Consider Models of Long-Suffering

“God . . . tolerated with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction.”​—ROMANS 9:22.

1. (a) How does God’s inspired Word serve for our benefit? (b) In this connection, why is the quality of long-suffering here considered?

JEHOVAH God, our Creator, gave us his inspired Word, the Holy Bible. It is to serve as ‘a lamp to our foot and a light to our roadway.’ (Psalm 119:105) God’s Word also helps us to become “completely equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) One way it thus equips us is by giving us fine models of long-suffering. This quality is one of the fruits of God’s spirit and is indispensable to our gaining his approval and getting along harmoniously with fellow humans.​—Galatians 5:22, 23.

2. What is the meaning of the Greek word rendered “long-suffering,” and who is foremost in displaying this quality?

² The Greek word translated “long-suffering” literally means “longness of spirit.” Long-suffering has been defined as “that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine, Volume 3, page 12) To be long-suffering means to exercise self-control and be slow to anger. And who is foremost among those slow to anger, displaying long-suffering? None other than Jehovah God. Thus, at Exodus 34:6, we read that Jehovah is “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.” In fact, eight more times in the Scriptures, Jehovah is spoken of as being “slow to anger.”​—Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3.

3. What qualities account for Jehovah’s being long-suffering?

³ Being long-suffering, or slow to anger, is just what we would expect of Jehovah God, for he is infinite in power and wisdom, perfect in justice, and the very embodiment of love. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 12:13; Isaiah 40:26; 1 John 4:8) He has control of his qualities, keeping them in perfect balance at all times. What does his Word reveal about why and how he has displayed long-suffering toward imperfect humans?

Long-Suffering for His Name’s Sake

4. For what good reasons has God manifested long-suffering toward sinners?

⁴ Why is Jehovah long-suffering? Why does he not immediately punish sinners? Not because of indifference or lack of zeal for righteousness. No, but for good reasons Jehovah is slow to anger and does not promptly punish people. One reason is so that his name may be made known. Another reason is that time was required to settle the issues of God’s sovereignty and mankind’s integrity, raised by the rebellion in Eden. Still another reason for God’s long-suffering is that it gives erring ones the opportunity to mend their ways.

5, 6. Why did Jehovah manifest long-suffering in connection with man’s rebellion?

⁵ Jehovah was long-suffering in dealing with the first human pair in the garden of Eden. When they violated his commandment against eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and bad, he could immediately have executed them and the fallen angel that had deceived Eve. There was no question that Jehovah’s sense of righteousness and justice had been outraged, that he was angry with the three rebels. He would have been perfectly within his rights if he had executed them at once. God had warned the first man, Adam: “As for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” (Genesis 2:17) On the very day that Adam sinned, God called the transgressors to account and pronounced sentence of death. Judicially, Adam and Eve died that day. Yet, our long-suffering Creator let Adam live for 930 years.​—Genesis 5:5.

⁶ God had good reasons for being long-suffering, or slow to anger, in this case. If he had executed those rebels at once, this would not have answered the Devil’s implicit taunt that Jehovah God does not deserve to be worshiped and that he cannot have human servants who will keep their integrity to him regardless of circumstances. Moreover, such questions as these would have been left unanswered: Whose fault was it that Adam and Eve sinned? Did Jehovah first create them so morally weak that they could not resist temptation and then punish them for failing to do so? The answer to all of this is apparent from the account found in the book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. By permitting the human race to increase, Jehovah allowed humans to have opportunities to prove Satan’s charges false.

7. Why did Jehovah not execute Pharaoh at once?

⁷ When Jehovah was about to deliver his people, the Israelites, from Egyptian bondage, he again proved to be long-suffering. Jehovah could have destroyed Pharaoh and his military forces at once. Instead of doing this, however, God tolerated them for a time. For what good reasons? Well, as time passed, Pharaoh became more stubborn in his refusal to let the Israelites leave Egypt as Jehovah’s free people. He thus showed that he was a ‘vessel of wrath’ meriting destruction for defying Jehovah. (Romans 9:14-24) Yet, there was a greater reason why God was long-suffering in this case. Through Moses, he told Pharaoh: “By now I could have thrust my hand out that I might strike you and your people with pestilence and that you might be effaced from the earth. But, in fact, for this cause I have kept you in existence, for the sake of showing you my power and in order to have my name declared in all the earth.”​—Exodus 9:15, 16.

8. For what reason did God not execute rebellious Israelites in the wilderness?

⁸ Jehovah’s long-suffering was also displayed for good reasons when the Israelites were in the wilderness. How they tried God’s patience by worshiping the golden calf and by failing to exercise faith when ten spies returned with a bad report! God did not wipe them out as his people since his name and reputation were involved. Yes, Jehovah manifested long-suffering for his name’s sake.​—Exodus 32:10-14; Numbers 14:11-20.

Long-Suffering for the Sake of Humans

9. Why did Jehovah show long-suffering in the days of Noah?

⁹ Jehovah has been long-suffering for the sake of humankind ever since Adam wronged all his potential offspring, doing them a great injustice by sinning. God’s long-suffering made it possible for that wrong to be righted in that he allowed time for repentant humans to become reconciled to him. (Romans 5:8-10) Jehovah God also showed long-suffering toward humans in Noah’s day. At that time, “Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) Though God could have wiped out the human race as soon as he saw this condition, he decreed that he would bring an end to this situation in 120 years. (Genesis 6:3) This expression of long-suffering allowed time for Noah to have three sons, for them to grow up and get married, and for that family to build the ark for the saving of their souls and for the preservation of animal creation. In this way it was possible for God’s original purpose for the earth to be realized.

10, 11. Why was Jehovah so long-suffering with the nation of Israel?

¹⁰ Another definition of long-suffering especially applies to God’s dealings with his people. It is “the patient endurance of wrong or provocation, combined with a refusal to give up hope for improvement in the disturbed relationship.” (Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2, page 262; published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.) This points to an additional reason why God was long-suffering toward the Israelites. They repeatedly turned away from Jehovah and came into bondage to Gentile nations. Yet, he displayed long-suffering by delivering the Israelites and giving them opportunity to repent.​—Judges 2:16-20.

¹¹ The majority of Israel’s kings led their subjects into false worship. Did God cast the nation off at once? No, he did not quickly give up hope for improvement in the disturbed relationship. Instead, Jehovah was slow to anger. Displaying long-suffering, God repeatedly gave them opportunity to repent. We read at 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16: “Jehovah the God of their forefathers kept sending against them by means of his messengers, sending again and again, because he felt compassion for his people and for his dwelling. But they were continually making jest at the messengers of the true God and despising his words and mocking at his prophets, until the rage of Jehovah came up against his people, until there was no healing.”

12. What testimony do the Christian Greek Scriptures give about why Jehovah is long-suffering?

¹² The Christian Greek Scriptures also provide evidence that Jehovah displays long-suffering to help his erring people. For instance, the apostle Paul asks transgressing Christians: “Do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and long-suffering, because you do not know that the kindly quality of God is trying to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) To the same effect are Peter’s words: “Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Most fittingly, we are told to “consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.” (2 Peter 3:15) Thus, we see that Jehovah is long-suffering, not because of sentimentality or laxness, but because his name and purposes are involved and he is merciful and loving.

Jesus’ Example of Long-Suffering

13. What Scriptural evidence is there that Jesus Christ was long-suffering?

¹³ Second only to the example of long-suffering set by God is that of his Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is a splendid example of self-restraint without hasty retaliation despite provocation.a That the Messiah would be long-suffering was foretold by the prophet Isaiah in these words: “He was hard pressed, and he was letting himself be afflicted; yet he would not open his mouth. He was being brought just like a sheep to the slaughtering; and like a ewe that before her shearers has become mute, he also would not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) Testifying to the same truth is Peter’s statement: “When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23) How Jesus’ disciples must have tried him with their repeated disputes over who was the greatest! Yet, how long-suffering and patient he was with them!​—Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46; 22:24.

14. What should Jesus’ example of being long-suffering move us to do?

¹⁴ We should follow the example Jesus set in being long-suffering. Paul wrote: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such contrary talk by sinners against their own interests, that you may not get tired and give out in your souls.”​—Hebrews 12:1-3.

15. How do we know that Jesus was long-suffering and endured trials willingly?

¹⁵ That Jesus was long-suffering and endured trials willingly can be seen from the attitude he manifested at the time of his arrest. After rebuking Peter for having taken up the sword to protect his Master, Jesus said: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels? In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must take place this way?”​—Matthew 26:51-54; John 18:10, 11.

Other Examples of Long-Suffering

16. How do the Scriptures show that Jacob’s son Joseph was long-suffering?

¹⁶ Even imperfect, sinful humans can display long-suffering. The Hebrew Scriptures contain examples of the patient enduring of wrongs on the part of imperfect people. For instance, there is Joseph, the son of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob. How patiently he endured injustices inflicted on him by his half brothers and by Potiphar’s wife! (Genesis 37:18-28; 39:1-20) Joseph did not allow these trials to make him bitter. This was evident when he told his brothers: “Do not feel hurt and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here; because for the preservation of life God has sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:4, 5) What a fine example of long-suffering was set by Joseph!

17, 18. What evidence of long-suffering do we have in the case of David?

¹⁷ David is another example of a faithful servant of Jehovah who patiently endured wrongs, manifesting long-suffering. Pursued like a dog by jealous King Saul, on two occasions David could have retaliated by killing him. (1 Samuel 24:1-22; 26:1-25) But David waited on God, as can be seen from his words to Abishai: “Jehovah himself will deal [Saul] a blow; or his day will come and he will have to die, or down into battle he will go, and he will certainly be swept away. It is unthinkable, on my part, from Jehovah’s standpoint, to thrust my hand out against the anointed of Jehovah!” (1 Samuel 26:10, 11) Yes, David had it in his power to end his being hounded by Saul. Instead, David chose to be long-suffering.

¹⁸ Consider, too, what happened when King David was fleeing from his treacherous son Absalom. Shimei, a Benjamite of the house of Saul, threw stones at David and called down evil upon him, shouting: “Get out, get out, you bloodguilty man and good-for-nothing man!” Abishai wanted to have Shimei killed, but David refused to retaliate. Rather than doing that, he again manifested the quality of long-suffering.​—2 Samuel 16:5-13.

Consider Paul’s Example

19, 20. How did the apostle Paul show himself to be long-suffering?

¹⁹ In the Christian Greek Scriptures, we have another fine example of long-suffering on the part of an imperfect human​—the apostle Paul. He displayed patient endurance, long-suffering, in connection both with his religious enemies and with individuals professing to be Christians. Yes, Paul manifested long-suffering though some in the congregation at Corinth said: “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his presence in person is weak and his speech contemptible.”​—2 Corinthians 10:10; 11:5, 6, 22-33.

²⁰ With good reason, therefore, Paul told the Corinthians: “In every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by cases of need, by difficulties, by beatings, by prisons, by disorders, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times without food, by purity, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by holy spirit, by love free from hypocrisy.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-6) In a similar vein, the apostle could write to his fellow worker Timothy: “You have closely followed my teaching, my course of life, my purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, my sufferings, . . . and yet out of them all the Lord delivered me.” (2 Timothy 3:10, 11) What a fine example the apostle Paul set for us in being long-suffering!

21. How may the following article help us?

²¹ Clearly, the Scriptures abound with fine examples of long-suffering. Jehovah and his beloved Son are the prime examples. But how encouraging to note that this quality has been displayed by imperfect humans, such as Joseph, David, and the apostle Paul! The following article is designed to help us imitate such fine examples.

[Footnotes]

Be Long-Suffering Toward All

“We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all.”​—1 THESSALONIANS 5:14.

1. Where and under what circumstances have Jehovah’s Witnesses manifested long-suffering?

WHAT an example Jehovah’s modern-day Witnesses have furnished in being long-suffering! They have endured much hardship and persecution in former Nazi and Fascist lands and in countries such as Malawi up to the present time. Long-suffering, too, are those who live in religiously divided households.

2. What two factors account for the spiritual paradise Jehovah’s people enjoy?

² Despite the persecution and hardships they experience, Jehovah’s dedicated people have been enjoying the blessings of a spiritual paradise. Indeed, the facts show that anointed Christians began to enjoy it in the year 1919. What accounts for this spiritual paradise? First of all, these paradisaic conditions exist among Jehovah’s people because God has restored his anointed servants to their “land,” or condition, of pure worship. (Isaiah 66:7, 8) The spiritual paradise flourishes also because everyone in it manifests the fruits of God’s spirit. Long-suffering is one of these. (Galatians 5:22, 23) The importance of this quality as far as our spiritual paradise is concerned can be seen from this statement by scholar William Barclay: “There can be no such thing as a Christian fellowship without makrothumia [long-suffering]. . . . And the reason for that is just this​—that makrothumia is the great characteristic of God (Rom. 2.4; 9.22).” (A New Testament Wordbook, page 84) Yes, long-suffering is that important!

Being Long-Suffering With Our Brothers

3. What lesson about being long-suffering did Jesus give Peter?

³ The apostle Peter apparently had some difficulty manifesting long-suffering, for he once asked Jesus: “Lord, how many times is my brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus counseled him: “I say to you, not, Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21, 22) In other words, there is no limit to the number of times we are to put up with one another and forgive someone sinning against us. After all, we cannot imagine that anyone would keep count up to 77 times! Yet, being that forgiving surely calls for long-suffering.

4. Why do elders especially need to be long-suffering?

⁴ When it comes to the manifesting of long-suffering by spiritual brothers, there is no question that congregation elders need to be exemplary. Their patience might be tried because certain fellow believers may be careless or indifferent. Others may be dallying when it comes to correcting bad habits. Elders must be careful not to be easily annoyed or offended by the weaknesses of their Christian brothers and sisters. Instead, these spiritual shepherds need to remember the counsel: “We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to be pleasing ourselves.”​—Romans 15:1.

5. What are we able to put up with if we are long-suffering?

⁵ Then again, personality conflicts may arise because of human weaknesses and shortcomings. Because of failings or idiosyncrasies, we rub our brothers the wrong way, so to speak, and they may do that to us. Therefore, how fitting the counsel: “Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Even as Jehovah freely forgave you, so do you also.” (Colossians 3:13) “Putting up with one another” means being long-suffering, though we may have valid grounds for a complaint against someone. We must not retaliate or punish our brother, not even heave sighs against him.​—James 5:9.

6. Why is being long-suffering the course of wisdom?

⁶ To the same effect is the counsel found at Romans 12:19: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’” ‘Yielding place to the wrath’ means being slow to anger, or long-suffering. Manifesting this quality is the course of wisdom, for it benefits us and others. If a problem has arisen, we ourselves feel better because by being long-suffering, we are not making matters worse. And the one toward whom we exercise long-suffering also feels better because we are not punishing him or retaliating in some way. No wonder Paul exhorted fellow Christians to “speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all”!​—1 Thessalonians 5:14.

Within the Family Circle

7. Why do married people need to be long-suffering?

⁷ It has well been said that a happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. What does that mean? That happily married people are long-suffering in dealing with each other. Individuals are often attracted to each other because of their opposite temperaments. These differences may be intriguing, yet they may also be a source of friction that adds to stresses and anxieties already causing married Christians to have “tribulation in their flesh.” (1 Corinthians 7:28) For instance, suppose a husband is indifferent to details or tends to be somewhat careless or sloppy. This may be quite trying to his wife. But if kindly worded suggestions are of no avail, she may just have to put up with his weaknesses by being long-suffering.

8. Why may husbands need to be long-suffering?

⁸ On the other hand, a wife may fuss over details and be prone to nag her husband. This may well call to mind the scripture: “Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.” (Proverbs 25:24, Today’s English Version) In such a case, long-suffering is required to comply with Paul’s counsel: “You husbands, keep on loving your wives and do not be bitterly angry with them.” (Colossians 3:19) It also takes long-suffering for husbands to heed the apostle Peter’s counsel: “You husbands, continue dwelling in like manner with [your wives] according to knowledge, assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since you are also heirs with them of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7) The weaknesses of his wife may sometimes try a husband, but long-suffering will help him to put up with them.

9. Why is long-suffering needed on the part of parents?

⁹ Parents need to be long-suffering if they are to be successful in rearing their children. Youngsters may make the same mistakes over and over again. They may seem to be stubborn or slow to learn and may continually try their parents. Under such circumstances, Christian parents need to be slow to anger, not losing their temper or composure but remaining calm while being firm for righteous principles. Fathers should remember that they too were young once and also made mistakes. They need to apply Paul’s counsel: “You fathers, do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted.”​—Colossians 3:21.

With Those on the Outside

10. How should we act at our place of employment, as seen by what experience?

¹⁰ Because of human imperfection and selfishness, unpleasant situations may arise at a Christian’s place of work. It is the course of wisdom to be tactful and to put up with wrongs for the sake of peace. Showing how wise this can be is the experience of a Christian who was the victim of much disagreeableness caused by an envious fellow employee. Because the brother did not make an issue of this but was long-suffering, in time he was able to start a Bible study with the employee who had been troublesome.

11. When do we especially need to be long-suffering, and why?

¹¹ Especially do Jehovah’s people need to be long-suffering when witnessing to those outside the Christian congregation. Time and again, Christians meet with rude or harsh responses. Would it be proper or wise to reply in kind? No, for that would not be manifesting long-suffering. The course of wisdom is to remember and to follow the wise proverb: “An answer, when mild, turns away rage, but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.”​—Proverbs 15:1.

Faith and Hope Aid in Displaying Long-Suffering

12, 13. What qualities will help us to be long-suffering?

¹² What can help us to display long-suffering, to put up with grievous conditions? One thing is faith in God’s promises. We must take God at his word. The Scriptures say: “No temptation has taken you except what is common to men. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) In other words, as one old-timer put it: “If God permits it, I can take it.” Yes, we can take it by being long-suffering.

¹³ Closely related to faith is hope in God’s Kingdom. When it holds sway over the earth, all the evil conditions that cause us distress will be removed. In this regard, the psalmist David said: “Let anger alone and leave rage; do not show yourself heated up only to do evil. For evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.” (Psalm 37:8, 9) The sure hope that God will soon do away with all these trialsome circumstances helps us to be long-suffering.

14. What experience shows why we should be long-suffering toward an unbelieving mate?

¹⁴ How should we react if an unbelieving mate causes us distress? Keep looking to God for help, and keep hoping that the opposer will become a worshiper of Jehovah. The wife of one Christian sometimes refused to prepare his meals and clean his clothes. She used filthy language, would not talk with him for days, and even tried to have a spell cast upon him through witchcraft. “But,” said he, “I turned each time to Jehovah in prayer, and I trusted Him to help me develop the good quality of long-suffering in order not to lose my Christian balance. I also hoped that one day her attitude of heart would change.” After 20 years of such treatment, his wife began to change, and he said: “How grateful I am to Jehovah that he helped me cultivate the fruit of the spirit, long-suffering, because I can now see the result: My wife has started to walk on the path of life!”

Prayer, Humility, and Love Will Help

15. Why can prayer help us to be long-suffering?

¹⁵ Prayer is another great help in manifesting long-suffering. Paul urged: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6, 7) Remember also to heed the admonition: “Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter.”​—Psalm 55:22.

16. In being long-suffering, how can humility help us?

¹⁶ Humility is still another great help in cultivating the spirit’s fruit of long-suffering. A proud person is impatient. He is easily offended, quickly gets angry, and will not stand for any unfavorable treatment. All of this is the opposite of being long-suffering. But a humble person will not take himself too seriously. He will wait on Jehovah, as David did when hunted by King Saul and insulted by the Benjamite Shimei. (1 Samuel 24:4-6; 2 Samuel 16:5-13) Thus, we should desire to walk “with complete lowliness of mind and mildness, with long-suffering, putting up with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2) Moreover, we should ‘humble ourselves in the eyes of Jehovah.’​—James 4:10.

17. Why will love help us to be long-suffering?

¹⁷ Especially does unselfish love help us to be long-suffering. Indeed, “love is long-suffering,” for it causes us to have the best interests of others at heart. (1 Corinthians 13:4) Love enables us to have empathy, to put ourselves in the shoes of others, as it were. Moreover, love helps us to be long-suffering because “it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, 8) Yes, as Kingdom song number 200 in the book Sing Praises to Jehovah puts it:

“Love has eyes to see the good.

Love builds up the brotherhood.

Love to erring ones is kind,

Seeks their better side to find.”

Be Long-Suffering With Joy?

18. How is it possible to be long-suffering with joy?

¹⁸ Paul prayed that his fellow believers in Colossae would be filled with the accurate knowledge of God’s will in order for them to walk worthily of Jehovah, please him, and bear fruit in every good work. They would thus be “made powerful with all power to the extent of his glorious might so as to endure fully and be long-suffering with joy.” (Colossians 1:9-11) Still, how can someone be “long-suffering with joy”? That is not contradictory, for having the joy mentioned in the Scriptures is not simply a matter of being lighthearted or cheerful. The spirit’s fruit of joy includes a feeling of deep satisfaction over doing the right thing before God. It is also an expression of the hope of receiving a promised reward as a result of exercising long-suffering. That is why Jesus said: “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. Rejoice and leap for joy, since your reward is great in the heavens; for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you.”​—Matthew 5:11, 12.

19. What examples show that it is possible to be both long-suffering and joyful?

¹⁹ Jesus had such joy. Indeed, “for the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame.” (Hebrews 12:2) That joy enabled Jesus to be long-suffering. Similarly, consider what happened when the apostles were flogged and ordered to “stop speaking upon the basis of Jesus’ name.” They “went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name. And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.” (Acts 5:40-42) What a fine example proving that Christ’s followers can be long-suffering with joy!

20. If we display long-suffering, how can this affect our relationship with others?

²⁰ God’s Word surely gives wise counsel when it exhorts us not to retaliate, to be slow to anger while hoping for the best​—yes, to be long-suffering! We need regular prayer and this fruit of God’s spirit to get along with our brothers and sisters in the congregation, with those in our family circle, with people at our place of work, and with individuals we meet in the Christian ministry. And what can help us to manifest long-suffering? Faith, hope, humility, joy, and love. Truly, with such qualities we can be long-suffering toward all.