Luke 21:19

Luke 21:19, "In your patience possess ye your souls," is a profound exhortation from Jesus, delivered during His Olivet Discourse. It serves as a vital instruction for believers facing tribulation, emphasizing the power of steadfast endurance in securing one's spiritual integrity and eternal destiny.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' detailed prophecy concerning the destruction of the Temple, the signs preceding His second coming, and the severe persecutions His followers would endure. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus describes a time of intense trials, where believers will be betrayed by family, hated by all for His name's sake, and even put to death (Luke 21:16). Amidst these dire predictions, Jesus offers a powerful promise: He will give them "a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke 21:15). Verse 19 then provides the essential attitude for navigating such times.

Key Themes

• Perseverance Amidst Tribulation: The core message is the absolute necessity of enduring hardship and persecution with unwavering faith. This is not a passive waiting but an active, resolute steadfastness in the face of immense pressure.
• Spiritual Preservation: To "possess your souls" speaks to the ultimate outcome of such endurance. It implies securing, preserving, or gaining one's true life, identity, and spiritual well-being through faithfulness. In the context of persecution, it means not losing one's faith or eternal salvation, but rather holding fast to it.
• Hope and Assurance: Despite the grim predictions of suffering, Jesus offers a path to security and preservation. True life is found not in avoiding trials, but in enduring them with Him.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation captures a significant nuance of the original Greek:

• The word translated "patience" is hypomonē (ὑπομονή). This term denotes more than just passive patience; it signifies active, steadfast endurance or perseverance under trials. It implies remaining firm and resolute, not giving way under pressure.
• The phrase "possess ye your souls" comes from the Greek verb ktaomai (κτάομαι), which means "to acquire," "to gain," or "to obtain." In this specific context, it carries the sense of "to preserve," "to secure," or "to acquire for oneself" one's life or soul. Other translations often render it as "by your endurance you will gain your lives" (ESV) or "by your steadfastness you will gain your lives" (NIV), emphasizing the preservation of one's spiritual and eternal life through faithfulness.

Practical Application

Luke 21:19 offers timeless wisdom for believers today:

• Cultivating Endurance: In a world filled with challenges, setbacks, and spiritual opposition, this verse calls us to develop a spirit of patient endurance. It reminds us that our faith is often refined through fire.
• Prioritizing Spiritual Life: It challenges us to consider what we truly value. When faced with choices that might compromise our faith, this verse urges us to "possess" or preserve our spiritual integrity above all else, knowing that our true life is in Christ.
• Finding Security in Christ: Ultimately, our ability to endure comes from our reliance on God. This steadfastness is a fruit of the Spirit and a testament to God's faithfulness, as seen in other passages like James 1:4, which states that "patience" (endurance) works completeness.

Thus, "In your patience possess ye your souls" is a powerful reminder that through steadfast perseverance in faith, especially during difficult times, believers secure their spiritual life and demonstrate their unwavering commitment to Christ, ultimately inheriting eternal salvation.