Endeavor
A Word That Has Weakened
The English word "endeavor" has undergone a significant shift in meaning since the time of the King James Version. In the early 1600s, to endeavor meant to exert oneself with utmost effort and determination, with an expectation of success. Today, the word suggests trying with uncertain results, implying possible failure. Understanding this shift is essential for grasping the force of biblical passages that use this term.
Modern translations often replace "endeavor" with stronger expressions like "make every effort," "give diligence," or "be eager," more accurately conveying the urgency of the original Greek.
Endeavoring to Keep Unity
The most important use of this concept appears in Ephesians 4:3, where Paul urges believers to be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (KJV). Modern translations render this as "make every effort" or "be eager" to maintain unity. The Greek word behind this is related to urgency and haste, suggesting that preserving the church's unity is not a casual aspiration but a pressing responsibility requiring active, determined work.
Paul's context makes the urgency clear. He has just described the calling of believers to live with humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Ephesians 4:1-2). Unity is not something that happens automatically; it must be pursued with deliberate effort because the forces of division are always at work.
Peter's Enduring Legacy
In 2 Peter 1:15, the apostle writes, "I will endeavor that you may be able after my departure to have these things always in remembrance" (KJV). Peter, aware that his death is approaching (2 Peter 1:14), is determined to ensure that his teaching will outlast his life. Modern translations use "make every effort" to capture the intensity of Peter's resolve.
This passage reveals the apostolic concern for the church's future. Peter did not passively hope his message would survive; he actively worked to ensure it would be remembered and passed on. Church tradition connects this endeavor with the writing of the Gospel of Mark, which was understood to preserve Peter's eyewitness testimony.
Paul's Determined Ministry
In 1 Thessalonians 2:17, Paul describes his intense desire to return to the Thessalonian church: "We endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire" (KJV). The Greek word here carries the sense of hastening with eagerness. Paul's separation from the Thessalonians was not met with resignation but with energetic attempts to reunite with them.
Acts 16:10 uses a related concept when Luke describes the response to Paul's vision of the man from Macedonia: they immediately "endeavored to go into Macedonia," concluding that God had called them to preach there. The word here means "sought" or "attempted," reflecting the decisive action that followed divine guidance.
The Call to Vigorous Faith
The biblical concept of endeavor challenges passive approaches to faith. Scripture consistently presents the Christian life as one of active effort, not in the sense of earning salvation, but in the sense of living out what God has given. Philippians 2:12-13 captures this balance: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you."
The writer of Hebrews uses similar language: "Let us therefore endeavor to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11, KJV), meaning believers should make every effort to trust God's promises and not fall into the disobedience that kept the wilderness generation from the promised land.
Biblical Context
The concept of endeavor appears in Ephesians 4:3 regarding church unity, 2 Peter 1:15 about preserving apostolic teaching, 1 Thessalonians 2:17 about Paul's desire to revisit believers, and Acts 16:10 about responding to God's call to Macedonia. The underlying Greek words convey urgency, haste, and determined effort.
Theological Significance
Biblical endeavor reveals that the Christian life requires active, determined effort empowered by God's Spirit. It corrects both legalistic self-reliance and passive quietism. The believer is called to earnestly pursue unity, preserve truth, and respond to God's leading with urgency and resolve, all while depending on God's enabling grace.
Historical Background
The Greek words translated as 'endeavor' in the New Testament reflect the culture of the Greco-Roman world, where earnest effort and diligence were highly valued virtues. The shift in the English word's meaning from determined action to tentative attempt illustrates how Bible translation must continually adapt to changing language. The Revised Version of 1881 was among the first English translations to address this semantic shift by substituting 'give diligence' for the KJV's 'endeavor.'