by Matthew Recker
Jesus said, And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt.10:22). One of the keys to enduring to the end is found in the root word of “endure” (hupomeno) which is to “abide” (meno).
We must have an abiding relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ that begins with His salvation (John 15:5-6). By the new birth, we are brought into vital union with Christ and are in Him, and He is in us. Christ is the sphere of our new life, surrounding us above and below, before and behind, on the right and on the left. Christ in us gives us the hope of glory, protection, and power. Being in Him we must then work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil.2:12-13).
Multiple words used in Scripture emphasize and give greater dimension to this abiding relationship with Christ. Prepositions placed before the root word “abide” (meno) strengthen the word and give it a spatial meaning that further empowers us in our union in Christ. These words show that Jesus has us covered above, below, and alongside us. In them is a great key to enduring to the end. I will list them and highlight each word briefly with some key references to each one. You can find each word above in the chart.
- Epimeno (used 18 times): This emphasizes that we abide upon Christ, depending on Him. It is often translated “continue” such as in 1 Timothy 4:16. Paul told Timothy to “take heed” to himself and his doctrine, and “continue” in them, and in doing this he would both save himself and those who hear him (see also Col.1:23). We continue and endure by depending upon Christ, His finished work, and His indwelling Spirit.
- Hupomeno (used 17 times): This means that we abide under a particular situation patiently enduring without giving God a deadline to remove it. This focuses on us serving the Lord by faith through the circumstances in which He has placed us. This is the word used by Jesus in Matthew 10:22 and Matthew 24:13 to “endure” to the end. James says, “blessed is the man that endureth temptation” and “behold we count them happy which endure” (James 1:12; 5:11).
- Parameno (used 4 times): This focuses us on abiding alongside Christ, his people, and His Word (Philippians 1:25, James 1:25). As Christ abides in us, He walks alongside us as we live and abide with His people. We endure as we walk with Jesus as He walked. “Hereby know we that we are in Him” (1 John 2:5).
- Prosmeno (used 6 times): This preposition strengthens the word abide by stressing that we are moving toward Him. It speaks of our cleaving to the Lord (Acts 11:23). Paul identifies godly widows as trusting in God who continue cleaving to God in prayer day and night (1 Tim.5:5).
- Katameno (used 1 time): This word is found only in Acts 1:13 where the apostles “abode” in the upper room. “Abide” joined with the preposition kata emphases a settling down. This word speaks of resting in a particular place.
As we abide in Christ, we have a heart that continually and patiently works out our salvation through life’s challenging and changing circumstances. The word “abide” along with its various usages with multiple other prepositions gives us a powerful and visual key to our enduring in our Christian walk with Christ (see diagram).
We live out our relationship depending on Him constantly (epimeno) serving Him patiently (hupomeno), walking with Him faithfully (parameno), praying toward Him unceasingly (prosmeno), and resting in Him peacefully (katameno). Our lives are centered in the reality that Christ abides in us and we in Him. This is how we will endure to the end and be assured that He will preserve us “unto His heavenly kingdom” ( 2 Timothy 4:18).
