May-June 2006 Syllabus Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7
A. HUPOMONE (patience)
There is more than one Greek word for the word "patience" in the N. T. Hupomone is one of these words and it means: Patience which grows only in trial, under chastisement from God, under undeserved affliction, in fruit bearing, in doing good and in running the appointed race. Following are examples of this kind of patience:
Hupomone (patience) in regard to:
Trial or Tribulation
1. Rejoicing in hope, _______ _____ _________ , continuing steadfastly in prayer;…… (Rom.12:12)
Temptation
2. Blessed is the man who _____ _______ ; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12) (Hupomune is translated "endure" in this passage)
Trials Connected With Teaching the Gospel
3. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much __________ , in ____________ , in needs, in distresses, (II Cor. 6:4)
Chastisement from God
4. If you ______ _______ , God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Heb12:7)
Undeserved affliction
5. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is ___________ before God. (I Pet. 2:20)
Well Doing
6. ……Eternal life to those who by ______ ________ in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;……(Rom. 2:7)
Fruit Bearing
7. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear_______ _____ ________. (Luke 8:15)
Running the Appointed Race
8. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us _____ ____ _________ the race that is set before us,…… (Heb. 12:1) (Hupomune -endurance)
9. What is the reward for gaining Hupomone (patience) (endurance)? (II Tim. 2:12)
10. What should be our attitude toward trials which produce patience? (James 1:2-4)
B. MAKROTHUMEO (patience)
11. ...Walk in the Spirit and you shall not ______ the lust of the flesh (22)...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience(Makrothumeo)... (Gal.5:16,22)
The word used in Gal.5:22 as "patience" is also translated as "longsuffering".
Makrothumeo is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish. It is the opposite of anger and is associated with mercy. It is used of God:
12. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, ______ _____ _______ ____________, and abounding in goodness and truth, (Ex.34:6)
13. Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, ______ ____ _____________ , not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Rom.2:4),
Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (l Pet. 3:20)
The full meaning of the word Makrothumeo is: To be patient, longsuffering, to bear with, to be long tempered.
Explain why the following passages are examples of Makrothumeo (verb) Makrothumia (noun) :
14. Rom. 9:22-24
15. Eph. 4:1-3
16. ll Tim.4:2
Some Situations Require Patience
It seems that in some verses when Makrothumeo (patience) is mentioned, it is also accompanied by words or phrases which emphasize and reiterate the importance of being longsuffering. Below are 2 passages which illustrate this. Please list the words or phrases in the following passages that are situations which require our patience or must be accompanied with patience:
17. l Thess. 5:14-15
18. Col.3:12-14
Please read the verses below and observe how both (Hupomone-the patience we gain through trials, tribulations and chastisement) and (Makrothumeo-patience with others, longsuffering) are used together in each one. Identify which is which in each passage. Type the verses that contain each of the words and replace the English words for the correct Greek words (Hupomone or Makrothumeo
19. II Cor. 6:4-6
20. Col. 1:9-12
Understanding What Longsuffering Is And What It Is Not
Have you noticed? The world (society) has written a new "moral code" in the past 30 years? It used to be that our culture and its laws were based on the moral code found in the Bible. This new code is mostly just the opposite of the one in the N.T. but Christians are still subject to God's moral law, no matter what society does. I Cor.1:18-31,2:1-16 deals with this very subject. Yet we are bombarded by the world's moral code in the news media, politicians, and even our government is beginning to govern by this new law (example: by abolishing all laws which "discriminate" against homosexuality). Our public schools now are run by those who promote this code. God's code of morality is condemned as evil by these same people.
No Repentance Required??
Our religious neighbors rush to conform their religion to the new code, in order to be politically and socially correct. They have even stolen phrases and words from the N.T. and given them new meaning to legitimize the socially acceptable moral code.
They preach that we should not "judge others", which means we should accept and even consider normal all acts and actions that even society once considered sinful. God's grace is expanded to mean that God accepts all sinners with their sins, no repentance required.
Even Christians can become confused unless they are regular students of the Word. I'm afraid that "patience", or "longsuffering", is a word that can be easily stolen and twisted for such a purpose. Following are thought questions that illustrate this idea:
Not A Dr. Spock Fan
Students of Dr. Spock have been brain washed into thinking that they must not discipline their children. The Biblical term that these followers might steal to prove their point could be that parents should be "longsuffering" or "patient" with their children.
However, in Prov.13:24 we learn the Biblical concept for disciplining our children, which is this: "He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him, disciplines him promptly." The reason for the haste in discipline is so that the child can associate the punishment with the error he has committed, and he will learn that there is a consequence for his bad deed. There is also the danger that if the parent waits to discipline, he will forget to punish for the deed or the parent’s feeling of disapproval will subside and the child will go undisciplined. Dr. Spock and the Bible are definitely at odds here, aren’t they!
21. Using Prov.19:18 and Prov.29:15, further explain how this concept is false and clarify what the true "longsuffering"and"patience"is that we should have for our children. (Give examples of situations with children that require patience or longsuffering).
Must We Be Patient With Criminals?
22. The world condemns the death penalty. It preaches that we should try to reform and not condemn criminals. We should be "patient" and longsuffering. Using Ecc.8:11 show the fallacy of this concept.
Was Paul Lacking In Patience?
23. Please read Gal.2:11-13. Was the Apostle Paul harshly judging Peter? Was he lacking in longsuffering towards Cephas (Peter) when he rebuked him? Please give the reason for your answer. By what criteria can we know when to be longsuffering and when to rebuke? And is it possible to do both at the same time? Please read II Tim.4:2.
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When I read the section of my lesson concerning the new "moral code, to my husband, he handed me the following article written by Holger W. Neubauer. One can easily see how contemporary minded "Christians" could promote the socially acceptable doctrine against "intolerance" by saying we should be more longsuffering or patient :
INTOLERANCE
By Holger W. Neubauer
The word "intolerance" has been bandied about by the liberal element in society for some time. Generally, the term is used by those who advocate civil liberty to the extent that morality is really no longer pertinent. Anyone who says that social drinking, premarital or extramarital sex, drug abuse, homosexuality, etc., are objectively wrong would most certainly be called "intolerant."
I think it interesting that in founding this nation, our forefathers had a much more stringent standard than that which is usually agreed upon today. In the 1600's in Massachusetts they revered the Lord's Day so much that they outlawed swimming on Sunday. Connecticut had a law that outlawed kissing in public on Sunday. The drunks were forced to wear a sign in the town square identifying their sin. No doubt some today would be outraged at these stringent civil laws. But no one then was terribly concerned about teenage pregnancy or young men going on a rampage and murdering their fellow students because such rarely, if ever, occurred when these strict laws were in effect.
Today when society has learned not to be intolerant, the live birth rate among unmarried women is one out of every four. The leading cause of death among young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four is drunk driving. The rape rate has increased over 700 per cent since 1933.
It seems to me we need a great deal more of intolerance.
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Some final thoughts about the spiritual fruit of longsuffering:
24. As Christians we should never, never lose our temper with our children, our mates, or others. Losing ones temper conveys the idea of someone out of control. Yet, is it always wrong to be angry? Please read Eph.4:26. What is the difference between anger (vs26) and wrath(vs31)? See also Gal.5:20.
Christians Do Not Wear Their Feelings On Their Sleeves
25. What was the question asked by Peter in Matt. 18:21? What was the Lord's answer?
The Lord was teaching Peter to be longsuffering. Christians are to be forgiving. Christians do not wear their feelings on their sleeves or a chip on their shoulders. Christians should think the best of other’s motives unless given good reason to think otherwise.
It is wrong to assign people motives that are not in their hearts. Even when others are deliberately offensive, we should try to melt their hearts with love and kindness. How much more attractive that is than sitting around nursing our wounded feelings!
26. What does Prov. 15:1 say?
To sum it all up:
PUT UP WITH ONE ANOTHER!
PUT UP WITH ONE ANOTHER!
PUT UP WITH ONE ANOTHER!