Strong’s Greek 463 denotes God’s deliberate “holding back” of judgment. While patience can describe a general attitude, this term accents a purposeful delay that creates space for repentance and the unfolding of redemption.

Biblical Occurrences

• Romans 2:4 – Paul challenges the impenitent: “Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?”.
• Romans 3:25-26 – The apostle explains that, through the cross, God “in His forbearance… had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished,” so that He might now “be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus”.

God’s Character Displayed

1. Mercy without Compromise – Forbearance reveals a holy God who does not ignore sin yet withholds immediate retribution. This harmony of justice and mercy upholds every biblical disclosure of His character (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8).
2. Covenant Faithfulness – The delay of judgment enabled the messianic promises to reach their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. What seemed inactivity was, in fact, steadfast covenant commitment.

Forbearance in Redemptive History

• Pre-Cross Era – From Adam to the advent of Christ, God tolerated accumulated transgressions while progressively unveiling His redemptive plan (Acts 17:30).
• Culmination at Calvary – The cross vindicates God’s earlier restraint; sins “passed over” were not forgotten but would be dealt with in the Son.
• Present Age – The same divine posture continues, giving nations and individuals opportunity to repent before the final judgment (2 Peter 3:9-10).

Relationship to Repentance and Justification

Romans 2:4 ties forbearance to repentance; Romans 3:26 ties it to justification. The delay both warns the sinner and exalts the Savior: repentance is urged because judgment is sure, and justification is offered because judgment fell on Christ.

Patristic and Historical Witness

Early Christian writers repeatedly cited Romans to defend God’s moral consistency. Justin Martyr argued that divine forbearance proved God’s righteousness, while Augustine appealed to it in The City of God to show why history continues after the cross—God is gathering the elect.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Preaching – Gospel proclamation must highlight God’s present restraint and coming wrath, urging hearers to embrace grace “today” (Hebrews 3:13).
• Pastoral Care – Believers struggling with delayed answers or observed evil find assurance that God’s timing serves a redemptive purpose.
• Church Discipline – Leaders mirror divine forbearance by granting space for confession and change, yet without dismissing holy standards.

Implications for Mission and Discipleship

The missionary mandate rests partly on God’s ongoing tolerance (Acts 14:16-17). Evangelistic urgency derives from the certainty that the period of restraint will close, intensifying the call to “persuade others” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Worship and Liturgy

Psalms of confession (for example, Psalm 130) and communion services often echo the theme, thanking God for withholding deserved judgment until grace could be fully revealed.

Conclusion

Strong’s 463 portrays a divine pause pregnant with purpose: sin is neither excused nor forgotten, but temporarily left unpunished so that the riches of grace in Jesus Christ might be offered to the world. This truth fuels repentance, steadies faith, and propels mission until the day forbearance yields to final righteousness.