God uses different names and titles for Himself in the Bible as a way to teach us Who He is. Studying the titles of God and understanding His many characteristics gives us a glimpse of the glory and magnificence of our Creator and assures us of His ability and willingness to care for His people. God’s long-suffering and patience expressed throughout the Scriptures encourage us to have hope. By studying the title “the God of patience,” we will see and understand that God is the Source of our patient endurance.
Romans 15:5 is the only occurrence in the King James Version of “the God of patience.”
Romans 15:5:
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.
The arrangement of the wording in this title of God has a God-given emphasis on the word “patience.” When a phrase like “of patience” is used to describe God, the emphasis is placed on the noun(s) following “of”: in this case, “patience.” This verse shows that patience comes from God; God is the Source of our patience.
According to Bullinger’s Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, this Greek word for “patience,” hupomonē, means “a remaining under, a bearing-up under; hence, patient endurance, holding out, enduring.” Bullinger also notes that “the grand basis of hupomonē” is hope. Strong’s concordance defines hupomonē as “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy.” While hupomonē may be passive in enduring through difficult circumstances, it is often active in terms of the perseverance needed to carry out our heavenly Father’s work.
Let’s see how the God of patience is the SOURCE of our patience. The Apostle Paul, by revelation, encouraged believers to make this patience a part of their daily living and service. The Apostle Paul experienced and understood that God is the Source of our patience.
Colossians 1:11:
Strengthened with all might, according to his [God’s] glorious power, unto all PATIENCE [hupomonē] and LONGSUFFERING [makrothumia, a synonym of hupomonē] with joyfulness.
I Thessalonians 1:3:
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith [believing], and labour of love, and PATIENCE [hupomonē] of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
I Corinthians 13 tells us that charity, the love of God, patiently endures.
I Corinthians 13:4:
Charity SUFFERETH LONG [verb form of makrothumia]….
With God’s love, we put on patience in our renewed mind. And, of course, we are to imitate our heavenly Father, Who is patient with us.
II Peter 3:9:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING [a form of makrothumia] to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The Apostle Paul saw God’s patient endurance in his life and in turn manifested it to others. Paul’s hope for the return of Christ enabled him to continue pressing forward in doing the will of God.
Philippians 3:13,14:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
God wants us to know that we, too, can press ahead in doing His will, and we can look toward a future filled with His goodness, love, and hope.
From looking at the title “the God of patience,” we can see and understand that God is the Source of our patient endurance. We can see God express His long-suffering and patience throughout the Scriptures, showing us the love and care He has for us and encouraging us to have hope. God is patient with each and every believer. As the Word lives in our hearts, we, too, can have patience and hope, and we are encouraged to keep moving forward.