Lose heart (1573) (ekkakeo [equivalent to egkakeo, enkakeo] from ek = out of or intensifies meaning + kakós = bad) means to strictly speaking means to act or behave badly in some circumstance. It can mean to give in to evil. It can convey the idea of to be weary in or become tired of doing something. Wood comments that... The verb enkakein means “to become good for nothing,” “to grow faint,” and hence “to be discouraged” (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing or computer version) The UBS Handbook notes that... Not to be discouraged may be expressed in a number of ways, often idiomatically, for example, “not to lose heart,” “not to give up,” “not to run away,” or “not to think that all is lost” (The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series or Logos) It is worth noting that every NT use of ekkakeo is preceded by negative particle ("not") - Do not become discouraged. Do not lose your enthusiasm. Do not lose heart. Do not grow weary or tired. Do not flag or faint. Do not grow slack. Do not despair. Beloved, perhaps God's Spirit might use one of these phrases to stimulate you to keep on fighting the good faith, remembering that until we see Him face to face, it's always too soon to quit. May God grant all of us to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in our inner man (Ep 3:16-note) so that at the end of our life we might be able to echo Paul's words... I have fought the good fight (struggle), I have finished the course (race), I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2Ti 4:7-note, 2Ti 4:8-note) Rienecker writes that ekkakeo is also used in the papyri in the sense of treating someone badly. It became a Christian technical term expressing the unflagging pursuit of the goal of service to neighbor, or of apostolic ministry, as well as the tautness (having no give or slack -- tightly drawn, chiefly a nautical term signifying in proper order or condition) of the determined heart that does not let up or lose courage. (Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament) Ekkakeo can mean to be a coward, to lose courage or to lose the motivation to accomplish a valid goal or to continue in a desirable pattern of conduct. To become discouraged and give up. Ekkakeo conveys the idea of becoming exhausted or fainthearted in view of a trial or difficulty and therefore giving up ("throwing in the towel" to use a modern expression). This attitude is the opposite of Paul's charge that we be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing (let this truth motivate you to keep on keeping on!) that your toil is not (absolutely is not) in vain in the Lord” (1Co 15:58-note). The present tense in Ep 3:13 speaks of a continuing action ("don't let this be your continual response to my tribulations" is the idea). Wayne Barber explains ekkakeo writing that... It means "to grow weary, to be discouraged, to be faint hearted." It also carries another idea. It means "to turn cowardly and to give into the influences of evil that are around you." It is almost as if Paul is saying, "Listen, I am in prison, yes, and my imprisonment is on your behalf. Now don’t you go and lose heart. I certainly haven’t lost heart. Look at the marvel of our salvation. Don’t you grow weary. Don’t become faint hearted. Don’t give in to the consequences and the temptations of evil that are all around you." (Ed note: this would be a reasonable interpretation in view of the fact that he is about to begin his discourse charging them to walk worthy of their calling, and not like they used to walk as godless heathens). (Ephesians 3:13: Roots of Discouragement) In the other 5 uses of ekkakeo (no uses in the Septuagint), the NT instructs believers not to lose heart about several things in addition to trials (Notice this is primarily a "Pauline" word)... Prayer (Of prayer to which the answer seems deferred) Luke 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart Doing good (In view of the danger of failure in perseverance or temptation to laxity) Gal 6:9-note And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. Comment: A T Robertson says "It is curious how prone we are to give in and to give out in doing the good which somehow becomes prosy or insipid to us". 2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. Serving (Of the ministry of the word in its purity, when some modification might make it acceptable) 2Cor 4:1-note Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart Burdens of life (in spite of the fatigue and physical suffering involved) 2Co 4:16-note, 2Co 4:17-note, 2Co 4:18-note Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. And thus God produces glory through our afflictions and sufferings. Paul adds... For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Ro 8:18-note) Paul always had an eternal view when suffering for the sake of the gospel. In Philippians (also in prison as he was when he wrote Ephesians) Paul wrote... Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. (Php 1:12 13 14-note) In a similar situation (again writing from prison) Paul tells the saints at Colossae that... Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions. (Col 1:24-note) Comment: He is not saying his suffering had any atoning value, for Christ's finished work on the Cross accomplished that objected forever. What he is saying is that because of the union of believers with Christ, Paul's sufferings for the sake of the church can be called Christ's afflictions as well. And the suffering will potentially happen to any believer who remains faithful, cf 2Ti 3:12-note) Paul comforted the saints at Thessalonica reminding them that... we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. (1Th 3:2, 3, 4-note) "Go to the page below to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_313.htm#lose