Although most people consider patience to be a passive waiting or gentle tolerance, most of the Greek words translated “patience” in the New Testament are active, robust words. Consider, for example, Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (NKJV).
Ingawa watu wengi wanachukulia uvumilivu kuwa kusubiri kimyakimya au stahamala pole, zaidi ya maneno ya Kigiriki yaliyotafsiri "uvumilivu" katika Agano Jipya ni tendaji, maneno imara.Chukulia kwa mfano Waebrania 12: 1: "Basi na sisi pia,kwa kuwa tunazungukwa na wingu kubwa la mashahidi namna hii,na tuweke kando kila mzigo mzito,na dhambi ile ituzingayo kwa upesi; na tupige mbio kwa saburi katika yale mashindano yaliyowekwa mbele yetu "(NKJV).