What is the difference between longsuffering and patience?

They are very close. Longsuffering (makrothymia) is above all bearing with people without retaliating; patience in the sense of endurance (hypomone) is holding firm in hard circumstances. Many modern Bibles translate both as patience.

Where does longsuffering appear in the Bible?

In 14 verses of the New Testament, among them the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), Romans 2:4, Colossians 3:12 and 2 Peter 3:15.

Greek word · Strong G3115

What does longsuffering mean?

Longsuffering is the patience of someone who bears with others for a long time without losing heart or striking back — literally a “long temper”. It is the King James word for the Greek makrothymia, one of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22; newer versions usually say “patience”.

μακροθυμία

makrothymía · transliteration

In Strong’s lexicon: longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude
In the King James: longsuffering12
Appears in: 14 verses

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The meaning of longsuffering in the Bible

Makrothymia joins makros, long, and thymos, temper or anger: it means being slow to anger. Before it is a virtue of ours, it is a trait of God, who from the Old Testament on reveals himself as slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). Peter says God's delay in judging is an opportunity: “account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15).

That is why it belongs to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and to the clothing God's chosen people put on: mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12). Longsuffering is not indifference: it is love that waits and bears, the love that “suffereth long” in 1 Corinthians 13:4.

Where longsuffering appears

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

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2 Peter 3:15

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

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Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between longsuffering and patience?: They are very close. Longsuffering (makrothymia) is above all bearing with people without retaliating; patience in the sense of endurance (hypomone) is holding firm in hard circumstances. Many modern Bibles translate both as patience.
Where does longsuffering appear in the Bible?: In 14 verses of the New Testament, among them the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), Romans 2:4, Colossians 3:12 and 2 Peter 3:15.

The meaning of longsuffering in the Bible

Where longsuffering appears

Galatians 5:22

2 Peter 3:15

Colossians 3:12

Frequently asked questions

More Bible words