Endurance vs. Patience

I had a delightful discussion with a coworker about James 1:4. The King James version uses the word "Patience" and the NIV Bible uses persevere or endure. I love that verse, but patience has more meaning for me. It also says in patience we will be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

My coworker on the other hand likes the word endure.

I have been thinking since this morning about how she was drawn to the word "endurance" and I was drawn to "patience". It just shows how the Spirit can touch us in different ways and speak to our souls. God is defiantly mindful of us in a very individual way.

So I just spend some time looking at endurance vs. patience. In the dictionary both are nouns. Endurance is- the act or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving in; the capacity of something to last or withstand wear or tear. The topical guide in the bible says to also look up adversity, obedience, perseverance or steadfastness.

Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. It has a Latin root meaning "suffering". The topical guide says to see also affliction or forbearance. Forbearance is patient self control, restraint, tolerance, or abstinence.

I think of enduring as something we actively do or bear. He have to keep doing it until the end reward is met. I think patience is restraining from doing something else and above all else waiting. We can endure well, endure patiently, or not endure at all.

I'll end this with some scriptures I found and really enjoyed.


Matt. 10:22- "he that endureth to the end shall be saved"

Mark 4:17- no root in themselves can only endure for a time when affliction or persecution arise.

John 6:27- "meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you".

2 Tim 4:5- watch thou in all things, endure afflictions

2 Tim 4:7-8- I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith...there is a laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

D&C 101:35-38- "And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endureth in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake, yet shall they partake of all this glory. wherefore fear not, even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full...and seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life".

Ps 37:7- rest in the Lord, and wait patiently

Luke 21:19- "In your patience possess ye your souls"- possess is GR for preserve, win mastery over

Romans 2:7- patient continuance in well doing

Alma 7:23-24- "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."