Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; "Long suffering" will be found to express patience in respect of persons, and "patience" the same in respect to things. The man is long-suffering, who, having to do with injurious persons does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up into anger. The man is patient who, under a great siege of trials, bears up and does not lose heart or courage (Romans 5:3; 2 Corinthians 1:6). We should speak, there fore, of the long-suffering of David (2 Samuel 16:10-13), the patience of Job (James 5:11). Thus, while both graces are ascribed to the saints, only long-suffering is an attribute of God. Men may tempt and provoke Him, and He may and does display an infinite long-suffering in regard of them (Exodus 34:6; Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 3:20); there may be a resistance to God in men, because He respects the wills with which He has created them, even when those wills are fighting against Him. But there can be no resistance to God, nor burden upon Him, the Almighty, from things; therefore patience cannot find place in Him, nor is it ever rightly ascribed to Him; for when God is called "the God of patience" (Romans 15:5) this does not mean God whose attribute patience is, but God who gives patience to His people. (See also 1 Peter 5:10; Hebrews 13:20; Romans 15:13). (Archbishop Trench.)The two words occur in the same context in 2 Corinthians 6:4, 6; 2 Timothy 3:10; James 5:10-11. The difference of meaning is best seen in their opposites. While patience is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering, long-suffering is the self-restraint that does not hastily retaliate a wrong. The one is opposed to cowardice or despondency, the other to wrath or revenge (Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 16:32). (Bishop Lightfoot.) Parallel Verses KJV: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; |
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