Analysis of “The one who endures to the end will be saved” in Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, and Mark 13:13

By John Kaul

Analysis of original test

Matthew 10:22 Endure

G5278

ὑπομένω

hupomenō; from G5259 and G3306; to stay behind, to await, endure:—endure (3), endure...with patience (1), endured (5), endures (3), patiently endure (1), perseveres (1), persevering (1), remained (1), stayed behind (1).

To the end

G5056

τέλος

telos; a prim. word; an end, a toll:—continually *(1), custom (2), customs (1), end (24), ends (2), finished (1), fulfillment (1), goal (1), outcome (6), sum (1), utmost (1).

Who will be saved

G4982

σῴζω

sōzō; from σῶς sōs (safe, well); to save:—bring...safely (1), cured (1), ensure salvation (1), get (1), get well (2), made...well (6), made well (5), preserved (1), recover (1), restore (1), save (36), saved (50), saves (1), saving (1).

Matthew 24:13 to the one who endures

G5278

ὑπομένω

To the end

G5056

τέλος

telos; a prim. word; an end, a toll:—continually *(1), custom (2), customs (1), end (24), ends (2), finished (1), fulfillment (1), goal (1), outcome (6), sum (1), utmost (1).

He be saved

G4982

σῴζω

Mark 13:13 but the one who endures

G5278

ὑπομένω

To the end

G5056

τέλος

telos; a prim. word; an end, a toll:—continually *(1), custom (2), customs (1), end (24), ends (2), finished (1), fulfillment (1), goal (1), outcome (6), sum (1), utmost (1).

He will be saved

G4982

σῴζω

Analysis of Context

Using the New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance, I found that the same greek word, hupomeno, was used in all three passages for “endure”. The writer probably meant to patiently endure or persevere through circumstances out of one’s control.

The same greek word, telos, was used in all three passages for “end”. The writer was referring to the end of a period of time or circumstances.

The same greek word, eozo, was used in all three passages for “saved”. Considering the context of each of the passages, this term seems to mean survival or preserved. In other words, the individual or individuals survived the circumstances or period of time being referenced.

All three passages are obviously referring to the great tribulation right before the return of Christ to take over His throne. The people referred to are regenerate persons who survived the great tribulation. The reference to “endure” in these passages is focused more on the tribulation saint enduring (surviving) the great tribulation. Therefore, it has nothing to do with salvation. In fact, Matthew 10:23 reinforces this conclusion.

My view of these passages

Salvation comes only to those who have everlasting life. Everlasting life is only obtained by believing in Jesus Christ to raise us from the dead. Everlasting life begins at the point of belief in Christ. Everlasting life, by definition, never ends. Therefore, a regenerate person cannot lose it.

Therefore, perseverance of the saints is not necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. Everlasting life is the only way to enter the Kingdom of God. Regenerate people must persevere in order to reign with Christ. They must persevere in order to inherit the Kingdom of God (have ownership). They must persevere in order to have fellowship with Christ. They must persevere in order to receive rewards and crowns at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

I see nothing in the entire Bible that supports the reformed doctrine of perseverance. Look at the teachings of Jesus in the book of John.

John 3:16 Teaching Nicodemus that anyone who believes has everlasting life.

John 4:30-14 Teaching the Samaritan woman that if she drinks of the water He gives she will never thirst again (Everlasting Life).

John 5:24 Teaching the Jews that whoever hears His word and believes Him has eternal life.

John 6:37 Teaching that the one who comes to Him, He certainly will not cast out.

John 10: 28-29 Teaching the Jews that those who believe will receive eternal life and never perish.

John 11:25-26 Jesus tells Martha that He is the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Him shall live even if he dies (everlasting life). He then asks Martha if she believes what He just told her.

From these scriptures and throughout the New Testament it is obvious that the only thing God requires of us to have everlasting life is to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that He will give us everlasting life. If we believe that, we have everlasting life. Everlasting life, by definition, begins when we believe (are persuaded). Everlasting life, by definition, means that it can never end. Therefore, if I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the resurrection and the life, and that He will give me everlasting life, then I cannot lose it. I have complete assurance because a transaction took place when I believed. That transaction is permanent. I am born again, regenerate, and nothing can change that. In fact, nothing I can do, good or bad, can change that.

In Revelation 20, the dead are not thrown into the lake of fire because of their sins or because of their works whether good or bad. They are thrown into the lake of fire because they do not have everlasting life. They do not have everlasting life because they did not believe that Jesus was the Christ and died to give them everlasting life. Look again at John 11. Jesus did not ask Martha to come forward, say a prayer, repent, get baptized, speak in tongues, or receive Him in her heart. He asked her if she believed that He was the resurrection and the life. He asked her if she believed that He was the Christ. He asked her if she believed He could raise her from the dead. Her answer to that is what gave her eternal life, nothing else. Faith alone in Christ alone!

You can find plenty of teachers, theologians, and commentaries that differ from my view on this. All of the following except Charles Ryrie and Warren Wiersbe teach another view of these passages. I believe the other view is being used by Satan to draw people away from God’s truth and everlasting life. However, it does not matter what they think, what I think, or what you think. It matters what the Word of God says. And I believe the Word of God clearly states that a person can only receive everlasting life by faith alone in Christ alone.

Various views of Matthew 10:22

Adam Clarke Commentary

He that endureth to the end shall be saved—He who holds fast faith and a good conscience to the end, till the punishment threatened against this wicked people be poured out, he shall be saved, preserved from the destruction that shall fall upon the workers of iniquity. This verse is commonly understood to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem. It is also true that they who do not hold fast faith and a good conscience till death have no room to hope for an admission into the kingdom of God.

Barnes Commentary

But he that endureth to the end …—That is, to the end of life, be it longer or shorter. He that bears all these unspeakable sufferings, and who does not shrink and apostatize, will give decisive evidence of attachment to me, and shall enter into heaven. See Rev. 3:21-22.

IVP Bible Background Commentary

Election, Eternal Security—Persecution is the lot of the elect. Just as Jesus suffered persecution, so would those who took His teachings seriously. Patient endurance of persecution and suffering to complete the missionary task marks the elect and shows they have eternal salvation.

Life Application Bible Commentary

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (nrsv) These words have received a variety of interpretations. (1) The one who endures to the end of persecution (that is, keeps the faith through suffering) will be delivered from physical suffering. This we know can’t be true because some have been martyred for their faith.

(2) “The one who endures to the end” of life’s trials will be saved into eternal life. That person will not face spiritual harm. This view tends to support a “salvation by works” viewpoint. (3) The one who endures until the end (meaning wholly, completely) will enter into Christ’s kingdom. This view is more likely because standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life. Jesus’ point was that persecution will come and his followers must be patient and faithful through it.

The Bible Reader’s Companion

Stand firm (10:22). The Gk. verb hypomeno means to endure patiently rather than to fight back. “To the end” does not specify a particular time, but rather means “endure without breaking down.” Some believers have endured, even to the point of losing their lives. The martyrs’ examples remind us that we need not give in to pressure, but can find strength in the Lord to endure.

Ryrie’s Study Bible

10:21-23 These verses are a prediction of persecution in those days and in the Tribulation before the second coming of Christ (24:9-14). Such unnatural acts against members of one’s own family have taken place under totalitarian regimes in the past and in modern times.

Warren Wiersbe

(4) Verses 22-23 parallel 24:9, 13, where they definitely apply to the end time. There is a sense in which this section could apply to the ministry of the apostles during the Book of Acts, especially the Apostle Paul. However, the true application is for the Tribulation period. Note that v. 22 has nothing to do with salvation from sin. It is talking about the faithful endurance of His ambassadors during the time of persecution in the Tribulation. This will end with the return of the Lord (v. 23).

Final comments from Joseph Dillow

Christ’s famous warning that “he who endures to the end shall be saved” is quoted both by Arminians and Experimental Predestinarians to prove their contradictory points of view (Mt. 24:13). However, the salvation in view is either deliverance from the tribulation or, more likely, entrance into our full reward when we inherit the kingdom (Mt. 25:34). It is a promise that those who are faithful to the end, in the midst of the tribulation persecutions of Antichrist, will be abundantly rewarded with joint rulership with Christ in His coming kingdom.

The Reformed doctrine of perseverance in holiness has often based its scriptural appeal upon many of these type of passages. John Murray, for example, appeals to many of these verses to prove that, just because a person professes faith in Christ, that does not mean he is truly saved. The way we can tell if a man is truly saved, according to Murray, is whether or not he continues to the end. He quotes “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (Mt. 10:22) and “We are partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (Heb. 4:14). After citing Jn. 15:6 and Jn. 8:31-32 (which deal with discipleship and not salvation), he concludes: “The crucial test of true faith is endurance to the end, abiding in Christ, and continuance in his word.” Not one of the verses Murray cites proves this at all because none of them are talking about salvation from hell; instead, they refer to our potential loss of future reward.

If salvation, eternal life, and inheritance always refer to final deliverance from hell and entrance into heaven, then scores of these passages can only be “interpreted” by foisting upon them the meaning required by a theological system. It is therefore circular to appeal to these same verses, as Murray does, in support of the very system that was used to give them their meaning.