Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
What does Romans 12:12 mean?
The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Romans 12:9-13 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Rejoicing in hope - That is, in the hope of eternal life and glory which the gospel produces; see the notes at Romans 5:2-3 . Patient in tribulation - In affliction patiently enduring all that maybe appointed. Christians may be enabled to do this by the sustaining influence of their hope of future glory; of being admitted to that world where there shall be no more death, and where all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes, Revelation 21:4 ; Revelation 7:17 ; compare James 1:4 . See the influence of hope in sustaining us in affliction more fully considered in the notes at Romans 8:18-28 .
Key words
- Rejoicing
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Of the glory of God, than the hope of which nothing can make a believer more cheerful in this world; the saints' joy is therefore called the "rejoicing of the hope", Hebrews 3:6 .
- hope
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Of the glory of God, than the hope of which nothing can make a believer more cheerful in this world; the saints' joy is therefore called the "rejoicing of the hope", Hebrews 3:6 .
- continuing
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Continuing instant in prayer: prayer is needful at all times, but especially in a time of tribulation and distress, whether inward or outward.
Context in Romans 12
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Romans 12 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as union with Christ and life in the Spirit. Romans is Paul’s fullest sustained exposition of sin, grace, righteousness, faith, Israel, the Spirit, and transformed life in Christ. Read this chapter with the wider themes of justification, grace, and faith in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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