Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ImportancePerseverance, in the Christian context, refers to the steadfastness and endurance in faith and practice, despite trials, temptations, and difficulties. It is a vital aspect of the Christian life, reflecting a believer's commitment to continue in faith and obedience to God. Perseverance is not merely a human effort but is empowered by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer.
Biblical FoundationThe concept of perseverance is deeply rooted in Scripture, where believers are encouraged to remain faithful and steadfast. In the New Testament, perseverance is often linked with the hope of eternal life and the assurance of salvation.
James 1:12 states, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."
Examples of Perseverance in Scripture1.
Job: The account of Job is a profound example of perseverance. Despite severe trials and suffering, Job remained faithful to God.
James 5:11 highlights this, saying, "Behold, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
2.
Paul: The Apostle Paul exemplified perseverance through his missionary journeys, enduring hardships, persecution, and imprisonment. In
2 Timothy 4:7 , Paul declares, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
3.
Jesus Christ: The ultimate example of perseverance is found in Jesus Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.
Hebrews 12:2 encourages believers to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Theological SignificancePerseverance is closely related to the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, which asserts that true believers will persevere in faith until the end. This doctrine emphasizes God's faithfulness in preserving His people.
Philippians 1:6 assures believers, "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Practical ApplicationBelievers are called to actively pursue perseverance by relying on God's strength and promises.
Romans 5:3-4 teaches, "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Christians are encouraged to cultivate perseverance through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and fellowship with other believers.
Encouragement to PersevereThe Bible provides numerous exhortations to persevere in faith.
Hebrews 10:36 states, "You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." This encouragement is a reminder that perseverance is essential for receiving God's promises and experiencing the fullness of His blessings.
Topical Bible Verses
Romans 5:3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;
Topicalbible.orgJames 1:12
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
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2 Thessalonians 1:4
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure:
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James 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.
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Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.
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Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
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Mark 13:13
And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
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Easton's Bible Dictionary
Perseverance of the saints
Their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life.
This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages,John 10:28, 29;Romans 11:29;Philippians 1:6;1 Peter 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jeremiah 31:3;Matthew 24:22-24;Acts 13:48;Romans 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jeremiah 32:40;John 10:29;17:2-6); (3) the atonement and intercession of Christ (Isaiah 53:6, 11;Matthew 20:28;1 Peter 2:24;John 11:42;17:11, 15, 20;Romans 8:34); and (4) the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16;2 Corinthians 1:21, 22;5:5;Ephesians 1:14; 1John 3:9).
This doctrine is not inconsistent with the truth that the believer may nevertheless fall into grievous sin, and continue therein for some time. (seeBACKSLIDE.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Persistence under harsh conditions; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business, or enterprise begun.
2. (n.) Discrimination.
3. (n.) Continuance in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance, and the perseverance of the saints. See Calvinism.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PERSEVERANCEpur-se-ver'-ans: The word occurs only once in the King James Version (Ephesians 6:18), where it refers quite simply to persistence in prayer. In theology (especially in the phrase "final perseverance") the word has come to denote a special persistency, the undying continuance of the new life (manifested in faith and holiness) given by the Spirit of God to man. It is questioned whether such imparted life is (by its nature, or by the law of its impartation) necessarily permanent indestructible so that the once regenerate and believing man has the prospect of final glory infallibly assured. This is not the place to trace the history of a great and complex debate. It is more fitting here to point to the problem as connected with that supreme class of truths in which, because of our necessary mental limits, the entire truth can only be apprehended as the unrevealed but certain harmony of seeming contradictions. Scripture on the one hand abounds with assurances of "perseverance" as a fact, and largely intimates that an exulting anticipation of it is the intended experience of the believer (seeJohn 10:28 above all, and compare among other passagesRomans 8:31-371 Peter 1:8, 9). On the other hand, we find frequent and urgent warnings and cautions (see e.g.1 Corinthians 8:11;1 Corinthians 9:27). The teacher dealing with actual cases, as in pastoral work, should be ready to adopt both classes of utterances, each with its proper application; applying the first, e.g., to the true but timid disciple, the latter to the self-confident. Meanwhile Scripture on the whole, by the manner and weight of its positive statements, favors a humble belief of the permanence, in the plan of God, of the once-given new life. It is as if it laid down perseverance" as the divine rule for the Christian, while the negative passages came in to caution the man not to deceive himself with appearances, nor to let any belief whatever palliate the guilt and minimize the danger of sin. In the biographies of Scripture, it is noteworthy that no person appears who, at one time certainly a saint, was later certainly a castaway. The awful words ofHebrews 6:4-6;Hebrews 10:26, 27 appear to deal with cases (such as Balaam's) of much light but no loving life, and so are not precisely in point. Upon the whole subject, it is important to make "the Perseverance of the Saviour" our watchword rather than "the Perseverance of the saint."
Handley Dunelm
Greek
4343. proskarteresis -- steadfastness... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: proskarteresis Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-kar-ter'-ay-sis) Short Definition:
perseverance Definition:
perseverance...5281. hupomone -- a remaining behind, a patient enduring
... Origin from hupomeno Definition a remaining behind, a patient enduring NASB Word
Usage endurance (7), patient enduring (1),perseverance (21), steadfastness (3...
3114. makrothumeo -- to persevere, to be patient
... mak-roth-oo-meh'-o) Short Definition: I suffer long, have patience, am forbearing
Definition: I suffer long, have patience, am forbearing,perseverance....
2552. kakopatheia -- affliction
... kakopatheia Phonetic Spelling: (kak-op-ath'-i-ah) Short Definition: suffering
Definition: experience of evil, suffering, distress, affliction,perseverance....
Library
Perseverance
... 6. The application of redemption 10.Perseverance. 'Who... 1. The fifth and
last fruit of sanctification, isperseverance in grace....
WhetherPerseverance is a virtue?
... OFPERSEVERANCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whetherperseverance is a virtue? Objection
1: It seems thatperseverance is not a virtue. For, according...
ThePerseverance of Faith
... ThePerseverance Of Faith. A Sermon (No.2253). Intended for Reading on
Lord's-Day, April 24th, 1892,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At...
FinalPerseverance
... FinalPerseverance. A Sermon (No.75). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, March 23, 1856,
by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark....
On thePerseverance of Saints
... FIFTH PART ON THEPERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS. QUERIES. " Is it possible for
true believers to fall away totally and finally: 2. Do...
WhetherPerseverance is a Part of Fortitude?
... OFPERSEVERANCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whetherperseverance is a part of fortitude? Objection
1: It seems thatperseverance is not a part of fortitude....
Whether Constancy Pertains toPerseverance?
... OFPERSEVERANCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether constancy pertains toperseverance? Objection
1: It seems that constancy does not pertain toperseverance....
Perseverance.
... VII. PRAISE. Hymn 84Perseverance. John Newton 8,6,8,6.Perseverance. Rejoice,
believer, in the LORD. Who makes your cause his own;...
ThePerseverance of the Saints
... V. THEPERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. My sentiments respecting theperseverance
of the saints are, that those persons who have been...
Whether Pertinacity is Opposed toPerseverance?
... OF THE VICES OPPOSED TOPERSEVERANCE (TWO ARTICLES) Whether pertinacity is opposed
toperseverance? Objection 1: It seems that pertinacity...
Thesaurus
Perseverance (27 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Perseverance of the saints. Their certain continuance
in a state of grace.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PERSEVERANCE.
...Election (6 Occurrences)
... SCOPE OF ELECTION VI.PERSEVERANCE VII. CONSIDERATIONS...Perseverance. The anxious
problem ofPERSEVERANCE will be treated under that word. It...
Endurance (31 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality of withstanding hardship or
stress; lastingness;perseverance; continuance. 2. (n.) The...
Patience (59 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped
for; forbearance. 3. (n.) Constancy in labor or application;perseverance....
Perseus
Suffering (104 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Romans 5:3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing
that suffering worksperseverance; (Root in WEB WEY RSV NIV)....
Name's (31 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Revelation 2:3 You haveperseverance and have endured for my name's
sake, and have not grown weary. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)....
Laborious (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Requiringperseverance or sacrifice; toilsome;
tiresome. 2. (a.) Devoted to labor; diligent; industrious...
Lowliness (9 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart
of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, andperseverance; (WEB WEY ASV...
Go (17871 Occurrences)
... 20. (n.) A glass of spirits. 21. (n.) Power of going or doing; energy; vitality;
perseverance; push; as, there is no go in him. 22....
Resources
What does the Bible say about perseverance? | GotQuestions.orgPerseverance of the Saints - is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Calvinism and is it biblical? What are the five points of Calvinism? | GotQuestions.orgPerseverance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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