κακοπαθέω

From the study of 2 Timothy 4:5

Range of meaning

From kakos (bad) and paschō (suffer): to suffer misfortune or distress, to bear hardship, and in some contexts to labour hard or toil.

Against the English

"Endure hardship" (BSB, NIV, NASB), "suffer hardship" (WEB), "endure suffering" (ESV), "endure afflictions" (KJV), "suffer evil" (YLT). NLT recasts it as not being afraid of suffering for the Lord, which interprets the command as one about courage. The Greek is simpler and blunter: suffer it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), Jonah 4:10 has God tell Jonah "you did not labour (ekakopathēsas) over it" about the plant, the sense of toil. In Hellenistic Greek it is common for soldiers and labourers bearing hardship. In 2 Timothy, Paul "suffers hardship to the point of chains" (2:9) and urges Timothy to "share in suffering" (synkakopathēson) for the gospel (1:8) and "as a good soldier" (2:3). James 5:13 uses it of anyone suffering.

From the study of 2 Timothy 2:9

Range of meaning

Made from kakos (bad) and paschō (suffer, undergo), so literally "to suffer bad things": to endure hardship, misery, toil or distress. It can also mean "to take pains, labor hard" at something. The weight falls on enduring what is unpleasant, not on inner emotional pain.

Against the English

KJV "suffer trouble", YLT "suffer evil" (the most literal), WEB "suffer hardship", BSB just "suffer". "Suffer" alone can sound like a feeling. The Greek is about bearing hard conditions.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), Jonah 4:10 uses it for the effort Jonah did not spend on the plant ("you did not labor over it"). Greek writers use it for the hardships of soldiers on campaign. In the New Testament: 2 Tim 2:3 (the compound "share hardship", in a soldier picture), 2 Tim 4:5, James 5:10, 13.

From the study of James 5:13

Range of meaning

To suffer misfortune, endure hardship, bear trouble or distress. In Greek generally it covered the hardships of soldiers on campaign, of labourers, of travellers, and of people who were mistreated. It describes outward circumstances that wear you down more than an emotional state. The related noun kakopathia means 'suffering, hardship, endurance of hardship'.

Against the English

KJV 'afflicted' is close but sounds archaic. BSB, ESV, NASB and WEB 'suffering' is accurate but wide enough that readers often hear physical pain or illness. NIV 'in trouble' and NLT 'suffering hardships' come nearest to the word's actual shape.

How it drifted

In modern English, 'suffering' usually means pain or illness, or else inner emotional anguish. The Greek word is about adverse circumstances. James keeps illness for a different verb (astheneō, v.14).

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Jonah 4:10 uses it of labouring and toiling ('you did not labour over it'). In the NT: 2 Tim 2:9 ('I suffer hardship to the point of chains'), 2 Tim 4:5 ('endure hardship'), and the compound in 2 Tim 2:3 ('share in suffering as a good soldier'). The noun appears in Jas 5:10 for the prophets' sufferings. Hellenistic writers such as Josephus and Philo use the word group for toil and hardship (BDAG).