For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Old Testament wasn't just for ancient Israel; Paul highlights that its purpose for us today is to foster endurance and comfort, which in turn fuels our hope. This means the Scriptures aren't just historical records but active tools God uses to strengthen our present faith and point us toward future glory.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul uses a Old Testament passage as a springboard to declare that all Scripture was written to instruct believers, equipping them with endurance and encouragement to foster hope in God. This divine instruction isn't just for ancient readers; it's directly applicable to Christians today, guiding them through trials and solidifying their future hope.
Do you ever feel like the Old Testament is just old stories? Paul says otherwise! He saw it as a vibrant, active source for believers today.
Paul declares that "whatsoever things were written aforetime"—all of the Old Testament scriptures—were specifically written "for our learning." This isn't just historical information; it's active instruction for us, New Testament believers. The ancient writings aren't obsolete; they are a living resource, brimming with lessons and examples that speak directly to our lives and faith journeys. They were preserved and passed down for a divine purpose: to teach and equip us.
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes it feels impossible to keep going. How do the Scriptures help us navigate these tough times and find solid hope?
The verse highlights two crucial outcomes derived from Scripture: endurance and comfort. "Through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." This means the Word of God doesn't just tell us to be patient; it gives us the patience we need. It offers comfort, not just in words, but in the very power of God working through them. These aren't passive qualities; they are active forces that Scripture cultivates within us, equipping us to face trials not with despair, but with a steadfast hope anchored in God's promises.
What 'hope' is Paul talking about? It's more than just wishful thinking – it's a deep, foundational hope rooted in God's ultimate plan.
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The hope that the Scriptures provide through endurance and comfort is not general optimism. It's the specific, confident expectation of God's future promises, centered on Christ. This is the 'Messianic hope'—the certainty of Christ's reign, the redemption of all things, and our eternal life with Him. The ancient texts pointed forward to this hope, and the New Testament reveals its fulfillment in Jesus. By enduring trials with Scripture's help, our faith is strengthened, and this specific, glorious hope becomes more tangible and tenaciously held.
Understand the original words
hypomonēs · Greek Noun
Remaining under a weight or pressure; steadfastness. It is the quality of holding fast to one’s faith or purpose despite ongoing trials, suffering, or delay.
paraklēseōs · Greek Noun
The act of calling alongside for support, comfort, or exhortation. It involves strengthening someone by speaking truth or providing consolation in the midst of trials.
elpida · Greek Noun
The confident expectation of future good based on God's promises. It is not wishful thinking but a firm assurance anchored in the character and work of God.
Paul grounds his exhortation for the strong to bear with the weak in the enduring purpose of Scripture itself. The Old Testament, far from being obsolete, was intended by God to provide believers with the necessary patience, comfort, and ultimately, hope, through all trials, including the specific challenges faced by the Roman church.
c. 5th-1st century BC
Compilation of Old Testament Texts
The various books and traditions that would come to form the Old Testament were written, compiled, and canonized over centuries.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Paul Writes the Letter to the Romans
Paul, likely in Corinth or Ephesus, pens his most comprehensive theological work to the church in Rome, a church he had not yet visited.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome and Subsequent Persecution
Though debated by scholars, some traditions hold that Nero blamed Christians for the fire, leading to the first major Roman persecution of Christians, which would have intensified the need for endurance and hope.
This passage echoes Romans 15:4 by stating that all Scripture is breathed out by God and useful for teaching, making it clear that the Old Testament writings were intended for instruction and guidance for believers.
Psalm 119:50This verse speaks of the comfort and hope found in God's word during affliction, directly aligning with Paul's idea in Romans 15:4 that Scripture provides comfort and fosters hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11This verse highlights how events from the Old Testament were written down as examples for believers in the new covenant, serving as a parallel to Paul's point in Romans 15:4 that past writings are for our instruction.
Hebrews 12:1-2This passage describes the 'great cloud of witnesses' from Old Testament history whose endurance, inspired by faith, serves as an example for believers. This connects to Romans 15:4's emphasis on endurance derived from Scripture, which fuels hope.
ellicottRomans 15:4: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
(4) For. . . . —These words of the Old Testament may rightly be taken as having a bearing upon us, “For,” &c. Through patience and comfort of the scriptures—i.e., “by the patience and comfort which the Scriptures afford.” The promises and consolations of Scripture support the Christian under his trials, and enable him to endure them n…
cambridgeRomans 15:4: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
4 . For whatsoever things , &c.] St Paul takes occasion from his last quotation to state a great principle; namely, that the O. T. was throughout designed for the instruction and establishment of N. T. believers. “ Our ,” just below, is emphatic. On the principle, cp. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 . It is almost needless to remark on the witness…
The Old Testament wasn't just for ancient Israel; Paul highlights that its purpose for us today is to foster endurance and comfort, which in turn fuels our hope. This means the Scriptures aren't just historical records but active tools God uses to strengthen our present faith and point us toward future glory.
Paul uses a Old Testament passage as a springboard to declare that all Scripture was written to instruct believers, equipping them with endurance and encouragement to foster hope in God. This divine instruction isn't just for ancient readers; it's directly applicable to Christians today, guiding them through trials and solidifying their future hope.
Paul uses a Old Testament passage as a springboard to declare that all Scripture was written to instruct believers, equipping them with endurance and encouragement to foster hope in God. This divine instruction isn't just for ancient readers; it's directly applicable to Christians today, guiding them through trials and solidifying their future hope.
"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." — The Old Testament wasn't just for ancient Israel; Paul highlights that its purpose for us today is to foster endurance and comfort, which in turn fuels our hope. This means the Scriptures aren't ju…
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Last reviewed October 2026