![]() ![]() Stamina for an 85-year-old grandfather might mean having enough energy to play with his grandkids. Having good stamina for a professional basketball player might mean being able to get through an entire game without a dip in performance. It can be thought of as the opposite of fatigue, or the ability to feel energetic for a prolonged period. 1997.When people talk about stamina, usually they’re referring to their ability to perform an activity without getting tired. indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical BibleĮlwell, Walter A. Published by Baker Books, a division ofīaker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan USA.įor usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Carson, Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility I. See also Apostasy Assurance Backsliding Denial Perserveranceīibliography. To finish the race by keeping the faith offers to the one who endures the anticipation of a reward that is symbolized in a "crown of righteousness" ( 2 Tim 4:1-8 ). It is a key element in adequately arming the Christian for endurance in the battle against the forces of evil ( Eph 6:18 ). Thus, prayer becomes a vital part of the Christian pilgrimage ( Matt 26:41 Acts 12:5 14:23 Rom 12:12 2 Col 1:11 Php 4:6 1 Thess 3:10 1 Peter 4:7 ). Inadequate believing withdraws in times of confusion ( John 6:66 ), but true commitment endures by looking to Christ for the resources of life ( 6:68 ).īecause Christians (like the authentic children of God in the Old Testament) take human weakness seriously, they realize the crucial necessity of divine support. Endurance, then, is an inherent part of authentic "believing" that is expected of every Christian. They view endurance as a crucial aspect of a human's response in faithfulness to the gracious, loving God who in giving Christ provides acceptance and salvation ( John 3:16 ). Most evangelical theologians consider such views to be foreign to the New Testament perspective. Others developed a last rite that would sacramentally guarantee their acceptance from the time of their baptism or their final participation in a communion service. Some, viewing baptism as a cure-all for every sin, postponed their baptism until the point of death. Reacceptance by Jesus and restoration for Peter meant he would have to endure to the point of death ( 21:18-19 ).īecause of the serious nature of renunciation in the early church, some Christians sought various means to ensure their endurance with God and their final acceptance into the kingdom of heaven. Yet restoration involved serious consequences. Peter's restoration was for Christians a model of hope beyond painful denial ( 21:15-17 ). But failure did not automatically mean their rejection in the manner of Israel's failure in the wilderness. They failed their Lord in times of persecution and temptation, just as Peter did during the dark days of the crucifixion ( John 18:10-11 John 18:15-18 John 18:25-27 ). ![]() The early Christians, however, were not superhuman. While the warnings seem most severe in Hebrews ( 2:1-3 5:11-6:8 10:26-31 ) a fact that has led many Christians to avoid reading the book their point is rooted in the firm conviction of the writer that with the power of Christ believers will be able to endure no matter what the circumstance ( 6:9-19 10:35-39 ) and persevere to the end ( 12:1-2 ). These examples supplied the raw materials for Paul and others to formulate clear warnings to Christians about turning or retreating from the way of faithfulness and authenticity of life (e.g., 1 Cor 10:1-12 Heb 3:17-19 ). The repeated failures of Israel to maintain faithfulness to God in the exodus and at later times provided the New Testament writers with forceful models of the nature of tragedy and unrealized hopes among God's people. ![]() Pictorial athletic imagery was used to summon Christians to faithfulness as they prepared themselves for the race of life (cf. Born in a context of hostility, persecution, and the death of their Lord and his disciples, the endurance of Christians in the face of persecution and temptation underlies most the New Testament. Continuing Christian commitment in the face of difficulty. ![]()
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