Covenant Reformed News – September 2016 • Volume XVI, Issue 5
This article examines the biblical doctrine of God's longsuffering as revealed through seven New Testament passages, with particular focus on how longsuffering is directed toward God's elect rather than the reprobate. The author uses exegesis of Luke 18:7, 1 Peter 3:20, and 2 Peter 3:9 to demonstrate that God's patience and delay of Christ's return are expressions of His sovereign grace toward the chosen, illustrating the Reformed understanding of election and God's effectual calling of His people.
God’s Longsuffering in the New Testament In the last two issues of the News, we looked at God’s longsuffering in the Old Testament. Now we turn to the seven New Testament instances. The first reference to God’s longsuffering in the New Testament is Luke 18:7: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” The object of Jehovah’s bearing or suffering long in this text is “his own elect,” those whom He chose in Christ before the...