Bible Verses About Perseverance

The Christian life is a race to be finished, not just begun. These verses about perseverance strengthen us to endure to the end.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” — Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. The condition — if we faint not — is the whole subject.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” — Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)

Run with patience the race set before us, having laid aside every weight. Weights are distinguished from sin: some things are merely heavy.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” — James 1:12 (KJV)

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown. Endurance is described as leading somewhere specific.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

Be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding — placed at the end of the resurrection chapter. The argument for persistence is that the labour is not in vain.

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” — Hebrews 10:36 (KJV)

Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise. Doing comes first, then waiting, then receiving.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14 (KJV)

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling — written by a man in his sixties, in custody. He says plainly he has not yet attained.

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9:62 (KJV)

No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom. A furrow ploughed while looking backward is crooked, which is the image.

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10 (KJV)

Be thou faithful unto death, written to a church facing imprisonment. The tribulation is even given a length — ten days — rather than left vague.

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” — Matthew 24:13 (KJV)

He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. It appears in a passage about betrayal and cooling love, which is what endurance is set against.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV)

So run, that ye may obtain — Paul borrows the Isthmian games, familiar to every Corinthian reader. He then describes training rather than talent.

“But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (KJV)

Be not weary in well doing, addressed to a congregation with idle members exhausting the working ones. Perseverance here is against discouragement from inside the church.

“The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” — Job 17:9 (KJV)

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Job says it while insisting on his innocence against his friends.

“And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” — Hebrews 6:11-12 (KJV)

Followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises — both words are required. Slothfulness is named as the alternative.

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV)

Troubled on every side yet not distressed; cast down but not destroyed — four concessions, four limits. The structure is the argument.

“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” — Colossians 1:23 (KJV)

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled — the conditional is stated plainly rather than smoothed over. Grounded and settled are building words.

“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” — Psalm 37:24 (KJV)

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Falling is granted; being finished is not.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about perseverance?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on perseverance: Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:12, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 10:36, Philippians 3:14, Luke 9:62, Revelation 2:10, Matthew 24:13, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Job 17:9, Hebrews…

What is a good Bible verse about perseverance?

Galatians 6:9 is the passage most often quoted on perseverance, with Hebrews 12:1 and James 1:12 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these perseverance verses?

You can read all of these verses about perseverance — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.