The fourth fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22 is longsuffering. The word in the
original Greek is makrothumia and means literally, "long-temper." This word is similar in
meaning, yet distinct from hupomone which is usually translated "patience" in our English Bibles.
Long-suffering is the quality of controlling one’s temper and not quickly retaliating when
provoked by other persons; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy. Patience is
the quality of bearing up under trials or adverse circumstances; it is the opposite of depression or
despondency and is associated with hope. So longsuffering has more to do with trials from
persons, and patience has to do with trials from things or circumstances.
It is perhaps significant that it is the former_longsuffering_which is specifically mentioned as
a fruit of the Spirit. The natural man seems to find it easier to bear up under adverse
circumstances and trials than to bear without anger or retaliation the taunts and provocations from
his fellow men. Thus it is often a particularly impressive and noticeable mark of being Spirit-filled
for the Christian to manifest this quality of longsuffering, or long temper, in the face of
antagonism by others.
Longsuffering is an attribute of God. "The Lord is … longsuffering to usward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9; see also Rom. 2:4; 9:22;
1 Peter 3:20). And how beautifully was this attribute manifested by the Lord Jesus, "who when
He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not" (1 Peter 2:23).
As we consider God’s longsuffering toward us (and how often, surely, have we provoked Him!),
may we grow in our desire and ability through the power of the Spirit to manifest this same
longsuffering toward others (Col. 1:10,11; 3:12,13).
"Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace" (Eph. 4:1-3).