Patience Of God
PATIENCE OF GOD
Is his long suffering or forbearance. He is called the God of patience, not only because he is the author and object of the grace of patience, but because he is patient or long suffering in himself, and towards his creatures. It is not, indeed, to be considered as a quality, accident, passion, or affection in God as in creatures, but belongs to the very nature and essence of God, and springs from his goodness and mercy, Rom 2:4. It is said to be exercised towards his chosen people, 2Pe 3:9. Rom 3:25. Isa 30:18. 1Ti 1:16. and towards the ungodly, Rom 2:4. Ecc 8:11. The end of his forbearance to the wicked, is, that they may be without excuse; to make his power and goodness visible; and partly for the sake of his own people, Gen 18:32. Rev 6:11. 2Pe 3:9. His patience is manifested by giving warnings of judgments before he executes them, Hos 6:5. Amo 1:1. 2Pe 2:5. In long delaying his judgments, Ecc 8:11. In often mixing mercy with them. There are many instances of his patience recorded in the Scriptures; with the old world, Gen 6:3; the inhabitants of Sodom, Gen. xviii; in Pharaoh, Exod. v; in the people of Israel in the wilderness, Act 13:18; in the Amorites and Cannaanites, Gen 15:15. Lev 18:28. in the Gentile world. Act 17:30; in fruitless professors, Luk 13:6; Luk 13:9; in Antichrist, Rev 2:1-29; Rev 13:6; Rev 18:8.
See Charnock’s Works, vol. 1: p. 780; Gill’s Body of Divinity, vol. 1: p. 130; Saurin’s Sermon’s vol. 1: ser. 10 and 11, 148, 149; Tillotson’s Sermons.
Fuente: Theological Dictionary
Patience Of God
Thus may be considered the divine long-suffering or forbearance with sinners. The Lord is called the God of patience, not only because he is the author and object of the grace of patience, but because he is patient or long-suffering in himself, and towards his creatures. It is not, however, to be considered as a quality, accident, passion, or affection in God, as in creatures, but belongs to the very nature and essence of God, and springs from his goodness and mercy (Rom 2:4). It is said to be exercised towards his chosen people (Isa 30:18; Rom 3:25; 2Pe 3:9). The end of his forbearance to the wicked is that they may be without excuse, to make his power and goodness visible (Gen 18:32; 2Pe 3:9). His patience is manifested by giving warnings of judgments before he executes them (Hos 6:5; Amo 1:1; 2Pe 2:5); in long delaying his judgments (Ecc 8:11); in often mixing mercy with them. There are many instances of this patience recorded in the Scriptures, as with the old world (Gen 6:3); the inhabitants of Sodom (Genesis 18); with Pharaoh (Exodus 5); with the people of Israel in the wilderness (Act 13:18); with the Gentile world (Act 17:30); with fruitless professors (Luk 13:6; Luk 13:9); with Antichrist (Rev 2:21).