In Bible college, I had to study Koine Greek. Koine means common. Common Greek is what the writers of the New Testament used to write what we call the Gospels, the History, and the Letters of the New Testament. In my study, there were words that I just fell in love with.

The word for “Splachna” means guts or stomach. It is used mainly figuratively to refer to a person’s heart. I found it fun to tell Shannon, “You are my ‘Splachna’!” I don’t think she was that impressed when I explained its literal meaning.

James 1:2-4 has two of my favorite Greek words. Words that I have found to be very encouraging, especially during tough times.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NASB

The first word is what the New American Standard Bible translates as “Endurance.” The word can also be translated as “Perseverance.” It is the Greek word “Hupomone,” which means – “to remain under.” The idea is standing up under a huge weight. Think of the picture of Atlas bearing up the world. This word is a powerful word of faith. It is a characteristic of the faithful Jesus follower bearing the weight of trials from living in this world. The weight of trials that are universal to all people and the unique weight of trials, opposition, and struggle that come from being faithful to Jesus, living by his Word, and following His Will, in this world. James says that when we endure, we need to consider it pure joy because faithfulness to God is part of God’s active work in making us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Now there is another of my favorite words. It is the word “perfect.” The Greek word “Telios.” Here we are not talking about perfection in terms of being without flaw. The word means being perfect in terms of maturity or completion. Trials activate God’s gifts of endurance which in turn does its work in growing us up in our faith. It activates God’s transformative work in us to become godly.

Wow! What a perspective. I am sure you, like me, are getting very tired of the continual trials of this life. I was talking with Shannon the other day, and she said, “I am just tired of everyone being difficult right now.” It is hard to live in our world right now. But that is what it means to live in a fallen world. I came across this post on my LinkedIn feed that provided some perspective:

“Imagine you were born in 1900. When you’re 14, World War I begins and ends when you are 18 years old with 22 million dead.

Shortly after, a global pandemic Flu called ‘Spanish,’ kills 50 million people.

You come out alive and free, and you are 20 years old. Then, at 29, you survive the global economic crisis that started with the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange, causing inflation, unemployment, and hunger.

At 33, the Nazis come to power. You turn 39 when World War II starts and ends when you are 45. During the Holocaust, 6 million Jews are murdered. There will be over 60 million deaths in total from the war.

When you are 52, the Korean War begins. At age 64, the Vietnam War begins and ends when you are 75.”

I think we get the point; every generation has had to face tough times! It is now our turn. Life is hard.

It is harder to live faithfully to Jesus right now. The machinery working against living obediently to God’s Word (Biblical) continues to run at a pace. But according to James, this is an opportunity to see the power of God in our lives – through endurance. Endurance brings about “perfection” in the faith.

This brings me to one last favorite greek word for me. It is the word “Kairos.” This word is translated as “Time,” but it is time in a specific sense. It is not time in terms of seconds, minutes, and hours. It is time in terms of season or, as translated in Ephesians 5:15-16 in the New International Version – opportunity.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV