|
|
|
-
Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
|
|
|
http://www.gracebiblegillette.org/studies.htm
- fruit FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Patience, Kindness, Goodness) (Gal 5:22-23) Pastor/Teacher
IV. PATIENCE A. Lexical
Meaning of Patience 1. The
Greek word for patience is makrothumía and literally means “long
(makrós) passion or anger” (thumós - boiling point
or fuse). 2. In non-biblical
Greek it implied “resignation” or “forced acceptance.” 3. But in OT usage, two changes occur to
this word. First, it is seen as an attitude of God (Exo 34:6 “slow to
anger”). Secondly, God exercised makrothumía in regards to holding
back his wrath toward the sin of man (Jon 4:2). 4. In addition to this divine attribute in
the NT, makrothumía is applied to various scenarios from an
enduring response to ill treatment to a patient response in waiting for the
return of the Lord. 5. “Patience” (makrothumía) tends
to focus on the response toward a perpetrator while “forbearance” (anexíkakos
2Ti 2:24) tolerates the evil of the perpetrator and “endurance” (hupomonę́
2Co 1:6) remains under the pressure of the perpetrator. B. Definitions
on Patience 1. Patience has to do with tolerance and
long-suffering that endure injuries inflicted by others, the calm willingness
to accept situations that are irritating or painful. (MacArthur in loc.) 2. [Patience] speaks of the steadfastness of
the soul under provocation. It includes the idea of forbearance and patient
endurance of wrong under ill-treatment, without anger or thought of revenge. (Wuest’s Word Studies) 3. [Patience] relates to
one’s attitude toward others and involves a refusal to retaliate or work
vengeance for wrong received.
(Wycliffe Bible Commentary) C. Aspects
of Patience 1. In
regard to God a) Patience
demonstrates God’s forbearing and merciful heart (1Ti 1:16; 2Pe 3:9). b) Patience is
God’s divine prerogative toward vessels of wrath (Rom 2:4; 9:22). 2. In
regard to the Believer a) The
believer’s life is to be characterized with patience and forbearance (Eph
4:1-3; Col 3:12-13). b) The believer’s response is non-retaliatory
towards those who inflict pain (2Ti 3:10-12; Jam 5:10-11). c) The believer is to exercise great
patience in teaching, even towards those who reject the truth (2Ti 4:1-4). d) The believer is to encourage but also to
extend patience towards those who are weak in the Christian life (1Th 5:14). e) The
believer is to patiently wait for the return of the Lord (Jam 5:7,8). D. Considerations
on The Fruit of Patience 1. Patience
is included in God’s view of ministry, persecution, endurance in waiting for heaven,
and Christ-likeness. It is every bit as much a virtue as is love (2Co 6:4-6). 2. Cooler
heads prevail spiritually because the one who has patience has great
understanding of God’s ways, man’s ways, and God’s way to change man’s way
(Pro 14:29; Pro 19:11). 3. Impatience is contagious and detrimental
to the unity of peace in the body (Pro 15:18). 4. Patience calms volatile situations when
exercised with no words (Pro 17:27), few words (Pro 10:19) or calm words (Pro
25:15). 5. If the Holy Spirit produces patience in
the believer, the believer cannot afford to be impatient and prematurely
react independent of the Holy Spirit. V. KINDNESS A. Lexical
Meaning of Kindness 1. The
Greek word for kindness is chrestótęs and comes from chrę́ which has at its root
the idea of that which is fitting and useful (Luk 5:39). 2. Morally speaking, it refers to one who is
“upright,” “decent,” and “morally good” (1Co 15:33). 3. It is especially used to describe one who
is good-hearted, gracious, gentle, clement, and benign of ill-treatment, even
toward those who do not deserve it. B. Definitions
on Kindness 1. Kindness relates to tender concern for
others. It has nothing to do with weakness or lack of conviction but is the
genuine desire of a believer to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats
him. (MacArthur in loc.) 2. [Kindness] refers to
benignity (also translated “gentleness”); a quality that should pervade and
penetrate the whole nature, mellowing in it all that is harsh and austere. (Wuest’s Word Studies). C. Aspects
of Kindness 1. In
regard to God a) God
himself is not only kind, but kind to those who are ungrateful and evil (Luk
6:35). b) The kindness of the Lord is the saving
work experienced by believers (Tit 3:4-5; 1Pe 2:3). 2. In
regard to Man a) The
kindness of God leads man to repentance (Rom 2:4). b) Sinful man is incapable of moral kindness
or goodness before God (Rom 3:12). 3. In
regard to the Believer a) Intrinsically,
the kindness of God which is extended to the one who believes is easy, not
burdensome, and benevolent (Mat 11:28-30). b) The kindness of God is extended eternally
to the believer (Eph 2:7). c) The believer’s forgiveness is an
expression of God’s kindness (Ps 25:7 LXX; Eph 4:32). D. Considerations
on The Fruit of Kindness 1. If a
believer is to be useful to the Lord, then he must act with godly and kind
decorum. In God’s eyes, the right response of moral etiquette is kindness. It
must be benign of ill-treatment. 2. Kindness is the correct Christian social
response because it is the character quality of God. Because He is kind,
tender-hearted, and forgiving toward those who do not deserve it, His
children must be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving as well (Eph 4:32). 3. Though kindness is being produced in the
believer by the Holy Spirit, it is the believer’s volitional responsibility
to clothe himself ( 4. Kindness is a description of agape love
(1Co 13:4). If “God is love” (1Jo 4:16), and the believer has been
regenerated unto a new relationship with the “God of love” (2Co 3:11), and if
the Holy Spirit is producing love and kindness, then loving-kindness must be
a growing response in the true believer (1Jo 4:7-8). VI. GOODNESS A. Lexical
Meaning of Goodness 1. “Goodness”
comes from the Greek word agathōsúnę (from agathós)
and denotes a quality of moral excellence (Rom 5:7; 15:14). 2. agathós, not agathōsúnę is found in
Classical Greek. Plato used the word to describe something with an excellent
status or quality. People become good through instruction in the good (Gorg
470c). 3. There was some attachment of “goodness”
to religious terms in the Hellenistic period (Philo), but the full-fledged
idea of “moral excellence” or “moral goodness” came with the LXX and the N.T.
as it attributed “goodness” to God and man. B. Definitions
on Goodness 1. Agathós
(goodness) has to do with moral and spiritual excellence that is known by its
sweetness and active kindness (MacArthur in loc.). 2. Goodness (agathōsúnę)
may be thought of both as an uprightness of soul and as an action reaching
out to others to do good even when it is not deserved. BKC 3. The word refers to that quality in a man
who is ruled by and aims at what is good, namely, the quality of moral worth
(Wuest). C. Aspects
of Goodness 1. In
regard to God a) Goodness
describes an attribute of the essence of God (1Ch 16:34; Ps 135:3). b) God the Holy Spirit is also attributed
with goodness (Ps 143:10). c) God acts consistently with his nature,
therefore God acts with goodness toward man (Ps 34:9-10; 84:11; Mat 7:11; Jam
1:17). d) God satisfies his people with his goodness
(Psa 65:4; Jer 31:14). e) Goodness is attributed to God in regard
to his deliverance (Ex 18:9; Psa 96:2). 2. In
regard to Man a) Man, in
and of himself, falls short of God’s goodness and moral excellence (Ecc 7:20;
Ps 53:1, 3). b) Man is recognized and judged according to
his good fruit (Mat 7:16-21). c) Only God is good, therefore Christ, being
the God-man, is morally good (Luk 18:18-19). Mt. 19:17). 3. In
regard to Believers a) Goodness
is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit produced in the believer (Gal 5:22;
Act 11:24). b) Goodness is a synonym for edification, the
goal for believers (Rom 15:2; Eph 4:29). c) Believers are to do good to all people,
especially believers (Gal 6:10; 3Jo 1:11). D. Considerations
on the Fruit of Goodness 1. If God
is inherently good, and God is sovereign, then everything that God allows to
happen to the believer must be for his ultimate good (Rom 8:28; Gen 50:20;
Phi1:6). 2. Therefore, the believer must view all
things from God as good (Psa 119:71; 67, 75). 3. Furthermore, God predestined the believer
to do good works (Eph 2:10). 4. It is God who equips the believer for
good works through His Word (2Tim 3:16-17) and through his Spirit (Gal 5:22;
1Co 12:7). 5. The result of the believer who allows the
Spirit’s goodness to work in and through his life will hear the words, “Well
done, good and faithful slave” (Mat 25:23). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
