Romans 5 3

Romans 5:3 kjv

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 5:3 nkjv

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Romans 5:3 niv

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Romans 5:3 esv

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Romans 5:3 nlt

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

Romans 5 verses

Romans 5 3 Meaning

Romans 5:3 declares that believers do not only rejoice in the hope of God's glory but also triumphantly exult in tribulations. This counter-intuitive joy stems from a deep, assured understanding that these very sufferings are purposeful, actively working to produce endurance and steadfastness in their faith journey.

Romans 5 3 Context

Romans 5:3 immediately follows a declaration of profound spiritual realities: believers, having been justified by faith (Rom 5:1), now have peace with God and access to His grace. They stand firm in this grace and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:2). Verse 3 expands on this concept of rejoicing, indicating that this hope is not diminished by hardship, but rather extended into hardship. The early Christian audience in Rome, facing potential persecution and societal disdain, would have deeply resonated with the need to find meaning and purpose in suffering. Paul contrasts the fleeting nature of present difficulties with the ultimate and assured hope of glory. This passage forms part of Paul's larger theological framework, establishing that the believer's entire life—both its triumphs and trials—is encompassed by God's salvific work. This verse also implicitly refutes pagan or worldly views that associated suffering with divine displeasure or pure misfortune, presenting it instead as a divinely ordained process for spiritual formation.

Romans 5 3 Word analysis

• And not only so (οὐ μόνον δέ - ou monon de): This phrase acts as a significant transition, indicating an extension of the previous idea. It connects the "rejoicing in hope of the glory of God" (v.2) to the surprising addition of rejoicing "in tribulations also," showing that the benefits of justification are not merely static but encompass dynamic experience.
• but we glory (ἀλλὰ καυχώμεθα - alla kauchōmetha): Kauchōmetha comes from kauchaomai, meaning to boast, exult, or glory. It’s a strong term indicating triumphant rejoicing, not merely passive acceptance. It is a present tense, indicative mood, signifying a continuous and definite action of the believers. This "glorying" is a spiritual boasting, not self-aggrandizement, but a confident joy derived from God's work. It reflects a theological paradigm shift—what the world dreads, believers embrace with confidence in God's purpose.
• in tribulations also (καὶ ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν - kai en tais thlipse_sin): Thlipse_sin is the plural of thlipsis, which denotes outward pressure, distress, affliction, or trouble, often from difficult circumstances or persecution. The "also" (kai) emphasizes that tribulation is added to the list of things Christians joyfully embrace. It signifies experiences that squeeze, crush, or press a person, highlighting the genuine difficulty of these trials. This is a direct challenge to human inclination to avoid suffering and a strong polemic against the idea that ease is always a sign of divine favor.
• knowing (εἰδότες - eidotes): This is a perfect active participle from oida, implying not just intellectual apprehension but a deep, settled, and confident knowledge gained through experience or divine revelation. It suggests a fixed and certain understanding, serving as the foundation for the audacious act of glorying in suffering. This is the bedrock of their joyful endurance.
• that tribulation (ὅτι ἡ θλίψις - hoti he_ thlipsis): Repetition of thlipsis. This emphasizes the subject, reiterating that the very same pressure or distress is the active agent in this spiritual process. The "that" introduces the content of their knowing.
• worketh (κατεργάζεται - katergazetai): From katergazomai, meaning to work out, produce, achieve, bring about, or perform. It signifies an effective, forceful, and thorough accomplishment. It’s an active, ongoing, and purposeful verb, suggesting that tribulation is not a random or wasteful event, but a divinely permitted and instrumentally useful process with a specific outcome. It's not that tribulation is good in itself, but that God uses it for good.
• patience (ὑπομονὴν - hupomone_n): Hupomone_n means endurance, steadfastness, perseverance, or constancy. It is not merely passive resignation but an active, tenacious waiting and standing firm under trial, sustained by hope and faith. It implies holding up under the weight, remaining under (hypo) a burden with resolve. It is a virtue crucial for spiritual maturity and continuing in faith, particularly in the face of prolonged adversity. This "patience" is dynamic, not stoic indifference, but a hopeful persistence.

Romans 5 3 Bonus section

The paradoxical joy in suffering described here is enabled by the already established state of being "justified by faith" and having "peace with God." Without this foundational security, suffering often leads to bitterness or despair. For Paul, tribulations are not aberrations but integral to the believer's spiritual development, participating in Christ's own suffering (Phil 3:10) and demonstrating the reality of one's hope. This passage provides a robust framework for understanding the sanctifying role of adversity. The progression presented—tribulation to endurance—is the initial link in a divinely orchestrated chain (tribulation > endurance > character > hope, Rom 5:3-4) that builds a deep, unshakeable assurance. This perspective stands in stark contrast to ancient Greco-Roman philosophies that largely sought to avoid suffering or embrace it with stoic indifference rather than with triumphant joy and active purpose. Paul insists on a confident, hopeful response because of God's active, transformative hand in it.

Romans 5 3 Commentary

Romans 5:3 offers a radical Christian perspective on suffering. It does not advocate for seeking out tribulation but transforms the experience of inevitable hardship from despair to delight. The believer's "glorying" in tribulations is not masochism, but an act of faith founded on "knowing" God's redemptive purpose. Tribulations (outward pressures) are presented as tools, not simply unfortunate occurrences. They are actively used by God to "work out" (a process of formation) a specific spiritual fruit: hupomone, which is an enduring steadfastness, not merely passive patience but active perseverance in the face of difficulty. This resilience is empowered by the Holy Spirit and sustained by the overarching hope of future glory already mentioned in verse 2. It underscores that God is at work through all circumstances in a believer's life, transforming pain into spiritual progress and molding character, which in turn deepens hope (as subsequent verses elaborate). This theological reframing of suffering is fundamental to Christian endurance and spiritual maturity.