Gr. proskartereō, “to persist,” “to continue steadfastly,” “to persevere.” The same word is translated elsewhere, “wait” (Mark 3:9), “waited ... continually” (Acts 10:7), “attending continually” (Rom. 13:6). Only by constant communion with God can the Christian maintain strength and courage to endure the troubles through which he will inevitably pass (see Acts 1:14; 6:4; Col. 4:2). Setting the mind continually on things that are above (cf. Col. 3:2) and measuring every act and impulse by contemplation of the glory and will of God are the sure remedy for impatience under provocation and opposition. Moreover, God gives His Spirit to those who earnestly and continually desire His presence (see John 16:23, 24; Acts 1:14; 2:4), and the same Spirit who brings “love” (cf. Rom. 12:9) and “rejoicing” (cf. v. 12) brings also “longsuffering” and “temperance,” literally, “self-control” (Gal. 5:22, 23).

 Gr. hupomenō, “to endure” (cf. hupomonē, “patience”; see on ch. 5:3). Such zeal as has been described in the previous verse soon encounters opposition and trouble. But with the hope of God’s glory before him the Christian neither murmurs against God nor feels enmity against his persecutors. He calmly remains at his post of duty in spite of the trials it involves. Such patient endurance was perfectly exemplified by Christ, who, under more difficult circumstances, endured more than any of His followers will be called upon to face. The virtue of endurance was especially needed in the troublous times through which the church was passing in Paul’s day. The apostle knew from experience that sufferings for the cause of Christ would be intense (see Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:6; 3:3-7; 2 Thess. 1:4-6). The connection between love and endurance is also indicated in 1 Cor. 13:7, love “endureth all things.”

 The three brief injunctions in this verse seem even more pointed when the word order of the Greek is retained: “In hope rejoicing, in tribulation enduring, in prayer persevering.” Paul has already commended the spirit of cheerfulness (v. 8). In ch. 5:2 he spoke of the believer’s rejoicing “in hope of the glory of God.” This Christian hope, which is the cause of such cheerfulness, has been explained in ch. 8:20-25. This hope enables the Christian to look beyond the darkness and trouble of the present moment to the things that are unseen and eternal (2 Cor. 4:17, 18). The fact that hope, like so many of the Christian virtues, springs from the basic virtue of love is indicated by 1 Cor. 13:7, love “hopeth all things.”