting, not losing heart.

Makrothumia is often used of God.

Hupomone is seldom if ever used of God.

Makrothumia is related to LOVE.

Hupomone is related to HOPE amidst PERSECUTIONS.

Pro 16:32
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.”
Julius Caesar

makrothumia is patience exhibited under ill treatment by a person, while hupomone is patience shown under trials, difficulties and hardships.

Let’s have some fun….Bible quiz time!
Is it makrothumia or hupomone?

Mat 18:26
"So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'
 

Mat 18:26
 
Answer: makrothumeo [verb form]

Rom 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Rom 2:4
 
Answer: makrothumia

Rom 5:3-4
knowing that tribulation brings about patience; 4 and patience, proven character; and proven character, hope;
 

Rom 5:3-4

Answer: hupomone

Rom 8:25
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
 

Rom 8:25
 
Answer: hupomone

1Co 13:4-5
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; …is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

1Co 13:4-5

Answer: makrothumeo [verb form]

2Co 1:6
But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

2Co 1:6

Answer: hupomone

1Th 1:3
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

1Th 1:3

Answer: hupomone

1Th 5:14
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1Th 5:14

Answer: makrothumeo [verb form]