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Fruit of the Spirit: Longsuffering
August 5, 2017

A few weeks ago we began a study of the fruit of the spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 and last week read about peace. This week as we continue the study we consider longsuffering, or to use the modern word, patience. Longsuffering and patience are translated from the Greek word transliterated as makrothymia, and is given the number 3115 by Strong's Biblical Concordance.

Paul wrote to the Timothy how patience, longsuffering, helped him through the trials of his life. As we enter these last days where there is no love and no honor, we can rely on patience, longsuffering, a gift of the holy spirit to get us through these long and difficult times. When Paul reminds Timothy that he has seen Paul's patience, Paul uses the word makrothymia.

2 Timothy 3:1-11
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Peter wrote of patience in a time of suffering, too. Again, Peter is using the word makrothymia to describe how God waited until the ark was completed so that eight people could be saved from an evil world.

1 Peter 3:14-20
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians and shared his thoughts on the sufferings we endure, again he uses makrothymia, longsuffering, to describe how we must endure.

2 Corinthians 6:1-9
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

Longsuffering, and its modern patience, the Greek makrothymia, extends from love, joy, and peace as a fruit of the holy spirit. As we live in God's love, joy, and peace, we can endure and show the patience, the longsuffering of makrothymia. Next week, we will continue this study and will consider gentleness.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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