The King James Version says: “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My Name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.” The Ephesian Church had not grown weary. “I am so tired,” you hear people sighing in our modern times. They suffer from stress, stomach ulcers, heart and vascular diseases, headaches, and intestinal disorders. These are often partially related to tension and stress. The modern era is a hard taskmaster. The stream of information via so many avenues of mass communication attacks our stamina. Many keep away themselves from communication devices, or are numbed by them.
It is too much of an emotional strain to experience or to process the flow of data so we tend to harden ourselves involuntarily, or become despondent and exhausted as a result. The Christians of Ephesus were indefatigable, however. They had stamina and perseverance—a strength that went way beyond their own human resources.1 This is the endurance of faith.2 This is perseverance: patient endurance of faith in Jesus and keeping of God’s commandments.3 It is perseverance in temptation and trial,4 godliness through self-control and endurance.5 There is even rejoicing in suffering.6 Paul knew about this from personal experience.7
Yet there was not just perseverance in Ephesus, but also tolerance.
It was not that they tolerated wicked men (verse 2), but rather they practised the tolerance of patience. They had persevered for the name of Jesus. This is something very different from the modern tolerance being preached everywhere: “Leave everyone as he or she is and do not act as if you know better. Don’t claim the truth,” they say. “It is ‘your’ truth,” they say. “Be tolerant,” they say. That is often a merciless tolerance because it means that faith in Christ as the way of salvation is no longer preached to others, so that they will remain in their ignorance.
Respect for everyone, certainly! But we should also proclaim the Name of Jesus tirelessly, in words and deeds. That provokes both action and reaction! It does not make you popular. Mockery and hostility, indeed, even persecution, are sometimes the consequences of proclaiming Jesus. And that was what they were enduring at Ephesus, for His Name’s sake. This has to do with carrying your cross daily8—the same Greek word ‘bastadzein’ – carrying a burden – is found here as well as in John 10:31, 19:17 and Luke 14:27. Take up your burden, literally and figuratively and follow the Lamb.
Jesus commends the Ephesians for not growing weary. He Himself has experienced physical, mental and spiritual exhaustion9. But never gave up and never gave in. And that is why He says: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”9 He encourages us, His disciples to continue tirelessly, and you will find rest and strength in Him to endure opposition. What a great compliment from Jesus for the brothers and sisters in Ephesus to be commended for their perseverance!
• Because the Greek word for getting weary can also mean do hard labour, the King James Version translates it as such here, and modern translations do so too in several places.10
• It is often good to compare different translations and to realize that the original Greek text was the language in which the Holy Spirit gave the Word of God in the New Testament, and that the different translations are human work (in faith).
• The original text of the Old Testament was Hebrew and, for a small part, Aramaic.
Bible References:
1.Isaiah 40:28–31 2.Revelation 13:10 3.Revelation 14:12 4.James 1:2–4 and 12–14 5.2 Peter 1:6 6.Romans 5:3–4 and 15:4–6 7.2 Corinthians 11:23–29 8.John 19:17 literally, Luke 14:27 figuratively 9.Matthew 11:28 10. See also: John 4:38 hard work; Romans 16:12 hard work; 1 Timothy 4:10 labour; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 hard work; Acts 20:35 and Luke 5:5 hard work
