Patience
vs. Endurance: What is the difference?
Patience has a greater focus on our response to wrongs committed
against us.
Endurance has a greater focus on our response to bad circumstances and
to the trials of life.
[The following comparisons, taken from New Testament Greek reference books,
are also included in the two studies about these character traits.]
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon:
-
PATIENCE / LONGSUFFERING: The self-restraint which does not
hastily retaliate a wrong - opposed to wrath or revenge.
- ENDURANCE / PERSEVERANCE: The temper which does not easily
succumb under suffering - opposed to cowardice or despondency.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words:
-
PATIENCE / LONGSUFFERING: 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,
and is used of God.
- ENDURANCE / PERSEVERANCE: The quality that does not
surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite
of despondency and is associated with hope; it is not used of God.
Both of these words are found in 1 Corinthians 13, the
chapter which gives us a rather extensive description of what "love" is all
about.
LINKS TO THESE STUDIES:
See also: Patience and Self-Control - vs. - Anger, Rage and Revenge
Dennis Hinks © 2004
"Thayer's" and "Vine's" are both public domain.
041222