Endurance (Mt 24:13-24:14)

“But the one who endures

To the end

Will be saved.

This gospel,

This good news

Of the kingdom

Will be preached

Throughout the whole world,

As a testimony

To all nations.

Then the end will come.”

 

ὁ δὲ ὑπομείνας εἰς τέλος, οὗτος σωθήσεται.

καὶ κηρυχθήσεται τοῦτο τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ εἰς μαρτύριον πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, καὶ τότε ἥξει τὸ τέλος.

 

There is something similar in Mark, chapter 13:13, and in Luke, chapter 21:19, but in a more succinct way without any qualifiers.  Matthew had the same idea in chapter 10:22, since endurance was important.  Jesus said that the one who endured or stayed firm to the end would be saved (ὁ δὲ ὑπομείνας εἰς τέλος, οὗτος σωθήσεται).  This gospel, this good news, of the kingdom (τοῦτο τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας) would be preached (καὶ κηρυχθήσεται) throughout the whole inhabited world (ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ), as a witness to all the gentile nations (εἰς μαρτύριον πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν).  Then the end would come (καὶ τότε ἥξει τὸ τέλος).  Matthew seems to set a precondition before the coming of the end times that the gospel would be preached throughout the whole known world.