ENDURANCE 1. Happiness is promised to those who stand fast in temptation and endure testing (James 1:12; 5:11). God is pleased and will give you temporal (children, wealth) and eternal (crown of life, reign with Christ) rewards (2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 10:36; 1 Peter 2:20). 2. The Greek word hupomone, often translated "perseverance" in our English Bibles, is best translated "steadfastness" in contexts of temptation, battle, or spiritual warfare and "endurance" in contexts of suffering or persecution. To be steadfast is to stay put under attack, to hold your ground, to fight the enemy no matter what the cost. The opposite is fleeing, running for safety. To stand fast in temptation is to resist—to fight against—temptation. To endure is to remain in suffering, to bear pain without complaint, to do nothing shameful to escape. The opposite is doing anything in your power to escape. In the New Testament Jesus and the saints endure: (a) tribulation (Rom. 12:12), (b) all things (1 Cor. 13:7), (c) a great contest of sufferings (Heb. 10:32), (d) the cross (Heb. 12:2), (e) hostility (Heb. 12:3), (f) temptation (James 1:12), (g) harsh treatment (1 Peter 2:20), (h) suffering (1 Peter 2:20), (i) persecutions and tribulations (2 Thess. 1:4), and (j) sufferings (2 Cor. 1:6). 3. Endurance is acquired ('unto every kind of endurance' Col. 1:11). No one is born with this ability—to endure every kind of test and tribulation (cf. 2 Cor. 6:4). 4. You have been called to endure suffering for doing good (1 Peter 2:20–21). 5. Pursue endurance (1 Tim. 6:11). To pursue (Greek dioko) is to chase in order to overtake and catch—as a fox chases a rabbit. Stay in hot pursuit until you acquire endurance. This is a command. Don't expect an easy catch: endurance is fleeting and, like a rabbit, quickly escapes. 6. Endurance keeps good company: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, and gentleness (1 Tim. 6:11). 7. Endurance is produced in the heart (2 Thess 3:5). 8. Endurance comes from a. God (Rom. 15:5; cf. Col. 1:11; 2 Thess. 3:5) b. the testing of your faith (James 1:3). c. suffering (Rom. 5:3). d. the Scriptures (Rom. 15:4; cf. Heb. 10:32–33). e. hope (1 Thess. 1:3). The expression 'the endurance of hope' means you endure because you hope. f. love (1 Cor. 13:7; cf. 2 Tim. 2:10). 9. Endurance grows (2 Peter 1:5–8) until you attain 'every kind of endurance' (Col. 1:11). 10. Endurance should be accompanied with faith, hope, waiting, patience, and the comfort of the Scriptures (Rom. 8:25; 15:4; Col. 1:11; 2 Thess. 1:4). 11. Endurance is a mark of maturity (Titus 2:2). It's present in (a) Job (James 5:11), (b) Paul and Timothy (2 Tim. 2:8–10; 3:10), (c). John (Rev. 1:9), (d) Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 3:5; Heb. 12:2–3), (e) the pastor of the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:2–3), (f) the pastor of the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:19), (g) the church at Thessalonika (1 Thess. 1:2–3), and (h) tribulational saints (Rev. 13:10; 14:12). 12. Endurance produces proven character (dokime in Rom. 5:4). To endure is to be tested and approved (dokimos in James 1:12). The opposite is to be tested and rejected (apodokimos). 13. Endurance makes you useful and fruitful in the Christian life (2 Peter 1:5–8). With endurance you will bear fruit in times of testing (Luke 8:15; cf. Rom. 2:7). 14. The opposite of endurance is losing courage, growing weary, and losing heart (Heb. 10:35–36; 12:3). 15. Endurance in suffering is cause for boasting (2 Thess. 1:4).