By: Gen Jim – 11/25/25
In other articles I’ve written about “endure”, “enduring” & “endurance”, synonyms for “perseverance”. There are 8 Greek words (7 verbs & 1 noun) found in the N.T.: 1) Menō, 2) Hupomenō, 3) Pherō, 4) Hupopherō, 5) Anechō, 6) Kartereō, 7) Makrothumeō (verbs), 8) Hupomonē (noun): the Gk. word for “perseverance” is “proskarterēsis” (verb).
Mark of a Christian
While the Bible speaks of the “Mark of the Beast” (Rev. 19:20), the Bible also speaks of the “mark” of a Christian, being endurance/perseverance, characteristic of those who remain steadfast no matter the trials/tribulations/persecutions/prison. The key Gk. word that conveys this truth is hypomenō or hypomonē. This word presumes that the Christian life garners opposition that must be met by spiritual resistance.
Paul wrote Timothy to “ENDURE hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” 2 Tim. 2:3, NKJV. [I’ve written many articles on Spirit Warfare/Dominion.] What does the Scripture mean, “But he who ENDURES to the END shall be saved”? – Mt. 24:13 [Gk. hupomenō = “to stay, remain, bear, have fortitude, persevere, suffer etc.”] This Gk. word is also found in Mt. 13:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; Heb. 12:7; Ja. 5:11.
Second Word
(Gk.) makrothymeō or makrothymia, also encourages “endurance as a characteristic mark of a Christian but in a different way. This Gk. word, most often translated “patience” (Rom. 5:3, 4, KJV), views “endurance” as a personal quality of relationships, e.g. showing love to an enemy or irritating people. Boy! this will really TEST our Christianity. Can we control our emotions (like anger!) when we are attacked physically or verbally? I admit, I have failed more than once!!
Jewish/Greek
Looking into the cultural background of these 2 cultures, we can understand the issue of endurance/perseverance as a positive value of suffering/persecution. It is pointed out by those who study suffering as God’s discipline that He uses such to correct/punish in order to bring forth obedience/fruitfulness. We can go back as far as Jeremiah et al. when God asked His people, “why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,’ says the LORD. ‘In vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.’” – Jer. 2:29, 30. God expect His people at least to learn to repent through hardships/sufferings (see also Amos 4:6-11). I have taught on the many texts (O.T.) that deal with the LACK of perseverance in the things of God, hence; He brings punishments – on individuals & a corporate national basis. [e.g: Jer. 5:3; 6:8; 7:28; 30:14; 35:13; Isa. 9:12; 42:25; 57:17; Ez. 16:27, 28; 23:10-20; Amos 4:6-11; Zep. 3:2; Hag. 2:17; Zech. 1:6; Job 5:17; 13:10; 22:4; 33:19; 42:1-6; Ps. 6:2; 22:1-21; 38:2; 39:12; 51:9, 10; 73:14; 94:12; 119:25, 26; Prov. 3:11, 12; 15:10 etc.].
Scholars distinguish between Greco-Roman & Jewish perspectives on punishments & sufferings (pantheistic vs divine/monotheistic). There are plenty of sources on this issue. Concerning Jewish sources, key texts include Deut. 8:5; Prov. 15:32; Mal. 3:3; Wisdom of Solomon 3:5-6; 11:9; Sirach 2:1-6; 4:17; 18:13; 2 Macc. 6:12-17; 7:33; 10:4; Ps. of Solomon 13:7-10; 18:4, 5; 2 Apoc. Bar. 13:10; Philo Congr. 160, 175; The Words of the Heavenly Lights III; IQH 8; b. Sanh. 101a; b. Ber. 5a, b; Sipre. 32 etc. Only those of us who read some of these sources know who wrote them. I’m no scholar but I research as much as possible – from the Bible & from extra Biblical literature.
I don’t research too much Greco-Roman lit., but enough to compare the 2 cultures – Jews/Greeks. In the G/R culture the purpose was for strengthening & improving character. Aeschylus (Agamemnon 177), Sophocles (Oedipus at Colonus 7), Herodotus (History 1.207), Plato (Rep. 380 b.), Dio Chrysostom (Or. 8), Seneca (On Providence 1:5; 2.5, 6; 4.5-7) & Epictetus (Disc. 1:24, 1-3; 3:10.7-8). Prof. C.H. Talbert (Learning Through Suffering in the N.T., 1991) holds that the Jewish/Greco-Roman perspectives on suffering merge in 4 Macc. 11:12, 20, 27; 16:24, 25; 17:2, 11, 12, 18. He shows us how both the G/R & Jewish concepts of suffering reside in James, 1 Pet., Heb. & Luke – Acts. I’ve taught on all these in years gone by.
Suffering Job
If and when we think we suffer too much, better read the book of Job. Scholars recognize “endurance (hypomenō) to mean “to STAND FIRM!” (in battle (see T. Job 4:6; 5:1). It is further suggested that karteria means “stubbornness” or “toughness” (T. Job 4:10; 27:4. [“T” stands for Testament), & that the patience (makrothymia) implies waiting for God’s saving intervention (T. Job 24:1; 26:5).
Pt. 2
It is well said that “endurance” turns the cycle of Christian maturity (Ja. 1:2-4). James, historians/scholars believe was written in the early days of church persecution. From the outset James writes: “… count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”(lit., endurance/perseverance) But we too often complain when we have to go through our painful ordeals.
When we were in a Pentecostal church (Ky./Ind. 1972-1977), there was the saying, “He (or she) is in the pit!”, meaning the person was sad looking & short-tempered. Joy? well, yeah, it came once-in-a-while! There have been times in our journey that it seemed like life was ONE BIG CONTINUED TRIAL! This, in turn, required lots of determined endurance. But Christians’ maturity comes with a price tag: DIE TO SELF!!! Perseverance & maturity from one trial to another prepares one for greater trials ahead. Oh, No! Yep!
ENDURANCE is the key to this cycle of growth. This is why we see so many Christian babies in Church la la land – they don’t want to GO & GROW. Even Church leadership, too much of the time, wants to remain in babyhood.
ENDURE, TRIAL, TEST
We are called to be “overcomers”. Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21 all speak of overcomers. No one will overcome if he or she does not persevere. James calls this the “crown of life” (an olive wreath for the victor/winner in an athletic contest (1 Cor. 9:25; 2 Tim. 2:5). The metaphor indicates that the Lord is watching/judging our performance. In the end, the reward is eternal life (Rev. 2:10) (see Heb. 12:4; 13:13, 14). The author of Hebrews endeavors to REnew their confidence in the superiority of their faith & to motivate them to ENDURE their difficult days & to REgain their boldness for Christ. [compare Ja. 1:21 to Heb. 6:12.
Hebrews 12:7-13 explains that the struggles we go thru, esp. against sin, are part of God’s discipline to make us holy – but we’ve got to ENDURE. Verse 7 says, “IF you ENDURE chastening”. We must endure our trials as well as God’s chastenings. Not the word “if” used in vss. 7 & 8. Abraham’s endurance enables him to receive what God had promised. Heb. 12:1 reminds us that we are not alone in this struggle, “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, & the sin which so easily ensnares us, & let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us.” “But,” you complain, “I don’t feel like running.” Well, crawl then!
Look to Jesus
Heb. 12:2 tells us to look unto Jesus the author (lit. originator) & finisher (literally perfecter) of our faith. Why so? Because He endured the cross (pain & shame) in order that we too would do the same in His home. We ask ourselves, “can I endure?” What if we do not endure? What did the early believers do under “crazy” Nero’s regime? – they were classified as terrorists (Nero blamed them for burning Rome in A.D. 64. Peter says that they were treated like criminals/outcasts (1 Pet. 4:12-19). They suffered specifically because they believed in Christ (1 Pet. 3:14).
Peter went on to write, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful creator.” (1 Pet. 4:19) 1 Peter 2:19-25 focuses on the problem of the Christians who are suffering unjustly. Peter says, “… But when you do good & suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (2:20). He goes on to write: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (vs. 21) This is a far cry from what is being taught by too many ministers: “Get Rich!”; “Have Your Best Life Now!”; “Have FUN in the SON!” I’ve had ministers tell me & my wife (when we were in great sufferings doing the Gospel work) that we were “cursed!” They said God doesn’t want His children to be poor or suffer. Well, hang on here – “for… we were called, because Christ also suffered… leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”
Just when & where did Jesus have fun? And just where was His multi-million dollar mansion, with a large pool & a 6-chariot garage, with servants running around pouring drinks (fermented wine of course!) for His guests of honor? And, just where did Jesus do His banking? To hear these “prosperity perverts” tell it, Jesus died & rose so as to pour out BLESSINGS unending upon His “sinning saints”. Can you make a list of all the PP you know of (the ones on T.V./internet / have mega churches)? How many teach & preach “another Gospel”? How many are motivated by lust & greed?, by worldly ambitions? But, oh these “fanatics for Christ”, are just too over the top! They bring upon themselves their own problems by what they say & do!!! Ever heard this? Well, dear readers, these “Jesus freaks!”, the ones who ENDURE the ONSLAUGHT from the world & fake Churches are called NIKAŌS (Gk.), i.e. to conquer, prevail, get the victory in their Christian conquest. They are “overcomers” (see 1 Jn. 2:13, 14; 4:4; 5:4, 5). They only achieve this status because of their prevailing perseverance. (see also Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 11:7; 21:7).
The Lion out of Judah
Rev. 5:5 uses the words “has prevailed” in ref. to Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Rev. 6:2 uses the word “conquering”; Rev. 12:11 says, “they OVERCAME him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb”; Rev. 17:14 tells us “the Lamb will OVERCOME them” (the Beast et al.); John 16:33 says that “Jesus has OVERCOME the world.” But He (Jesus) also says, “in the world you will have tribulation.”
Mark of the Beast or Mark of Perseverance?
If one digs deep into the Word of God, one will discover that there are other “marks” beside the mark of the Beast (Rev. 14:11). It is debated that this mark is not an actual/physical mark, but merely an idea/belief etc. I’m not gonna get into the pros or cons of this debate. But in matter of speech, the perseverance/endurance are marks of the true believers. We see their lives, not just hear their words.
Oh, we’ve got silver-tongued preachers/teachers/prophets in Church la la land that dazzle us with their eloquence = they are forceful, fluent, graceful, persuasive, but their private lives are disgraceful/shameful. Some sing like angels but live like devils! Ps. 37:37 says, “Mark the blameless man, & observe the upright.” Vs. 38 speaks of the transgressors & the wicked. We’ve got too many actresses & actors in Church la la land these days – putting on great displays of spiritual authority etc; “Give, give, give!”; “Do as I say not as I do!”. Even God put a “mark” upon Cain (Gen. 4:15). God told Ezekiel to put a “mark” on the foreheads of the men who sigh & cry over all the abominations that are done within it (JerUSAlem) (Ez. 9:4). Verse 6 also speaks of this mark. [Heb. tâv/tawv = a signature, desire, imprint (lit. or fig.)]. The Greek word is charagma = a stamp (as a badge of servitude), etching, express image.
Do you think God marks those who act like Christians but live like devils? Do you think He marks those who cry & sigh over the conditions within the Church, the State, & the family unit here in “Christian America”? There are “marks” of martyrdom, of Christian virtues, of God’s character.
Fin
Second Peter 1:6 we find the word “perseverance” (NKJV) (Gk. hypomonē), a Christian virtue. It is synonymous here with patience (makrothymia), which is much more common in the following texts: 2 Cor. 6:4 has the word “patience” (NKJV), the margin has it as “endurance”; Eph. 4:2 has “longsuffering” as does Col. 3:12; 2 Tim. 3:10 has “endure”.
Patient Endurance
Something all human beings have trouble with. “Endurance” typifies identification with the sufferings of Christ (see also Ignatius Letter to the Smyrneans 4:2; Epistle of Barnabas 5:1-12). Enduring torments in the mark of the true Church (see 2 Clement 16:7; Shepherd of Hermas, vision(s) 2:2:7). Endurance is associated with waiting for the Lord’s return (1 Clem. 35:3).
Endurance continues to be a Mark of God’s blessing (Ignatius Letter to the Magnesians 1:3; 9:2; Ign. letter to Polycarp 3:1; Epistle to Diognetus 5:5; 2 Clem. 11:5; Martyrdom of Polycarp 2:3; Polycarp Letter to the Philippines 8:2).
Patience (Gk. makrothymia) remains a characteristic of the LORD (Shepherd of Hermas, Mandate(s) 5:2:3; Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude(s) 8:11; 1 Clem. 19:3; Epistle of Barnabas 3:6; Epistle of Diognetus 8:7; 9:2). This mark is exhibited a person that has the Holy Spirit (Shepherd of Hermas, Mandate(s) 5:1:1-2). However, it should be noted, “endurance” (hypomonē) is used once in ref. to God, but that ref. is negative (see Barnabas 2:5).
Apropos
The purpose of PX4 Files is to show our readers/viewers the persecutions, the prosecutions, the prison time leading up to our continued perseverance in battle.