G430 ἀνέχομαι (anéchomai)

Endure (tolerate, bear) (430) (anechomai from aná = in, up + echomai, the middle voice of echo = to have, to hold) means literally to hold one’s self up, erect, upright and by extension firm against a person or thing. Thus anechomai means to put up with, to bear with (equanimity or evenness of mind especially under stress), to tolerate, to forbear, to be patient with. The figurative idea is to endure discomfort or to hold out in spite of persecution, threats, injury, indifference, or complaints and not to retaliate (esp 1Cor 4:12). It conveys the sense of putting up with others, exercising self-restraint (for believers only possible empowered by the Spirit) and tolerance. Endure (Webster) = to treat with indulgence, liberality, or forbearance. 2 to permit. 3 to be able to bear; put up with; to permit or tolerate; to regard with acceptance or tolerance; Endure means to exist over a period of time and adds an implication of resisting destructive forces or agencies 〈in spite of everything, her faith endured); to continue in the same state; to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. To bear; to brook; to suffer without resistance, or without yielding. Tolerate (Webster) = To suffer to be or to be done without prohibition or hindrance; to allow or permit negatively, by not preventing; not to restrain; as, to tolerate opinions or practices. Bear (Webster) = to put up with especially without giving way 〈couldn’t bear the pain); To suffer without resentment, or interference to prevent; to have patience; as, to bear neglect or indignities. Eadie writes that anechomai indicates giving patience to someone till the provocation is past. To undergo something onerous or troublesome without giving in. Anechomai was used of listening patiently while others are allowed to speak. That is exactly what these "last days" individuals will NOT (the Greek word ouk in this verse describes absolute negation) do to those who try to preach and teach the word of sound doctrine. The result is that because they sow abhorrence of healthy doctrine, they reap the unwelcome result - spiritually unhealthy lives (which will be manifest in their personal relationships such as between husband and wife, parent and child, etc). Vine - (Strong's #430 — Verb — anechomai — an-ekh'-om-ahee ) signifies "to hold up against a thing and so to bear with" (ana, "up," and echomai, the Middle Voice of echo, "to have, to hold"), e.g., Matthew 17:7; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 11:1,4,19,20; Hebrews 13:22 , etc. anechomai is used in the Middle Voice in the NT, signifying "to bear with, endure;" it is rendered "forbearing (one another)" in Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13 The writer of Hebrews uses anechomai to encourage listening ears and receptive hearts in spite of "hard" preaching... Hebrews 13:22 (note) But I urge you, brethren, bear (listen patiently - present imperative = command to make this their habitual practice) with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Comment: The writer Hebrews knew he had written some difficult to accept sound doctrine (some of the most difficult warning passages in the NT) and so he closed his letter with this positive exhortation regarding exhortations. The KJV is interesting in translating it as "Suffer the word of exhortation"! Anechomai refers to holding up under adversity, and can be translated tolerate. It means to hold up or back from falling. In secular Greek use, the related noun form (anoche) was used of a holding back or stopping of hostilities (truce). Anechomai is the equivalent of our modern phrase "putting up with" so the NIV nicely paraphrases it that "they will not put up with". It is not the herald (of the gospel) that is at fault, but the hearing of the fickle men who make up the audience! Anechomai -15x in the NT - NAS translates: bear, 3; bearing, 2; endure, 3; put, 4; showing tolerance, 1; tolerate, 2. Matthew 17:17 And Jesus answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with (anechomai) you? Bring him here to Me." Comment: Here we see Jesus use anechomai rebuke His disciples and their weak faith. Mark 9:19 And He answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!" Luke 9:41 And Jesus answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you, and put up with you? Bring your son here." Acts 18:14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 2 Corinthians 11:1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. 11:4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (Comment: Here Paul uses anechomai ironically. In other words Paul is saying that "you gladly endure these false teachers, why do you not endure me?" Paul is not endorsing their acceptance of heresy, but chiding them for their gullibility and lack of discernment.) 2 Corinthians 11:19 For you, being so wise, bear with the foolish gladly. 20 For you bear with anyone if he enslaves you, if he devours you, if he takes advantage of you, if he exalts himself, if he hits you in the face. Ephesians 4:2 (note) (context = Eph 4:1-note) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love (Amplified has "making allowances because you love one another"), Comment: Paul exhorts the saints at Ephesus to make allowance (tolerate, bear, endure) for the faults and failures of others, or differing personalities, abilities, and temperaments. Forbearance is not a question of maintaining a façade of courtesy while inwardly seething with resentment but is a Spirit empowered positive love to those who irritate, disturb, or embarrass. How are you bearing up with the idiosyncrasies of your brethren at church, your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your fellow students, etc? You can't, beloved but He can and He lives in you to transform your temperament and attitude toward those who irritate you. Did what I just wrote irritate you? Colossians 3:13 (note) bearing with (present tense = this is to be our continual practice [only possible enabled by God's Spirit!]) one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Comment: Bearing with one another is a behavior that is to characterize those who "have been chosen of God, holy and beloved". This begs the applicational question -- Who is there in the body of Christ you are not "putting up" with? MacDonald adds that in Col 3:13 anechomai describes: the patience we should have with the failings and odd ways of our brethren. In living with others, it is inevitable that we will find out their failures. It often takes the grace of God for us to put up with the idiosyncrasies of others, as it must for them to put up with ours. But we must bear with one another. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos) 2 Thessalonians 1:4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 2 Timothy 4:3 (note) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; Anechomai - 11x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - Ge 45:1; 1Ki. 12:24; Job 6:11, 26; Isa. 1:13 ( I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly); Isa 42:14; 46:4; 63:15; 64:12; Amos 4:7; Hag. 1:10. God says to faithless Israel "Bring your worthless offerings no longer. Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure (Lxx = anechomai) iniquity and the solemn assembly. (Isa 1:13-note) Comment: How we all need to hear and heed God's warning regarding external (fleshly) religion which too often serves as a cloak to cover our sin and is a trap even into which even true believers can fall! And as Paul wrote in first Timothy the conscience may become so seared (kauteriazo from kauterion = red-hot iron = "cauterized") that a person can practice "religion" while still living in sin (1Ti 4:2). MacArthur notes that "Professing Christians, nominal believers in the church follow their own desires and flock to preachers who offer them God’s blessings apart from His forgiveness, and His salvation apart from their repentance. They have an itch to be entertained by teachings that will produce pleasant sensations and leave them with good feelings about themselves. Their goal is that men preach “according to their own desires.” Under those conditions, people will dictate what men preach, rather than God dictating it by His Word." He goes on to add (ref) that "Within the large framework of professing Christendom a small remnant of true believers eagerly hear sound teaching. But some of the lost in the professing church support such things as homosexual and feminist causes. There is even a so-called Bible that has removed masculine references to God to avoid offending feminist beliefs. The lost, whether outside or inside the professing church, refuse to hear God's teaching about controversial issues such as the woman's role, homosexuality, or abortion. They won't tolerate strong biblical teaching because it confronts and refutes their errors and calls for their obedience. By adopting the ways of the world, much of the professing church has become corrupt and perverse. Apart from a dramatic change, the pressure will continue to intensify against those who speak the truth. (MacArthur, J. 2 Timothy. Chicago: Moody Press) (Bolding added) This problem is not new as we see in Proverbs "They would not accept My counsel. They spurned all My reproof." (Pr 1:30 - The context Pr 1:29 states the root problem is failure to choose the fear of Jehovah, a failure which would bring forth rotten fruit in keeping with unrighteousness - Pr 1:31, 32! cp Gal 6:7-note, Gal 6:8-note) (See William Arnot's related discussion - Proverbs 1:24-28 Sowing Disobedience, Reaping Judgment) The weeping prophet Jeremiah knew the painful reality of those claimed to be God's people and yet who would not tolerate God's sound doctrine (~ "the ancient paths") "Thus says the LORD, "Stand (red = command) by the ways and see and ask for the ancient (Hebrew = everlasting!) paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls. (Note the process and the promise. Process = stand, see, ask, walk or obey. Promise = find rest. Are you restless beloved? If so, one area of your life you might want to examine is whether you are refusing to put up with sound doctrine found in the ancient paths! Cp Mt 11:28, 11:29, 11:30) But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' And I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen." (Jer 6:16, 6:17 - See sermon by Alan Carr = Jeremiah 6:16 Ask For the Old Paths) (A Call For Revival Jeremiah 616) +++ THE DOCTRINE WHICH ALONE PROMOTES SPIRITUAL HEALTH Sound doctrine - This description is concentrated in the Pastoral Epistles and is God's prescription for spiritually healthy saints. What is the clear message for anyone who is a pastor or a teacher of the Word of Truth (even if we are opposed, which will likely occur)? 1 Timothy 1:10 (Law is made for the following groups) and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching (didaskalia), 1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words (logos), those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 2 Timothy 1:13-note Retain (present imperative = continually) the standard of sound words (logos) which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Titus 1:9-note (Elders are to be continually = present tense) holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine (didaskalia) and to refute those who contradict. Titus 2:1-note But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine (didaskalia). Sound doctrine is teaching which continually (because the verb hugiano is present tense indicating continuous action) protects and preserves the spiritual life of the one who partakes thereof and which alone is the sustenance which makes the whole man healthy, and equipped for every good work (2Ti 3:16, 3:17-note). The definite article, "the", in Greek modifies sound doctrine which identifies this doctrine as not just any teaching but as the specific body of teaching, in context the Holy Scriptures and the Gospel. You will experience real "holistic health" if you eat the right ''soul food"! Why would these individuals not desire a healthy word ("seed") which yields such a desirable fruit. It is because they do not want their sin to be exposed. Sound doctrine is a stinging rebuke (censure) to ungodly living and thus is unacceptable and intolerable to those who desire to persist in their sin rather than please the Savior. In short, those who live contrary to sound doctrine resent and resist such doctrine. Compare Paul's description in this verse with the reaction of unbelievers to "the light" in Jn 3:18, 19, 20, 21. (See related descriptions in Lam 2:14, Is 58:1, Ezek 22:26, 44:23) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you 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/2_timothy_43-4.htm#Endure