Biblical use of the word makrothumia does not include the idea of passivity or resignation.
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In the Scriptures, makrothumia is used in reference to people, i. It seems patience is needed most when the Christian feels least like exercising it. His greatest need for patience is at the low point of his spiritual life when he "clings to God, yet does not feel the assurance that God is near him. We develop it while walking closely with Him. It comes from trusting in Him even when the sunshine of His love and blessing seems obscured by a dark cloud of problems and difficulties hanging over our heads.
Can we trust Him then? Can we patiently trust Him when tomorrow looks dark and lonely and frightening — knowing that just as He has walked with us in the past, even so He will walk with us in all our tomorrows as well? The Christian is patient when in the darker events of life he does not lose control but remains firm in the conviction that obedience to God is required at all times and in all circumstances.
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This is continuing in trustful obedience to our loving God whether signs of that love are discernible or not. It is an attribute of Yahweh. This refrain runs throughout the Psalms: The Lord is "a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love" Psalm Being a God of patience, i. The majestic, omnipotent God graciously restrains His righteous wrath and offers pardon and forgiveness to whosoever will come through repentance and accept His grace.
In what way is patience a fruit of the Holy Spirit?
Like a lot of us, he had to learn that wonderful truth about his God the hard way. Our God is merciful, gracious, ready to forgive, abounding in steadfast love, and very, very patient. This emphasis continues on into the New Testament and is amplified there.
Rather, His patience is an opportunity for His children to repent and trust the Savior. In His patience, the Father waits, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the Savior and trust Him. In writing to Timothy, Paul tells how he had blasphemed the Savior and persecuted His followers. Indeed, he claimed to be the chief of sinners. But Jesus was patient.
He waited until Saul was ready to say, "I surrender, I surrender all! Patiently, God always waits! Not only does He wait, but He even pursues us with His abounding love. Aquinas pointed that numbered among the fruits of the Holy Spirit are certain virtues, such as charity, meekness, faith, and chastity. Though traditionally discussed as nine attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit, the original Greek term translated as "fruit" is singular. Aquinas explained, "Consequently fruit is mentioned there in the singular, on account of its being generically one, though divided into many species which are spoken of as so many fruits.
Agape love denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest in others, no matter their behavior. It is a love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. Agape is more a love by choice than philos, which is love by chance; and it refers to the will rather than the emotion.
Agape describes the unconditional love God has for the world. Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The joy referred to here is deeper than mere happiness, is rooted in God and comes from Him. Since it comes from God, it is more serene and stable than worldly happiness, which is merely emotional and lasts only for a time. The word "peace" comes from the Greek word eirene, the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by the outward circumstances or pressures. The word eirene strongly suggests the rule of order in place of chaos. The outline of Biblical usage is as follows:.
Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, who brings peace to the hearts of those who desire it.
He says in John Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". Generally the Greek world applied this word to a man who could avenge himself but did not. This word is often used in the Greek Scriptures in reference to God and his attitude to man. Patience , which in some translations is "longsuffering" or "endurance", is defined in Strong's by two Greek words, makrothumia and hupomone.
The first, pronounced mak-roth-oo- mee -ah comes from makros , "long", and thumos, "temper". The word denotes lenience, forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, longsuffering. Also included in makrothumia is the ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment. It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint. The latter, hupomone, hoop-om-on- ay is translated "endurance": Constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, patient endurance.
The word combines hupo, "under", and mone, "to remain". In Greek, old wine was called "chrestos" which meant that it was mellow or smooth.
In contrast, kindness is acting for the good of people regardless of what they do, properly, "useable, i. Kindness is goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, kindness, affability. The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience. The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control. The word kindness comes from the Greek word chrestotes khray- stot -ace , which meant to show kindness or to be friendly to others and often depicted rulers, governors, or people who were kind, mild, and benevolent to their subjects.
Anyone who demonstrated this quality of chrestotes was considered to be compassionate, considerate, sympathetic, humane, kind, or gentle.