Longsuffering

VIEW:28 DATA:01-04-2020

LONGSUFFERING.—In the OT the RV [Note: Revised Version.] uses this word only in Jer_15:15, where it is the translation of a phrase usually rendered ‘slow to anger’ (cf. Exo_34:6, Num_14:18, Psa_86:15, in which passages AV [Note: Authorized Version.] has ‘longsuffering’).
In the NT ‘longsuffering’ is the usual tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of makrothumia and the corresponding verb. (The only exceptions are ‘patience,’ Heb_6:12, Jam_5:10; cf. vh. in Mat_18:25; Mat_18:29, Jam_5:7 f.; and adv. in Act_26:3). The RV [Note: Revised Version.] improves on AV [Note: Authorized Version.] by using ‘longsuffering’ in Luk_18:7, 1Th_5:14. The Gr. word means ‘a long holding out of the mind before it gives room to action or passion—generally to passion.’ (Trench, Synonyms of NT, § liii.); it implies the opposite of short temper; cf. Old Eng. ‘longanimity.’ In the NT the longsuffering of God is regarded as a proof of His ‘goodness’ (Rom_2:4; here and elsewhere ‘longsuffering,’ || ‘forbearance’ [arochç]) and of his faithfulness (2Pe_3:9; 2Pe_3:15); it is manifested in the gracious restraint which characterizes His attitude towards those who deserve His wrath (Rom_9:22, 1Pe_3:20). The Divine longsuffering is perfectly exemplified in Christ’s dealings with sinners (1Ti_1:16). Longsuffering is, therefore, a conspicuous grace in the ideal Christian character (2Co_6:5, Eph_4:2, Col_3:12, 1Th_5:14, 2Ti_3:10; 2Ti_4:2); it is viewed as an evidence of Divine strengthening (Col_1:11), as a manifestation of love (1Co_13:4), and as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal_5:22).
J. G. Tasker.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

See PATIENCE.
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary by Don Fleming
PRINTER 1990.

long-suf?ẽr-ing (אפּים ארך, 'erekh 'appayim; μακροθυηία, makrothumı́a): The words 'erekh 'appayim, translated longsuffering, mean literally, ?long of nose? (or ?breathing?), and, as anger was indicated by rapid, violent breathing through the nostrils, ?long of anger,? or ?slow to wrath.? The adjective is applied to God (Exo_34:6 the King James Version, in the name of Yahweh as proclaimed to Moses; Num_14:18 the King James Version; Psa_86:15 the King James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) ?slow to anger,? which is also the translation in other places; the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) Neh_9:17; Psa_103:8; Psa_145:8; Pro_15:18; Pro_16:32; Joe_2:13; Jon_4:2; Nah_1:3); it is associated with ?great kindness? and ?plenteous in mercy.? The substantive occurs in Jer_15:15 : ?Take me not away in thy longsuffering.? In Ecc_7:8, we have 'erekh rūaḥ, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) ?patient in spirit.?
The word in the New Testament rendered ?longsuffering,? makrothumia (once makrothuméō, ?to be longsuffering?), which is the rendering of 'erekh 'appayim in the Septuagint, is literally, ?long of mind or soul? (regarded as the seat of the emotions), opposed to shortness of mind or soul, irascibility, impatience, intolerance. It is attributed to God (Rom_2:4; Rom_9:22; 2Pe_3:9), of His bearing long with sinners and slowness to execute judgment on them. It is, therefore, one of ?the fruits of the Spirit? in man (Gal_5:22) which Christians are frequently exhorted to cherish and show one toward the other (Eph_4:2; Col_1:11; Col_3:12, etc.); it belongs, Paul says, to the love, without which all else is nothing: ?Love suffereth long (makrothumeı́), and is kind? (1Co_13:4); The verb makrothumeō is sometimes translated by ?patience? (Mat_18:26, Mat_18:29, ?Have patience with me?). Luk_18:7 has been variously rendered; the King James Version has ?And shall not God avenge his own elect ... though he bear long with them?; the Revised Version (British and American) ?and yet he is longsuffering over them,? the American Revised Version margin ?and is he slow to punish on their behalf?? Weymouth (New Testament in Modern Speech) has ?although he seems slow in taking action on their behalf,? which most probably gives the sense of the passage; in Jam_5:7, Jam_5:8 the verb occurs thrice, the King James Version ?be patient,? ?hath long patience?; the Revised Version (British and American) also translates by ?patient?; this, however, as in Mat_18:26, Mat_18:29, seems to lose the full force of the Greek word. According to Trench (Synonyms of the New Testament, 189), the difference between hupomonḗ (?patience?) and makrothumia is that the latter word expresses patience in respect to persons, and the former in respect to things; hence, hupomonē is never ascribed to God; where He is called ?the God of patience,? it is as He gives it to His servants and saints. But in Jam_5:7 it is used with reference to things, and in Col_1:11 it is associated with patience (compare Heb_6:12, Heb_6:15), suggesting patient endurance of trials and sufferings. In Col_1:11 it is also associated with ?joy,? indicating that it is not a mere submissiveness, but a joyful acceptance of the will of God, whatever it may be. In The Wisdom of Solomon 15:1; Ecclesiasticus 5:4, we have ?longsuffering? (makróthumos) ascribed to God; also in Ecclesiasticus 2:11, the Revised Version (British and American) ?mercy.?

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

FACEBOOK

Participe de nossa rede facebook.com/osreformadoresdasaude

Novidades, e respostas das perguntas de nossos colaboradores