Lexical Summary kakopatheia: Suffering, hardship, affliction Original Word: κακοπάθεια Strong's Exhaustive Concordance suffering, afflictionFrom a compound of hemiorion and pathos; hardship -- suffering affliction. see GREEK hemiorion see GREEK pathos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2552 kakopátheia – to experience affliction that seems bad (miserable) from an earthly perspective but in actuality is sent by God to accomplish His greater (eternal) purpose. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a comp. of kakos and pathos Definition affliction NASB Translation suffering (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2552: κακοπάθειακακοπάθεια (κακοπαθία WH; see Iota), κακοπαθείας, ἡ (κακοπαθής suffering evil, afflicted), properly, the suffering of evil, i. e. trouble, distress, affliction: James 5:10 (Malachi 1:13; 2 Macc. 2:26f; (Antiphon); Thucydides 7, 77; Isocrates, Polybius, Diodorus, others). Topical Lexicon Concept of Patient AfflictionThe term numbered 2552 depicts a kind of hardship that God’s people endure with steady, faith-filled perseverance. It is not merely physical pain or social opposition, but every form of adversity that tests the heart and calls for steadfast reliance on the Lord. Such suffering is portrayed in Scripture as a refining fire that purifies faith and magnifies divine grace. Old Testament Foreshadowing Long before the word appears in the Greek New Testament, the experience it describes fills the narrative of Israel. Joseph’s imprisonment (Genesis 39–41), David’s years of flight from Saul (1 Samuel 19–31), and Jeremiah’s repeated persecutions (Jeremiah 20:1–2; 37:15) each illustrate patient affliction. The Psalms give voice to this theme, teaching believers to pour out lament while clinging to God’s unfailing covenant love (Psalm 13; Psalm 42). These examples establish a biblical pattern: suffering produces spiritual maturity when borne in humble trust. Singular New Testament Occurrence James 5:10 employs the noun to exhort the church: “Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”. James anchors his appeal to endurance in the accounts of those prophets. They proclaimed God’s word with courage, endured hostility, and were ultimately vindicated by the Lord they served. In the immediate context, James has just warned the oppressors (James 5:1–6) and called the faithful to “be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7). Verse 10 supplies living illustrations, assuring believers that present trials are neither purposeless nor permanent. Relationship to Related Expressions of Suffering While 2552 appears only here, the same family of words permeates the New Testament. The cognate verb encourages enduring hardship for the gospel (2 Timothy 2:3), and Paul’s testimony of bonds “for the sake of the elect” (2 Timothy 2:9–10) mirrors the principle James commends. Other terms, such as thlipsis (tribulation) and pathēma (suffering), broaden the portrait, yet all converge on a single truth: God sustains His people through adversity in order to display His strength and advance His redemptive plan (Romans 5:3–5; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Theological Significance 1. Proof of Genuine Faith – Trials test the authenticity of profession (1 Peter 1:6–7). Ministerial Application Pastors and teachers draw upon James 5:10 to: Historical Witness of the Church From the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7) to modern believers who suffer for the gospel, the church’s history validates James’s exhortation. Early apologists like Justin Martyr linked prophetic affliction to Christ’s cross, while Reformation pastors found strength in the same theme amid severe opposition. Missionaries in every century have echoed James 5:10 as they faced prison, disease, or social scorn, confident that patient endurance furthers the gospel. Practical Counsel for Believers Today • Meditate on prophetic narratives; let their endurance fuel present resolve. Summary Strong’s Greek 2552, though occurring once, summarizes a vital biblical motif: steadfast faith under affliction. James lifts the prophets as enduring witnesses, urging all Christians to emulate their patient resolve while awaiting the Lord’s sure vindication. Forms and Transliterations κακοπαθείας κακοπαθιας κακοπαθίας kakopathias kakopathíasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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