Longsuffering in the Bible – The Bible is full of examples of people who displayed longsuffering. This quality is often praised, and it is something that we should all aspire to have. In this blog post, we will explore three examples of longsuffering in the Bible. We will look at what these individuals did to display this virtue, and we will see how it can benefit us in our own lives. Here are 10 Examples of Long Suffering in the Bible. In Both the Old Testament and the New Testament. From the Holy Spirit, The Apostle Paul, and Christ Jesus, are many good examples.
10 Examples of Long Suffering in the Bible
1. Job (Job 2:10)
2. Paul (2 Corinthians 6:4-5)
3. The Israelites (Exodus 34:6)
4. David (Psalm 86:15)
5. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:10)
6. The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16)
7. Hannah (1 Samuel 1:9-11)
8. Jesus (Matthew 26:39)
9. Stephen (Acts 7:60)
10. The early church martyrs (Revelation 2:10, 3:9)
What Is the Biblical Definition of Long Suffering?
The biblical definition of longsuffering is the quality of being patient under provocation or affliction. It is the ability to endure trials and hardships without becoming angry or bitter. Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit, and it is listed alongside such virtues as love, joy, peace, and patience.

Those who are longsuffering (meaning long time) are more likely to be forgiving and compassionate. They are able to maintain their composure in difficult situations and respond with grace instead of anger. Longsuffering is a vital part of the Christian character, and it is one of the things that makes us different from the world.
Job (Job 2:10)
Job’s friends came to Job shortly after they heard of all his afflictions. They were greatly disturbed by what had happened and wished to comfort him. However, when they saw him, they were so shocked by his appearance that they could not speak.
For seven days and seven nights, they sat with Job in silence, mourning his misfortune. Finally, Job broke the silence, cursing the day he was born. His friends responded by trying to rationalize his suffering, arguing that he must have sinned to deserve such punishment.
This only made Job more angry, and he insisted that he was a righteous man who had been dealt a cruel hand by fate. In the end, Job’s friends were unable to offer him any consolation, and they left him to his misery.
Throughout this ordeal, Job displayed great patience and endurance. He did not lash out at his friends despite their hurtful words, and he continued to maintain his innocence despite their accusations. This showed true strength of character, and it is an example that we can all learn from. no matter how difficult our circumstances may be.
Job 2:1-10 gives us a window into how Job displayed long-suffering patient endurance in the midst of his trials. Satan had just been permitted by God to strike Job with physical boils from head to toe.
When we read about how Job responded, we see a man who responded with respect and reverence for God, even though he did not know why he was going through such intense suffering. In the midst of his pain, Job continued to worship and praise God.
He did not curse God or question His goodness, even though Satan had told him that God was only permitting his sufferings because He loved Job and wanted to test him. Instead, Job chose to trust in God’s goodness and character, knowing that He is sovereign over all things.
This display of faith in the midst of great pain is a beautiful example of how job endured through his trials with long-suffering patient endurance. It is an encouragement to us that, no matter what we are going through, we can choose to trust in God’s goodness and character, even when it doesn’t make sense to us.

Paul (2 Corinthians 6:4-5)
In 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, Paul writes about how he and his companions have experienced “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger,” and more. He goes on to say that they have been “treated like the scum of the earth” and that they have “endured everything” for the sake of the gospel. Our beloved brother Paul siad not to count slowness as a part of God as something negative. It is one of the fruits of the spirit. Just as the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, God’s promises will not fail.
This passage provides a clear example of Paul’s long-suffering. Despite all of the challenges and hardships he faced, Paul persevered in his ministry. He was beaten and imprisoned, but he continued to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. He was willing to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel, and his endurance is an inspiration to all who follow Christ. As with Paul the longsuffering person follows God’s longsuffering as we as human beings, put the love of money, and the works of the flesh aside and look to the good answer of the kingdom of God.
The Israelites (Exodus 34:6)
The Israelites were a nation that was brought out of slavery in Egypt through miraculous acts of God. For forty years they were led by Moses through the desert to the Promised Land. Along the way, they were tested time and time again.
They faced hunger, thirst, and weariness. They doubted God’s plan for them and grumbled against Moses’ leadership. Yet, through it all, they persevered. They showed long-suffering, or patient endurance, trusting that God would ultimately lead them to a better place. In Exodus 34:6, God describes himself as “a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
This is how he treated the Israelites, even when they failed to live up to his standards. He was patient with them, feeling compassion for their weakness and human frailty. As a result, they were able to reach the Promised Land and begin a new chapter in their history.
David (Psalm 86:15)
Theologians and Bible scholars agree that the world was created perfect, without flaw. But that changed when Adam and Eve sinned against God and introduced death, suffering, and evil into the world. From that moment on, creation has been groaning, waiting for the day when God will make all things new. In the meantime, God’s people are called to display long-suffering—patient endurance—as they wait for Christ’s return.
David was a man who knew suffering. He was pursued by Saul, his own son plotted against him, and he faced many trials and difficulties throughout his life.

Yet David never lost hope. He continued to trust in God’s goodness and mercy, even when things were at their darkest. As a result, David was able to display long-suffering in the midst of his trials.
Like David, we too are called to display long-suffering as we wait for Christ’s return. We live in a fallen world filled with pain and suffering, but we know that one day all things will be made new. In the meantime, let us follow David’s example and trust in God’s goodness, even in the darkest of times.
Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:10)
Jeremiah was a prophet who was called by God to proclaim His message to the people of Judah. At first, they listened to him and heeded his warnings. But as time went on, they became more and more resistant to what he had to say.
They turned away from God and refused to listen to His prophets anymore. This caused great anguish for Jeremiah, but he continued to faithfully proclaim God’s message regardless of how the people responded. In Jeremiah 15:10, we see an example of his long-suffering endurance. Even though the people had turned away from God and were no longer listening to him, Jeremiah continued to speak out boldly and fearlessly.
He did not give up, even though it would have been easy to do so. This showed great perseverance and commitment on his part. It is an encouragement to us to never give up, even when things are difficult. We can trust that God will be with us and give us the strength we need to persevere.
For us today we should like Jeremiah be patient and continue to reach out to the lost and those who have walked away from God. We should never give up hope that they will return to Him.
As Christians, we are called to display long-suffering in our lives. This means patiently enduring difficult situations and trials, even when it would be easy to give up.
It also means continuing to reach out to those who have turned away from God, even when they seem hopeless. We can take comfort in knowing that we serve a God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. He will give us the strength we need to persevere through anything.
The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16)
In the story of The widow of Zarephath, we see a perfect example of long-suffering – patient endurance. The widow was living in a time of severe drought and famine, yet she continued to show faith in God.
When the prophet Elijah came to her, she willingly gave him the last of her food and water, even though she knew that it would put her own life at risk. This act of selflessness is a powerful testimony to the strength of her faith. Despite the difficult circumstances she was facing, she remained obedient to God and did not give up hope.

As a result, God blessed her with a miracle: her food and water did not run out, and she was able to provide for herself and Elijah throughout the entire drought. This story is a reminder that, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we should never lose faith in God’s ability to provide for us.
Hannah (1 Samuel 1:9-11)
Hannah displayed long-suffering when she was ridiculed by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah. Even though she was dealing with a difficult situation, Hannah did not lose her patience or endurance. Instead, she persevered and continued to pray for a child.
Her faith was eventually rewarded, and she gave birth to Samuel. This story is a reminder that we can all display long-suffering in our lives, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. By remaining patient and continuing to trust in God, we can overcome any obstacle.
Even though Hannah was facing great difficulty, she continued to trust in the Lord. She was sorely distressed and prayed earnestly to the Lord. Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and rebuked her.
How patient Hannah was! She kept praying even when she was misunderstood and falsely accused. She did not give up or become discouraged. Her faith and hope were in God, not in people. And because she persevered, her prayers were answered and she became pregnant with Samuel, who would grow up to be a great prophet of Israel. Because of Hannah’s long-suffering patience, she received God’s blessing.
Jesus (Matthew 26:39)
When we think about the long-suffering of Jesus, the first thing that probably comes to mind is his willingness to go to the cross for our sins. But there are other examples of his long-suffering throughout scripture. For instance, in Matthew 26:39 we see that Jesus was willing to endure the suffering of being crucified because he knew it was God’s will. First Jesus Christ following the Lord God Helping us to weather Momentary troubles for the hope of Eternal Glory.
Even though he was in anguish and begged for another way, he submitted to God’s plan. This shows us that Jesus was not only long-suffering in his death, but also in his life. He was always obedient to God, even when it was difficult, and he never gave up or turned away from him.
Because of this, we can trust that Jesus knows what it means to suffer and that he is with us when we go through our own trials. If we follow his example, we can also display long-suffering in our lives.
When we study the life of Jesus, we see many examples of His long-suffering nature. In Matthew 26:39, we see that even in the face of great trials and suffering, Jesus was willing to endure patiently. He could have called down legions of angels to rescue Him, but He chose instead to suffer and die for our sins.

This act of selfless love shows us the true nature of Jesus Christ – He is a God who is willing to endure great hardship and suffering for our sake. When we are faced with trials and temptations, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands our situation and is willing to help us through it.
By keeping our eyes on Him, we can learn to “run with endurance the race that is set before” (Hebrews 12:1) us and receive the prize of eternal life.
Jesus displays long-suffering in the scriptures when he is in the garden of Gethsemane praying and his disciples can’t stay awake (Matthew 26:39). He suffers because he knows what is coming and he endures it.
He also shows long-suffering when he is on the cross and asks for forgiveness for those who are crucifying him (Luke 23:34). Jesus taught us that we need to be long-suffering with others, even when they don’t deserve it (Ephesians 4:2). When we are long-suffering, we are patient and endure through difficult situations. We see an example of this in Jesus’ life and we are called to follow his example.
Stephen (Acts 7:60)
According to the definition found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, long-suffering is bearing injuries or misfortunes patiently. In the Bible, we see many examples of people who displayed long-suffering. One example is Stephen in the book of Acts. In Acts 7:60, we read that Stephen was being stoned to death for his testimony about Jesus.
Even though he was in pain and facing certain death, Stephen prayed for those who were killing him. He showed great patience and endurance in the face of adversity. This act of long-suffering is just one example of how Stephen remained faithful to God even in the midst of great trials.
As Christians, we are called to follow Stephen’s example and remain patient and enduring when faced with difficult situations. By doing so, we can glorify God and show His love to others.
Stephen’s long-suffering Endurance was put on full display when he was being stoned to death. He could have easily given into the crowd’s demands and renounced his faith, but instead, he chose to endure the pain and suffering. He even prayed for his persecutors, asking God to forgive them. This act of forgiveness is a true demonstration of Stephen’s character and his commitment to his faith. His endurance in the face of adversity is an inspiration to us all.
The early church martyrs (Revelation 2:10, 3:9)
The early church martyrs were incredibly patient in the face of persecution. Despite being tortured and killed for their beliefs, they refused to renounce their faith. In Revelation 2:10, the author describes how the early Christians endured great suffering for their faith.
They were patient in the face of persecution, and this ultimately led to their triumph. In Revelation 3:9, the author describes how the early Christians refused to give in to the demands of their persecutors. Even in the face of death, they remained steadfast in their beliefs. The early church martyrs displayed an admirable level of long-suffering endurance, and their example continues to inspire Christians today.

Final Thoughts – Examples of Long Suffering in the Bible
In conclusion, long-suffering is an important virtue that Christians are called to display. We see examples of long-suffering in the lives of Jesus Christ, Stephen, and the early church martyrs. They all endured great suffering for their faith, but they remained patient and steadfast. Their examples inspire us to follow their example and display long-suffering in our own lives. When we do so, we glorify God and show His love to others.
God Bless Greg