What Does the Bible Say About Patience and Tolerance

What Does The Bible Say About Patience? Patience is a godly character which is executed knowing well-fully that God is in control of all things and He will bring into existence all things at the right time. When all things are unfolding smoothly or going our way, it is easy to demonstrate patience. However, the true test of patience comes when our rights our violated for example, when we are treated unfairly, when another car cuts us off in traffic, or when our coworker derides out faith. In addition, a true test of patience can be experienced when we are faced with life challenges, trials, persecutions, and hardship. It is unfortunate that some people think that they have the right to get upset in the face of trials and irritations. That is, impatience for such people seems to be a holy anger.

However, it is important to understand here that the Bible portrays patience as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Hence, we can say without doubt that patience is a fruit of the Spirit that should be cultivated and taken to maturity within all followers of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Patience clearly reveals our faith or trust in God's timing, omnipotence, love, and protection. Although a good number of people simply consider patience to be gentle tolerance or partial waiting, most of the Greek words translated "Patience" in the New Testament of the Bible are more of active, robust words. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

Having read Hebrews 12:1, we can point to the fact that one does not successfully run a race by passively waiting for slow-pokes or gently tolerating cheaters. The word translated "patience" in this scripture means "endurance." Hence, a Christian successfully runs this race patiently by persevering, enduring and holding strong to the faith through difficulties. We learn from the Bible that patience is persevering towards the achievement of a goal despite the challenges on the way. It has to do with enduring persecutions, trials, or expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled. In addition, it is important to understand here that patience does not develop overnight. It takes God's power and goodness for a heart to mature in patience. We can support this point by reading from Colossians 1:11 which tells us that we are strengthened by Him to "great endurance and patience."

James 1:3-4 encourages us to understand that trials are God's way of perfecting our patience and trust or faith in Him. This patience that is build through trials and challenges within us is further developed and strengthened by trusting in God's perfect will and timing, even in the face of wicked and evil men who "succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7). Get it once and for all that our patience is rewarded in the end "because the Lord's coming is near" (James 5:7-8). Lamentations 3:25 says, "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him."

What does the Scripture says about Patience?

The Scriptures reveal many examples of those whose patience characterized their approval and walk with God. It is with this in mind that Apostle James refers us to the Prophets "as an example of patience in the face of suffering" (James 5:10). Apostle James also refers to Job, whose perseverance and endurance was rewarded by what the "Lord finally brought about" (James 5:11). Remember how Abraham also waited patiently on God and "received what was promised" (Hebrews 6:15). Jesus Christ who is our model in all things actively demonstrated patient endurance as we can read from Hebrews 12:2 – "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."

Behold, one might ask, "how do we demonstrate the patience that is characteristic of Christ?" Instead of following the secular way of doing whereby a person's first reaction in the face of trials and challenges is "Why Me?", we should go the Bible's way which says that we should rejoice and give thanks to God because He is in control (Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:6). It is important for us to learn what it takes to seek and find God's purpose. There are times that God allows us to get into difficult moments so that we can be witnesses. There are also times that God can allow trials to come our way for sanctification of character. In the face of trials and challenges, we should have it in mind that God's strength, glory, and power is sufficient to guide us through.

Facts about patience

In the face of challenges, persecutions, trials, and even life-threatening situations for the sake of Christ, we should always remember God's promises such as that inRomans 8:28 – "all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." It is important to learn from the Scripture that the "all things" include even those that will try our patience and level of trust in God. The next time that you are mocked for your testimony of Christ, cut off in a traffic jam, or betrayed by a close friend, refuse to react the natural way which has to do with entertaining impatience that in-turn leads to anger, stress, and frustration.

You should rather praise God and give Him all glory for as Christians, we are no longer tied in the bondage of "natural response" because we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a new creation in Christ, we have His strength to respond in patience and complete trust in the Father's purpose and perfect will for our lives and situations. It is in this light that Romans 2:7 says, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life."

What The Bible Says About Patience

Galatians 6:9 – "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Romans 12:12 – "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 8:25 – "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Proverbs 14:29 – "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."

Ephesians 4:2 – "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

Exodus 14:14 – "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

2 Peter 3:9 – "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Psalm 27:14 – "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Proverbs 16:32 – "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city."

Psalm 37:7 – "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Group 1 – What The Bible Says About Patience

Psalm 103:8 – "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."

Psalm 5:3 – "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."

Romans 15:5 – "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."

Psalm 30:5 – "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."

Colossians 3:12 – "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

2 Timothy 4:2 – "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."

Matthew 24:42 – "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

1 Timothy 1:16 – "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."

2 Peter 3:8 – "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."

Isaiah 30:18 – "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!"

Group 2 – What The Bible Says About Patience

Ephesians 4:2 – "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"

Galatians 6:9 – "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Romans 8:25 – "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

Romans 12:12 – "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

Revelation 3:11 – "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

Joel 2:13 – "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

Matthew 24:13 – "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

1 Corinthians 13:4 – "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant."

Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Philippians 4:6 – "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Psalm 37:7-9 – "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land."

Group 3 – What The Bible Says About Patience

Psalm 37:7 – "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"

Ecclesiastes 7:8 – "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."

Colossians 3:12 – "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"

Proverbs 15:18 – "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."

Ecclesiastes 7:9 – "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools."

Isaiah 40:31 – "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Galatians 5:22 – "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"

Hebrews 10:36 – "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."

Romans 5:4 – "And endurance produces character, and character produces hope,"

2 Peter 3:9 – "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

James 1:19 – "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;"

Group 4 – What The Bible Says About Patience

Colossians 1:11 – "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy," Hebrews 6:12 – So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Romans 15:5 – "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,"

Psalm 40:1 – "To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry."

James 5:7-8 – "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

1 Peter 2:19-23 – "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

Luke 8:15 – "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."

James 5:8 – "You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

Romans 5:3 – "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,"

Proverbs 16:32 – "Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

1 Timothy 1:16 – "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life."

Luke 21:19 – "By your endurance you will gain your lives."

Hebrews 6:15 – "And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise."

Hebrews 12:1 – "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"

Proverbs 25:15 – "With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone."

2 Timothy 4:2 – "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."

James 5:7 – "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains."

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

Romans 2:4 – "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

James 1:3 – "For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

Joel 2:13 – "And rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster."

2 Timothy 2:24 – "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,"

Romans 5:3-4 – "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,"

Proverbs 14:29 – "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly."

Titus 2:2 – "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness."

Revelation 14:12 – "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

Psalm 27:14 – "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

James 1:4 – "And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Colossians 3:12-13 – "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

Isaiah 30:18 – "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."

Psalm 103:8 – "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

Exodus 14:14 – "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Galatians 5:22-23 – "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude, It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;"

Psalm 30:5 – "For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."

2 Thessalonians 3:5 – "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ."

Matthew 24:42 – "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."

Revelation 2:3 – "I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary."

2 Peter 3:15 – "And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,"

James 5:10 – "As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord."

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

2 Peter 1:6 – "And knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,"

2 Peter 3:8 – "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Romans 15:4 – "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Ephesians 4:1-3 – "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

1 Thessalonians 1:3 – "Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 2:7 – "To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;"

James 5:11 – "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."

Romans 15:4-5 – "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,"

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

2 Peter 1:6 – "And knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,"

2 Peter 3:8 – "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Romans 15:4 – "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

1 Thessalonians 1:3 – "Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 2:7 – "To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;"

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

Revelation 13:10 – "If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints."

2 Thessalonians 1:4 – "Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring."

Numbers 14:18 – "'The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'"

Revelation 3:10 – "Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth."

Genesis 29:20 – "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her."

2 Timothy 3:10 – "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,"

Colossians 3:13 – "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

James 1:2-4 – "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

James 1:3-4 – "For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 – "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools."

Hebrews 12:2 – "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Ephesians 4:2-3 – "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Habakkuk 2:3 – "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Psalm 130:5 – "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;"

Lamentations 3:25-27 – "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

Revelation 2:2 – "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false."

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

1 Peter 4:8 – "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; …"

1 Timothy 1:12-17 – "I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. …"

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Patience?

Ephesians 4:1-2 – "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"

2 Corinthians 6:4-6 – "But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;"

Matthew 24:13 – "But the one who endures to the end will be saved."