Paul is showing that harmony between believers isn't just a nice idea; it's directly linked to the endurance and encouragement God Himself provides. He’s praying that God, who is the source of both steadfastness and comfort, would be the very power that enables them to live united, reflecting Christ’s own character.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has just explained that the Old Testament scriptures were written to teach us endurance, encouragement, and hope, especially regarding how believers should relate to one another. He now prays that the God who provides these very qualities will enable the Roman believers to live in harmony, mirroring the unity found in Christ Jesus. This prayer naturally follows his exhortations for mutual love and acceptance, emphasizing that true unity is a divine gift.
Ever feel like you're running on empty, struggling to get along with others? Paul points us to the ultimate source of both inner strength and outward harmony.
The verse begins by invoking "the God of endurance and encouragement." This isn't just a poetic phrase; it's a theological foundation.
The God Who Endures
The God Who Encourages
When Paul calls God the "God of endurance and encouragement," he's highlighting that these essential qualities aren't just things we do, but are gifts that flow from His very being.
We all want peace, but how do we achieve true harmony with others, especially when we disagree? Paul gives us the key.
Ask a follow-up
The goal of this prayer is for believers "to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus."
What Harmony Looks Like
The Christ Connection
Understand the original words
to auto phronein · Greek Verb phrase/Noun concept
A state of being of the same mind or thinking together. It represents unity in purpose, affection, and perspective, rooted in the shared life of the Holy Spirit.
doxazō · Greek Verb
The act of offering honor, praise, and worship to God, acknowledging His supreme worth, sovereignty, and attributes. It is the fundamental purpose of the existence of the church and individual believers.
patēr · Greek Noun
In the New Testament, this term denotes the relationship of the first person of the Trinity to the second person, Jesus Christ, emphasizing Jesus’ eternal sonship and their shared essence within the Godhead. It also highlights God as the Creator and sustainer of the covenant relationship.
proslambanō · Greek Verb
A term meaning "to receive into one’s home, circle of friends, or fellowship." In a church context, it refers to accepting others into the Christian community with the same gracious, unconditional acceptance that Christ extended to the believer.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment of Romans 15:5 by urging believers to 'be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind,' demonstrating a consistent New Testament theme of unity.
1 Corinthians 1:10Paul's plea for unity in Corinth, asking them to 'all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you,' highlights the ongoing challenge of disunity that the prayer in Romans 15:5 seeks to address.
John 17:21Jesus' high priestly prayer, 'that they may all be one,' directly connects to the harmony Paul prays for, revealing the ultimate desire of Christ for His followers to be unified.
Ephesians 4:3This verse commands believers to 'endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,' paralleling the desire for harmony and providing another instruction on how that unity is to be maintained.
ellicottRomans 15:5: "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:"
(5) Now the God of patience and consolation. —Such, then, should be the temper of the Roman Christians. The Apostle prays that along with the spirit of steadfast endurance God will also give them that spirit of unanimity which proceeds from singleness of aim. There seems, at first sight, to be little or no connection between the God of “patience and consolation” and th…
clarkeRomans 15:5: "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:"
Now the God of patience and consolation - May that God who endued them with patience, and gave them the consolation that supported them in all their trials and afflictions, grant you to be like-minded - give you the same mode of thinking, and the same power of acting towards each other, according to the example of Christ.
Paul is showing that harmony between believers isn't just a nice idea; it's directly linked to the endurance and encouragement God Himself provides. He’s praying that God, who is the source of both steadfastness and comfort, would be the very power that enables them to live united, reflecting Christ’s own character.
Paul has just explained that the Old Testament scriptures were written to teach us endurance, encouragement, and hope, especially regarding how believers should relate to one another. He now prays that the God who provides these very qualities will enable the Roman believers to live in harmony, mirroring the unity found in Christ Jesus. This prayer naturally follows his exhortations for mutual love and acceptance, emphasizing that true unity is a divine gift.
Paul has just explained that the Old Testament scriptures were written to teach us endurance, encouragement, and hope, especially regarding how believers should relate to one another. He now prays that the God who provides these very qualities will enable the Roman believers to live in harmony, mirroring the unity found in Christ Jesus. This prayer naturally follows his exhortations for mutual love and acceptance, emphasizing that true unity is a divine gift.
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one ano…" — Paul is showing that harmony between believers isn't just a nice idea; it's directly linked to the endurance and encouragement God Himself provides. He’s praying that God, who is the source of…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
