A Look At Longsuffering In The New Testament

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In the original Greek language, the term “longsuffering” means: “to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish.”

To make the term easier to understand, just turn the word around, and you will get “suffer long” (1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV; cf. Proverbs 10:12; 1 Peter 4:8). We need to put up with or “suffer long” the idiosyncrasies of others (we all have them!).

To put it another way, we need to patiently forbear with the shortcomings, slights, insults, and injuries of others, without seeking to retaliate or take revenge on an individual.

This quality is one of the characteristics described in Galations 5:22 as being one of the “fruits” of the Spirit, and a necessary quality for all Christians to acquire.

As the Lord is “longsuffering” regarding the salvation of all mankind (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9,15; cf. Romans 2:4), should we not be just as “longsuffering” toward our fellowman? (cf. Colossians 3:12-13; 1 Peter 2:23; Isaiah 53:7).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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