Romans 15:4

Verse

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

American Standard Version (1901)

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

Bible in Basic English

Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope.

Douay-Rheims 1899

For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.

Free Bible Version

These Scriptures were written down in the past to help us understand, and to encourage us so that we could wait patiently in hope.

Geneva Bible 1599

For whatsoeuer things are written aforetime, are writte for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope.

King James (Authorized) Version

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Translation for Translators

And you need to remember that what was written previously {what God’s servants previously wrote} in the Scriptures, was written {they wrote} to teach us in order that we would be patient and be encouraged by reading/believing what they wrote. If we do that, we can confidently expect God to do for us all he has promised.

Unlocked Literal Bible

For whatever was previously written was written for our instruction, in order that through patience and through encouragement of the scriptures we would have certain hope.

Noah Webster Bible

For whatever things were written formerly, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

World English Bible

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Young's Literal Translation

for, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance, and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.

Context

Accept One Another

³For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”⁴For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Sermons

Esther #1 Ch. 1-2

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How Much Is Your-Bible Worth?

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Esther #6 Macrocodes in Esther Part 2

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The Complacency of Fools

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God's Grief Over His People

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Summary

Romans 15:4 reminds believers of the importance of studying the Scriptures, as they were written for our instruction and encouragement. The verse encourages perseverance and hope through the wisdom and comfort found in God's Word. By reflecting on the examples and teachings in the Bible, Christians can find strength to endure trials and grow in faith. Ultimately, the verse underscores the timeless relevance of Scripture in guiding and shaping the lives of believers, leading them to a deeper relationship with God.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

For whatsoever things were written aforetime - This refers not only to the quotation from the 69th Psalm, but to all the Old Testament scriptures; for it can be to no other scriptures that the apostle alludes. And, from what he says here of them, we learn that God had not intended them merely for those generations in which they were first delivered, but for the instruction of all the succeeding generations of mankind. That we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures - that we, through those remarkable examples of patience exhibited by the saints and followers of God, whose history is given in those scriptures, and the comfort which they derived from God in their patient endurance of sufferings brought upon them through their faithful attachment to truth and righteousness, might have hope that we shall be upheld and blessed as they were, and our sufferings become the means of our greater advances in faith and holiness, and consequently our hope of eternal glory be the more confirmed. Some think that the word παρακλησις, which we translate comfort, should be rendered exhortation; but there is certainly no need here to leave the usual acceptation of the term, as the word comfort makes a regular and consistent sense with the rest of the verse.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Now the God of patience and consolation,.... These titles and characters of God are manifestly used on account of what is before said concerning the Scriptures, and to show, that the efficacy and usefulness of them, in producing and promoting patience and comfort, entirely depend upon God the author of them: from exhorting, the apostle proceeds to petitioning; well knowing that all his exhortations would be of no avail without the power of divine grace accompanying them. The words are a prayer. The object addressed is described as "the God of patience", because he is the author and giver of that grace: it is a fruit of his Spirit, produced by the means of his word, called the word of his patience. The Heathens themselves were so sensible that this is a divine blessing, that they call patience , "the invention of the gods" (w). God is the great pattern and exemplar of patience; he is patient himself, and bears much and long with the children of men; with wicked men, whose patient forbearance and longsuffering being despised by them, will be an aggravation of their damnation; but his longsuffering towards his elect issues in their salvation: he waits to be gracious to them before conversion, and after it bears with their infirmities, heals their backslidings, forgives their iniquities, patiently hears their cues, requests, and complaints, relieves and supports them, and carries them even to hoary hairs; and is in all a pattern to be imitated by his people. He is also the object of this grace; he it is on whom and for whom saints should and do patiently wait, until he is pleased to manifest himself, and communicate to them for the supply of their wants of every sort; and upon whose account and for whose sake they patiently suffer reproach and persecution; the exercise of patience is what he requires, and calls for, and is very grateful and well pleasing to him; to all which add, that he it is who strengthens to the exercise of it, and increases it; and which he does sometimes by tribulation; faith and other graces, being thereby tried, produce patience; and which at length, through divine grace, has its perfect work. Moreover, the object of prayer is described, as "the God of consolation"; all true, real, solid comfort springs from him, which he communicates by his son, the consolation of Israel; by his Spirit, the comforter; by his word, the doctrines and promises of which afford strong consolation to the heirs of promise, sensible sinners and afflicted souls; by the ordinances of the Gospel, which are breasts of consolation; and by the faithful ministers of Christ, who are "Barnabases", sons of consolation, Act 4:36. The petition follows, grant you to be like minded one towards another; which does not respect sameness of judgment in the doctrines of faith; though this is very necessary to an honourable and comfortable walking together in church fellowship; much less an agreement in things indifferent: the apostle's meaning is not, that they should all abstain from meats forbidden by the law of Moses, or that they should all eat every sort of food without distinction; nor that they should all observe any Jewish day, or that they should all observe none; rather, that everyone should enjoy his own sentiment, and practise as he believed: but this request regards a likeness of affection, the sameness of mutual love, that they be of one heart, and one soul; that notwithstanding their different sentiments about things of a ceremonious kind, yet that they should love one another, and cease either to despise or judge each other; but think as well and as highly of them that differ from them, as of themselves, and of those of their own sentiments, without preferring in affection one to another; but studying and devising to promote and maintain, as the Syriac here reads it, "an equality" among them; showing the same equal affection and respect to one as to the other, and to one another; the Jew to the Gentile, and the Gentile to the Jew; the strong to the weak, and the weak to the strong. This is what is greatly desirable. It is grateful to God; it is earnestly wished for by the ministers of the Gospel: and is pleasant and delightful to all good men; but it is God alone that can give and continue such a Spirit: this the apostle knew, and therefore prays that he would "grant" it: and for which request there is a foundation for faith and hope concerning it; since God has promised he will give his people one heart, and one way, as to fear him, so to love one another. The rule or pattern, according to which this is desired, is next expressed, according to Christ Jesus; according to the doctrine of Christ, which teaches, directs, and engages, as to sameness of judgment and practice, so to mutual love and affection; and according to the new commandment of Christ, which obliges to love one another; and according to the example of Christ, who is the great pattern of patience and forbearance, of meekness and humility, of condescension and goodness, and of equal love and affection to all his members. (w) Archius apud Philostrat. Vit. Apollon. l. 7. c. 12.

Romans 15:4

Accept One Another

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

American Standard Version (1901)

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

Bible in Basic English

Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope.

Douay-Rheims 1899

For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.

Free Bible Version

These Scriptures were written down in the past to help us understand, and to encourage us so that we could wait patiently in hope.

Geneva Bible 1599

For whatsoeuer things are written aforetime, are writte for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope.

King James (Authorized) Version

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

For whatever was previously written was written for our instruction, in order that through patience and through encouragement of the scriptures we would have certain hope.

Noah Webster Bible

For whatever things were written formerly, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

World English Bible

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Young's Literal Translation

for, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance, and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.