The Bible on Patience

The Bible about patience The Holy Fathers about patience

I. DEFINITION OF THE TERM

1. DICTIONARY DEFINITION
Ozhegov’s Dictionary: “To endure – (1) to endure something (suffering, pain, unpleasant, unwanted) without complaint and steadfastness;
(2) to put up with the presence and existence of someone/something; (3) experience something unpleasant, difficult (defeat, crash).” Dahl's Dictionary: “To endure – (1) to endure, endure, endure, need, suffer; (2) to strengthen, to overcome, to take courage, to hold on, to stand without exhaustion, without despondency; (3) expect, wait for something better, hope, be meek, humble yourself; (4) condescend, allow, relax, indulge, give indulgence; (5) don’t rush, don’t rush, don’t rush.” Dictionary of synonyms: Patience - patience, tolerance, leniency. 2. DEFINITION OF THE BIBLE
The New Testament uses two words for “patience”:
A. Patience with Events:
The Greek word “hupomeno” means to go through something, to be tested, to endure hardship, to suffer, to endure.
It describes perseverance and the ability to endure troubles, difficulties, and various kinds of sorrows: Romans 12:12 “...be encouraged by hope; be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer.” The expression “be patient in tribulation” is literally translated as “endure tribulation with dignity.” B. Patience with People:
The Greek word “makrothumia” is literally translated as “long-suffering” and in the text most often means endurance, endurance, long-suffering and long-suffering. It describes generosity, long-suffering and forbearance towards a person and his behavior. This word is most often used in the Bible to describe God's patience with mankind. The Word of God calls all Christians to also be patient: James 5:7-8 “Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and for it he endures for a long time until he receives the early and late rain. Be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is drawing near.”

II. THE BIBLE ABOUT GOD'S PATIENCE

1. THE LORD GOD IS CALLED THE GOD OF PATIENCE:
A. The Lord is the God of patience, that is, He is the source of patience.
From the Bible we learn that God is love. From it we learn that God is patience: Romans 15:5 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be of one mind with one another, according to the teaching of Christ Jesus...” B. The Lord is a God of patience, which means that He is in great mercy bears with us with our weaknesses, shortcomings and sins: Exodus 34:6 “And the Lord passed by before him and cried: The Lord, the Lord, is a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and truth.” 2. GOD’S PATIENCE IS CALLED LONG-Suffering IN THE BIBLE
The Lord God shows great long-suffering towards His creation: Psalm 103:8-9 “The Lord is generous and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy: he is not angry to the end, neither is he indignant forever.”
Psalm 145:8 “The Lord is generous and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.” God’s long-suffering is that He is “slow to anger,” and He calls each of us to do the same: James 1:19 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to speak. wrath..." Throughout the history of mankind, the Lord has shown His long-suffering towards people: Romans 9:22 "...God, desiring to show his wrath and to demonstrate his power, with great long-suffering spared the vessels of wrath, which were ready to perish." God's forbearance is directly related to the free will God gave to man. Respecting our free will, God tolerates our choices and their consequences without destroying us for our failures and mistakes. Otherwise, today the earth would be deserted... If the Lord were not a long-suffering God, man would not have free will. 3. THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LONG SUFFERING
God’s long-suffering is fully understood only in the era of the New Testament, demonstrating to us His desire to save as many people as possible: 1 Timothy 2:4 “Who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack in keeping his promise, as some count slackness; but he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God's long-suffering reaches its pinnacle in Jesus Christ: 1 Timothy 1:16 “But for this purpose I received mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long-suffering as an example to those who will believe on Him for eternal life.” This is why God's forbearance is called riches in Romans 2:4 "Or do you despise the riches of God's kindness, meekness, and long-suffering, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?" 4. IS THERE A LIMIT TO GOD’S LONG-STALKING?
Despite God's long-suffering, His patience has its limits. The Lord has already demonstrated this once: in the days of Noah, when humanity was corrupted to the limit, and the Lord had to destroy everyone except Noah’s family with the waters of the flood. The Flood should be a reminder to us that there is a limit to God's patience, and that His patience will soon come to an end. The Flood foreshadows the end of the world and “the day of righteous judgment from God” (Romans 2:5). This time is approaching with inexorable speed, for the Lord has already appointed the day of judgment: Acts 17:31 “For He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead.” The time remaining until God's wrath falls upon people cannot be called the time of God's “delay.” It is a time of mercy and longsuffering: 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack in keeping his promise, as some count slackness; but he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Therefore, God’s Word calls on every person to “count the longsuffering of our Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:15). If a person does not take advantage of God's time of forbearance to be reconciled to his Creator through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, then he will “store up wrath for himself for the day of wrath”: Romans 2:5-6 “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment from God, who will reward everyone according to his deeds”; 2 Peter 3:10 “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with burning fire, and the earth and everything that is in it will be burned up.”

III. THE BIBLE ABOUT HUMAN PATIENCE

1. PARABLES ABOUT PATIENCE AS A HUMAN VIRTUE
• Patience is the key to peace between people: Proverbs 15:18 “A quick-tempered person stirs up strife, but a patient one calms strife.”
• Patience is better than courage: Proverbs 16:32 “He who is patient is better than the brave, and he who controls himself is better than the conqueror of a city.” • Patience is a sign of prudence: Proverbs 14:29 “A patient man has much understanding, but a quick-tempered man shows foolishness.” Proverbs 19:11 “Prudence makes a man slow to anger, and it is his glory to be forgiving of wrongdoing.” 2. BIBLE EXAMPLES OF PATIENCE
A. God's prophets of the Old Testament: James 5:10 “Take, my brethren, the prophets as an example of suffering and long-suffering, who spoke in the name of the Lord.”
B. Joseph: The story of Joseph’s life: how he was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt - Genesis 36-45. Q. Job: James 5:11 “Behold, we call blessed [call blessed] those who have endured. You have heard about Job’s patience and seen the end of it from the Lord, for the Lord is very merciful and compassionate.” G. Abraham: Hebrews 6:15 “So Abraham, being patient, received what was promised.” D. King David: One example of King David’s long-suffering is described in 2 Samuel 16:5-14 “When King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man from the family of the house of Saul, named Shimei, the son of Gera; he went and cursed and threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; yet the people and all the brave were on the right and left of the king. Thus spoke Shimei, slandering him: go away, go away, murderer and lawless one! The Lord turned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you reigned, and the Lord delivered the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son; and behold, you are in trouble, for you are a bloodsucker. And Abishai the son of Zerui said to the king, Why does this dead dog curse my lord the king? I'll go and take his head off. And the king said, “What do you and me, sons of Zeruiah?” let him speak evil, for the Lord commanded him to speak evil of David. Who can say: why are you doing this? And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, if my son, which came out of my bowels, seeks my life, how much more is the son of Benjamite; leave him alone, let him curse, for the Lord has commanded him; Perhaps the Lord will look upon my humiliation, and the Lord will reward me with goodness for his current slander. And David and his men went their way, and Shimei walked along the outskirts of the mountain, on his side, and walked and cursed, and threw stones and dust at his side. And the king and all the people who were with him came, weary, and rested there.” E. Apostle Paul: 2 Timothy 3:10-11 “And you followed me in doctrine, life, disposition, faith, generosity, love, patience, in persecutions, in the sufferings that befell me in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from them all.” 3. THE LORD CALLS CHRISTIANS TO PATIENCE
The Bible calls Christians to be patient both with life’s circumstances and with each other: A. Patience with one another: Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on therefore as God’s elect, saints and beloved, in mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone: just as Christ has forgiven you, so do you.” Long-suffering towards one's neighbor is conditioned by love for one's neighbor. It is no coincidence that patience is an attribute of true Agape love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient [Greek word “hupomeno” - patience with people], is kind, love does not envy, love is not arrogant, is not proud, does not act unruly, does not seek his own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth; covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things [Greek word “hupomeno” – patience in relation to circumstances]. Love never ends…"

B. Patience with Circumstances: Romans 5:3-4 “And not only this, but we glory in tribulations, knowing that from tribulation comes patience, from endurance comes experience, and from experience comes hope.” • Examples of such long-suffering in tribulations: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are oppressed on every side, but not distressed; we are in desperate circumstances, but we do not despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; We are cast down, but we do not perish.” 2 Corinthians 6:8-10…we are considered deceivers, but we are faithful; we are unknown, but we are recognized; we are considered dead, but behold, we are alive; we are punished, but we do not die; we are saddened, but we always rejoice; We are poor, but we enrich many; We have nothing, but we possess everything.” “ • When you are in tribulation, you must remember that the Lord God will not allow you to suffer beyond your strength: 1 Corinthians 10:13 “...God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength, but when you are tempted, He will also provide the way of escape, so that you can postpone". • The reward for long-suffering is salvation: Matthew 10:22 “He who endures to the end will be saved” (also in Matthew 24:13 and Mark 13:13).

CONCLUSION:

Long-suffering, like other virtues, does not automatically appear in a person with his birth.
Its source is the Lord God, and therefore it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 “And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” Therefore, long-suffering is developed in a person by working on oneself with the help of regenerating action and the help of the Holy Spirit: James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience; But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be complete and complete, lacking nothing.” Patience is an integral component in the process of saving our soul, along with faith. This is why the Lord Jesus said in Luke 21:19, “Through your patience save your souls.” How can we understand His words? We are saved by faith: Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Tested faith produces patience, which we need in order to maintain our faith and help us withstand all trials on the way to the Heavenly abodes. The Bible teaches that God's promises can only be inherited through faith and patience: Hebrews 6:11-12 “We desire that each one of you, for the complete assurance of hope, will show the same zeal to the end, so that you will not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” The same idea is confirmed by the passage from Hebrews 10:36-37 “You need patience, so that, having done the will of God, you may receive what was promised; for yet a little while, a very little time, and the Coming One will come and will not tarry.” Based on all of the above, we can give the following definition of long-suffering: Long-suffering is the ability to go through difficulties and trials, maintaining faith and remaining faithful to God.

The Word of God calls us to be patient, imitating Christ in our patience, who showed the whole world a model of patience in suffering: Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, and Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” cogmtl.net

Holy Fathers on Patience

A prudent soul in disasters and sorrows does not lose hope, but possesses what it possessed and what would not have been inflicted on it, among a thousand temptations, enduring everything, it says: “Even if I die, I will not leave Him.” St. Macarius the Great

Perfection of the heart is acquired not so much by distance from people as by the virtue of patience. If patience is firmly strengthened, it can keep us at peace even with those who hate peace; if it is not acquired, then we will constantly be in disagreement with those who are perfect and better than us. St. John Cassian

Everyone knows that patience consists in enduring suffering, and only the one who endures all the insults inflicted on him without a murmur should be called patient. St. John Cassian

He who is long-suffering is not quickly inflamed with anger and does not resort to insults, nor is he easily moved by empty speech. He who is long-suffering, if offended, is not upset, does not oppose those who resist, and is firm in every matter. He who is long-suffering is always in joy, in gladness, in admiration, because he trusts in the Lord. The long-suffering one is far from angry because he endures everything. A patient person does not quickly fall into deception, is not prone to irritation, rejoices in sorrows, gets used to every good deed, pleases people who are not satisfied with anything, and pleases them in everything. St. Ephraim Sirin

There is no measure of patience if it is dissolved in humility. St. Ephraim Sirin

Those who have patience are saved from many sorrows. St. Ephraim Sirin

Be patient with the Lord in the day of trouble, so that he may cover you in the day of wrath. St. Ephraim Sirin

Everyone must, as much as necessary, endure the shortcomings of his neighbor, out of trust in God. But woe to him who is tolerated, and he does not understand this. St. Ephraim Sirin

Be patient, so that you may become strong and prudent.
Long-suffering is a wonderful gift because it drives out hot temper, anger and contempt, and brings the soul to a peaceful state. St.
Ephraim the Syrian We do not tolerate even the slightest suffering. Because of our unbelief, patience is removed from us. St. Ephraim Sirin

If you are offended in any way, resort to patience, and the harm will pass on to those who offended you. St. Neil of Sinai

With patience, we will find consolation where we did not expect it. St. Neil of Sinai

Endure sorrows, because in them, like roses among thorns, virtues arise and ripen. St. Neil of Sinai

God not only delivers from sorrow those who try to generously endure the temptations sent to them, but even in the very sorrows He provides such consolation that we completely forget them and receive a great many benefits. St. John Chrysostom

To be worthy to endure anything for the sake of Christ is the greatest grace, a perfect crown and a reward no less than future reward. Those who know how to sincerely and ardently love Christ know this. St. John Chrysostom

For me it is more valiant to endure evil for Christ than to accept honor from him. This is a great honor, this is glory, beyond which there is nothing. St. John Chrysostom

If you have no patience with your neighbor, then how will God tolerate you! St. John Chrysostom

Nothing can serve as such evidence of perfect rationality as long-suffering. St. John Chrysostom

The depth of long-suffering is shown in a person when he remains equally calm in the presence and absence of slanderers. St. John Climacus

Where the fear of Gehenna appears, there is the patience of all labors and sorrows. St. John Climacus

He who can joyfully endure an insult, even having in his hands the means to repel it, has received consolation from God through faith in Him. St. Isaac the Syrian

He who with humility endures the accusations brought against him has achieved perfection and the holy Angels are amazed at him. St. Isaac the Syrian

The power of patience is stronger than the sweet thoughts that take possession of the heart. St. Isaac the Syrian

Patiently endure the blows of heartbreaking accidents, for God’s providence wants to cleanse you with such. Abba Thalassius

When someone endures everything that befalls him with joy, then no matter what happens to him, everything calms him down. St. Peter Damascene

If someone thinks that he is involved in all the virtues, but does not endure to the end, then he will not escape the snares of the devil and will not be guided to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. For even those who have already received the betrothal of eternal life here need patience in order to receive the perfect reward for their exploits in the future. St. Peter Damascene

Patience tends to kill the despair that kills the soul. It teaches the soul to console itself and not to lose heart from many battles and sorrows. St. Peter Damascene

It is impossible to find a place in mental life where there is no abuse. There is no place without trials, therefore, without patience it is impossible to find peace. St. Peter Damascene

It is better to endure what befalls us, to resort to God, than to suffer a falling away out of fear of danger, falling into the hands of the devil and into eternal falling away. St. Peter Damascene

If the fortress of patience breaks, quickly correct it by restoring the strength of the mind. St. Theodore the Studite

If a Christian forgets about grace and thinks that he himself bore the burden of trial and patience by his own strength, and not by the power of God’s grace, then he will lose grace and remain naked from it, and the devil, finding him naked, pushes him around wherever he wants and how he wants.
St.
Simeon the New Theologian In relation to the omnipotent and all-holy will of God, there can be no other corresponding feelings in man other than unlimited reverence and equally unlimited submission. Patience is made from these feelings. St. Ignatiy Brianchaninov

Patient bearing of one's cross is true vision and consciousness of one's sin. There is no self-delusion in this consciousness. St. Ignatiy Brianchaninov

By allowing grief and self-pity in patience, you diminish the value of what the Lord gives you.
St.
Theophan the Recluse The first subject of patience is patience with oneself, although no one pays almost any attention to it. St. Feofan the Recluse

The spirit of true patience is surrendering oneself to the will of God, completely, with readiness to accept everything as from the hand of the Lord. St. Feofan the Recluse

One day John Moschus fell into great anguish and, coming to Saint Macarius of Alexandria, said to him: “Abba, what should I do? My thoughts confuse me, saying, “You are not doing anything here, go away from here.” The Holy Father answered: “Tell your thoughts: for Christ I guard the walls.” Lawsaik

If the fortress of patience breaks, quickly correct it by restoring the strength of the mind. St. Theodore the Studite

In relation to the omnipotent and all-holy will of God, there can be no other corresponding feelings in a person other than unlimited reverence and equally unlimited submission. Patience is made up of these feelings. St. Ignatiy Brianchaninov

Patient bearing of one's cross is true vision and consciousness of one's sin. There is no self-delusion in this consciousness. St. Ignatiy Brianchaninov

By allowing grief and self-pity in patience, you diminish the value of what the Lord gives you. St. Feofan the Recluse

The first subject of patience is patience with oneself, although almost no one pays attention to it. St. Feofan the Recluse

The spirit of true patience is surrendering oneself to the will of God, completely, with readiness to accept everything as from the hand of the Lord. St. Feofan the Recluse

Patience in life is a gift of God and is given to those who seek and, even if they strain through force, to resist confusion, troubles and problems.
St.
Theophan the Recluse Abba Hierax lived in the Nitrian desert.
One day demons came to him in the form of Angels. Tempting him, they told him: “You have another 50 years to live: how can you withstand such a long time in this terrible desert?” He answered them: “You have upset me by assigning me to live a few years: I have prepared for patience for 200 years.” Hearing this, the demons left, emitting screams. Fatherland
One day John Moschus fell into great melancholy and, coming to Saint Macarius of Alexandria, said to him: “Abba, what should I do? My thoughts confuse me, saying, “You are not doing anything here, go away from here.” The Holy Father answered: “Tell your thoughts: for Christ I guard the walls.” Lawsaik

A certain brother lived in a dormitory in obedience and was loved by five brothers and unloved by one brother. He left that monastery and moved to another. Here eight brothers loved him, and two hated him. He left this monastery and entered a third, in which seven brethren were disposed towards him, and five were not. The brother ran away from there too. Approaching the next monastery, he thought: “If I obey my thoughts, then there will not be enough places in the universe for my transitions. From now on I promise to endure.” Having written on the paper: “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I will endure,” he put the note in his belt. In the monastery, whenever he was upset or tempted, he took a note from his belt, read what was written in it, and was consoled by this. The brothers of the monastery, through the influence of the devil, began to consider the ascetic a sorcerer wearing charm in his belt, and reported this to the abbot. The abbot was a spiritual man, knowing his brother’s humility, he realized that what was said to him was done out of the envy of the devil. Having called to him all the brethren of the monastery and the slandered brother, the abbot, despite the resistance of that brother, unfastened his belt and took out a note. When it was read loudly in the meeting of the brethren: “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I will endure,” the brothers were amazed and asked forgiveness from the patient.

From the point of view of popular psychology

Now the categories of humility and patience are more often considered from the point of view of psychology, for which these concepts are not identical. Patience in this context implies that a person has some kind of mental pain. It is associated with grumbling, dissatisfaction, condemnation from other people, quarrels - that is, a person is in a hopeless situation, is waiting to get rid of it and believes that after some time the sentence will end. Aggression accumulates in his soul, he turns into a compressed spring, and over time, everything he feels will shoot out. Moreover, it is unknown how this will turn out for his health, both mental and physical - quite a lot is now known about the psychosomatic consequences of stress. That is, in everyday life, patience is about some difficult circumstances, against which a person can rebel with all his guts, but cannot do anything. However, in this case, it turns out that patience is something from the realm of masochism, or it is a syndrome of learned helplessness, when a person thinks that nothing depends on him.

Humility is perceived by many people who are far from the Christian worldview as weakness. Although, if you think about it, you can come to the conclusion that this is strength. A person is able to endure any living conditions, no matter what he finds himself in, without dissatisfaction, he believes that everything in life is for the better. Psychology says that this attitude to life is based on self-acceptance. This condition develops in childhood. The love of parents for each other and for the child gives strength, inspiration, confidence, and a sense of security. He accepts himself and the world, which gives him strength to endure even difficult life circumstances. Of course, this is only a semblance of true humility, but it is also valuable. It’s wonderful when a person understands: all bad things will pass, only good things await ahead.

Psychologists say that when a person is in a proud, narcissistic state, he feels self-doubt, a lack of inner core and fulcrum. In this state, a person perceives difficult circumstances as a personal challenge, a threat to his life and safety, as something that needs to be fought. His patience is a cornered rejection of himself. It does not come from peace in the soul, but from the fact that a person has not understood himself. As a result, he painfully endures circumstances that are beyond his control, and his patience becomes destructive. In such a situation, psychologists advise directing consciousness in a new direction: from grumbling to gratitude.

Patience and humility are especially well cultivated in hopeless life circumstances. A proud person will try at all costs to get out of an uncomfortable situation, to run away, to distance themselves. The humble one will perceive all this differently - as a stage that can give new experience. As a result, the tests will lead to the development of stress resistance in him. For a person who has a more optimistic outlook on life, difficult circumstances do not destroy gratitude and hope for the best, trust in life and acceptance of it. He perceives trials not as something hostile, but as a lesson that will help him become better and develop some qualities.

What don't I like about these points of view? First of all, patience is perceived as a state from which a person needs to get out. That is, it turns out that a patient person is grumbling, and for a normal life he needs to turn himself towards gratitude, get rid of the toxic state of victimhood.

Support that helps you live

Patience and humility are the basis of the Christian path. Let us once again remember the instruction of the Apostle Paul: first comes tribulation, from which patience is born. Then from patience comes experience, and from experience comes hope that “does not disappoint,” because a person who trusts in the Lord finds His love. It turns out that having patience and humility, we find a foothold in life, in all its spheres - church, spiritual, family, and so on.

Finding this support is very important, because “living life is not a field to cross”: there are things that you need to fight for, that you need to strive for, and on this path everything is very difficult, especially when a person lives in a family. He has obligations and areas of responsibility that require constant attention, development, and work. We have to learn to build relationships, educate, and study a lot. We first accumulate, then we give, so it is very important what we learn ourselves. Our lifestyle, habits, education, communication skills, relationships in society, professional skills - all this is important both for us and for those around us. If everything we do is based on the ability to live patiently and humbly, it will bring much benefit not only to us, but also to the world.

Archpriest Konstantin Lisnyak

Patience. The testing of faith produces patience. In abstinence.