“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).

In his book, Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct, the 19th-century Scottish author and social reformer Samuel Smiles offered the following poetic observation: “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” ₍₁₎

This illustrative word picture offers much to contemplate. For instance, we can liken the sun to a “guiding light” that illuminates the journey before us. The journey itself suggests progress and advancement. The shadow that follows us on that journey might represent past setbacks, lingering anxieties, or unfortunate events we’ve experienced. By moving toward the sun (which is symbolic of hope), those burdens naturally fall behind us and become less significant as we look forward to what lies ahead.

But despite the praiseworthy nature of those concepts, this illustration suffers from a fatal imperfection. For example, what if the light of our “sun” is unworthy of the hope we invest in it? To paraphrase the American poet Robert Lowell, what if the light at the end of life’s tunnel turns out to be the light of an oncoming train? ₍₂₎ In that instance, it would be a vast understatement to say that disappointment would follow.

That brings us to our text from Romans 5:5. The reason that “hope does not disappoint” is because it originates in Christ. If we place our hope in anything else, we are bound to suffer disappointment. The following author communicates this idea with some familiar illustrations…

“Here we are told that ‘hope does not disappoint.’ Other translations speak of a hope for which we are not ashamed or embarrassed.

Blind hope, like blind faith, will indeed disappoint us. Blind hope gropes aimlessly in the darkness. It stumbles over unseen obstacles. To put all one’s hope into a single goal and to have that goal unfulfilled is to be disappointed. Hope that is blind can be embarrassing. We stick our necks out only to be left in disgrace if our boldness is not vindicated. But the hope that rests in Christ will not lead to embarrassment. The shame will be upon those who put their hope in something else. The hope that fails is the hope that has no power to overcome suffering.

If I hope in anything or anyone less than One who has power over suffering and, ultimately, death, I am doomed to final disappointment. Suffering will drive me to hopelessness. What character I have will disintegrate.

It is the hope of Christ that makes it possible for us to persevere in times of tribulation and distress. We have an anchor for our souls that rests in the One who has gone before us and conquered.” ₍₃₎

(1) Smiles, Samuel (1859). Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct. [p 67]
(2) Lowell, R. (1978). Day by day. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
(3) Sproul, R. C. (2009). Surprised by suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in the Christian Life. [p.35]

“and endurance, character, and character, hope” (Romans 5:4).

Our previous study closed with a reference to hope, the last characteristic given to us here in Romans 5:4. We often use the word “hope” to express our desire for something we haven’t yet obtained. For instance, we tend to feel hopeful if there is a good chance of getting something we desire. On the other hand, our hope of success erodes whenever we lack such confidence.

That common understanding differs from the Biblical definition of hope that is given to us in the passage quoted above. Here in Romans 5:4, “hope” involves the assured expectation that the circumstances or events of life will turn out well. It also conveys a sense of optimistic certainty regarding the future and the things that lie ahead. We can illustrate this idea with a preview of something we’ll read later in Romans 8:28…

“…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

“Hope” also encompasses…

• A positive anticipation of eternal good (1 John 5:13, Titus 1:2).
• The foundation, or basis upon which hope is built (Galatians 2:20, 1 John 4:4).
• The object of our hope (Colossians 1:27, 1 Timothy 1:1, Titus 2:11-13). ₍₁₎

So, as God enables us to navigate life’s adversities, we subsequently develop endurance. That quality brings forth Godly character. Godly character ultimately forges the final link in this chain: hope. As we reflect upon God’s faithfulness in helping us overcome life’s challenges, the personal growth He has cultivated within us becomes measurable. That inspires the kind of hope expressed in Philippians 1:6….

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]” (AMP).

Those advancements in spiritual growth and character development will subsequently bear witness to the grace of God that is at work within our lives. The following author encourages us to maintain the right perspective as we move through this process…

“Our experience of the Lord’s goodness in the past leads us on to hope for still greater things in the future and, thus, experience worketh hope. I have seen some persons, who were called experienced Christians, in whom it seemed to me that experience had worked despair; for their faces were always very long and very sad, and their speech was as dolorous as it well could be. But here I find that true Christian experience worketh hope,—a hope that maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” ₍₂₎

(1) G1680 elpis Condensed and adapted from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words with Topical Index, W.E. Vine, © 1996, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

(2) Charles Spurgeon, Romans 5 Commentary – Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible. [Romans 5:3-5]

“and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:4).

There is a noticeable progression in our text from Romans 5:3-4. The first item in that sequence is tribulations (verse three). Tribulations help develop the next element on our list: perseverance. Now we arrive at the third link in this four-link chain: character.

Even though we may derisively refer to a difficult day at home, work, or school as a “character-building experience,” Romans 5:4 offers a Biblical justification for that idea. This reference to character speaks of something that has been tested and approved. We can find illustrations of this concept in virtually every walk of life. For instance…

• A mechanic may depend on a reliable piece of equipment that never fails to do the job.
• A project manager will assign a business task to an employee with proven expertise.
• A chef is likely to gravitate towards an effective and dependable culinary tool.
• A software engineer or computer technician will utilize a preferred application that is known to produce predictable, accurate, and repeatable results.

We can find other common examples in a reliable motor vehicle, a trustworthy appliance, or a dependable friend. These qualities and virtues serve to exemplify this reference to character in our text from Romans 5:4. The following source makes use of another metaphor to illustrate this concept…

“The word he uses for character is dokime (G1382). Dokime (G1382) is used of metal which has been passed through the fire so that everything base has been purged out of it. It is used of coinage as we use the word sterling. When affliction is met with fortitude, out of the battle a man emerges stronger, and purer, and better, and nearer God.”

This same source continues this analogy with a reference to our next quality: hope…

“‘Character,’ Paul goes on, ‘produces hope.’ Two men can meet the same situation. It can drive one of them to despair, and it can spur the other to triumphant action. To the one it can be the end of hope, to the other it can be a challenge to greatness. ‘I do not like crises,’ said Lord Reith, ‘but I do like the opportunities they provide.’

The difference corresponds to the difference between the men. If a man has let himself become weak and flabby, if he has allowed circumstances to beat him, if he has allowed himself to whine and grovel under affliction, he has made himself such that when the challenge of the crisis comes he cannot do other than despair. If, on the other hand, a man has insisted on meeting life with head up, if he has always faced and, by facing, conquered things, then when the challenge comes, he meets it with eyes aflame with hope. The character which has endured the test always emerges in hope.” ₍₁₎

(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on 1 Timothy 1:2-17”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-5.html. 1956-1959.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance” (Romans 5:3 NIV).

There are many who see the world as a place without reason, purpose, or hope for the future. Those who hold that perspective may lapse into bitterness, despair, or anger in the face of life’s adversities, for they find no discernible purpose behind them. When viewed in this manner, the trials of life are utterly meaningless, for they induce suffering and pain with no beneficial or productive effect.

But a man or woman of God can find merit and growth in the midst of those circumstances, knowing that God has ordained a purpose behind their trials. Romans 5:3 identifies one such purpose: “suffering produces endurance” (NET). While we are undoubtedly familiar with things like suffering, tribulations (KJV), problems (NLT), troubles (GNT), and afflictions (CSB), this reference to perseverance or endurance (ESV) may be less familiar.

The word translated perseverance is hupomone in the original language of this passage. Kenneth Wuest, the prominent New Testament Greek scholar of the twentieth century, offered the following insight into this word…

“‘Patience is hupomone, ‘steadfastness, constancy, endurance.’ Thayer says, ‘the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.’ The verbal form is hupomeno, ‘to remain under,’ thus, to remain under trials in a God-honoring way so as to learn the lesson they are sent to teach, rather than attempt to get out from under them in an effort to be relieved of their pressure.” ₍₁₎

Although we can permit suffering to cast a bitter shadow over our lives, this passage should prompt us to recognize the good that God seeks to cultivate in us through such experiences. The New Testament epistle of James offers an encouraging commentary on this approach…

“My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains to make their valuable crops grow. Be patient like those farmers and don’t give up. The Lord will soon be here! Don’t grumble about each other or you will be judged, and the judge is right outside the door.

My friends, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They were patient, even when they had to suffer. In fact, we praise the ones who endured the most. You remember how patient Job was and how the Lord finally helped him. The Lord did this because he is so merciful and kind” (James 5:7-11 CEV).

(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [Romans 5:3-5] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” (Romans 5:3 NLT).

Genuine faith is often demonstrated by perseverance and continued faith in God during periods of hardship. To validate that idea, let’s consider the following two-part question: When do people typically exhibit the greatest willingness to seek God and His will for their lives? Do people tend to open their hearts to God more readily during periods of ease and prosperity, or when God permits challenges to arise?

Most of us would probably choose the latter option in responding to that question. The New Testament epistle of James offers some valuable counsel in this respect…

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 CSB).

Later on, James adds…

“Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 AMP).

God can utilize such trials to foster a purifying influence in our lives. Consider the example of a kitchen oven that offers a self-cleaning feature. A self-cleaning oven works by raising the internal surface temperature of the oven to a point where food residue, grease, and other impurities are incinerated. A steel mill operates on a similar principle by heating raw materials in a furnace until they reach a molten state. Once this occurs, it then becomes possible to skim various impurities from the surface.

The trials, afflictions, and tribulations of life can produce the same beneficial effect. One source catalogs several of those benefits…

“Trials form a necessary discipline in our lives:

1. They prove the reality of our faith, and weed out those who are mere professors (1Pe_1:7).
2. They enable us to comfort and encourage others who are going through trials (2Co_1:4).
3. They develop certain graces, such as endurance, in our character (Rom_5:3).
4. They make us more zealous in spreading the gospel (Act_4:29; Act_5:27-29; Act_8:3-4).
5. They help to remove the dross from our lives (Job_23:10).” ₍₁₎

Finally, we can turn to the Biblical book of Hebrews for some additional encouragement as we navigate the trials and challenges of life…

“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11 HCSB).

(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad. Thomas Nelson Publishers [1 Thessalonians 3:1-10]

The AI-generated image is provided for illustration purposes only. It is not intended to represent an actual, real-life steel mill workflow.

“And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance” (Romans 5:3 HCSB).

When troubles arrive in the form of a trial or affliction, we may be inclined to view them as a sign of God’s disapproval with some aspect of our behavior. To address that concern, it’s important to adopt a balanced Scriptural perspective that considers the potential role of the troubles that God permits to enter our lives.

First, we should acknowledge the fact that God may allow negative circumstances to enter our lives as a consequence of our behavior. The New Testament book of 1 Corinthians appears to offer the best evidence to support that possibility. For example, Paul the Apostle delivered an important message to those who approached the communion table with a lack of reverence…

“…whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord… For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:27, 29-30).

While it may be uncomfortable to consider the possibility that God might impose such things as a result of our behavior, this passage identifies a definite cause-and-effect relationship. The fact that the Corinthians approached the Lord’s Supper in an irreverent manner led to sicknesses and weaknesses among them. This reference to “sickness” might encompass various illnesses or physical infirmities, while “weakness” may denote physical or emotional frailties (or perhaps both). Even more concerning is the reference to “sleep” in this context, for it serves as a metaphor for death.

Nevertheless, the Scriptures identify many groups and individuals who suffered through various tribulations with no indication of sinful behavior. The Biblical account of Job offers one prominent example. The Old Testament prophets (especially Jeremiah) provide other examples. We also have the experience of Paul himself. Paul suffered greatly during his ministry, even while God was using him to author of significant portion of what would later become known as the New Testament.

Here in Romans 5:3, Paul encourages us to acknowledge the possibility that God may use periods of suffering in our lives to help build good character. A person who is concerned about the potential correlation between life’s adversities and their choices or behaviors should seek God’s empowerment to act on the following counsel: “…if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31 AMP).

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3 ESV).

Our journey through the book of Romans has led us to confront several challenging subjects along the way. First, we examined God’s wrath in Romans chapter one. The following chapter brought us face-to-face with judgmental hypocrisy. In Romans chapter three, we examined the depth of human depravity. Finally, we reflected on Abraham’s test of faith in Romans chapter four, as he trusted in God for a promise that was entirely beyond human capability.

Here in Romans chapter five, we are now faced with another difficult topic: tribulations (KJV), sufferings (RSV), or troubles (GW). While we often try to avoid such things if we can, these unfortunate realities represent an inevitable part of life in a fallen world. Since we cannot escape these adversities in their entirety, we would do well to follow the counsel given to us in the passage quoted above.

The suffering Paul the Apostle speaks of here involves the idea of pressure or compression. It also conveys a sense of affliction and “distress of mind” by extension. ₍₁₎ The verb form of this word “…has reference to sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of persons.” ₍₂₎.

From a contemporary perspective, our modern-day word tribulation is linked to the concept of an ancient threshing sledge. A threshing sledge was an agricultural device that comprised several heavy pieces of lumber embedded with stones or metal studs. A farmer made use of a threshing sledge by dragging it with a pack animal across the stalks of a grain harvest in order to separate the valuable grain from the surrounding husk.

So, this reference to tribulation is associated with the imagery of something that has been crushed or pressed. Over time, this grew into a symbolic representation that expressed the idea of intense suffering or distress. While those afflictions may arise from the circumstances of our lives, they often come to us in the form of our relationships with others. The following excerpt from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is highly instructive in this regard…

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

Therefore, we are reminded that “Peace with God does not always result in peace with other people. Nevertheless, the fact that we have peace with God and a relationship with Him, with assurance of standing acceptable in His presence, enables us to view present difficulties with joy. We can ‘rejoice (‘exult’) in tribulations’ because God has revealed that He uses them to produce steadfast endurance (‘perseverance’) and ‘proven character’ in those who relate to their sufferings properly…” ₍₃₎

(1) G2347 thlipsis Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/thlipsis

(2) G2346 thlibo W.E Vine, Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Volume 2, Rev Terry Kulakowski, Editor. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2346/kjv/mgnt/0-1/

(3) See Stanley D. Toussaint, “Suffering in Acts and the Pauline Epistles,” in Why, O God? Suffering and Disability in the Bible and Church, pp. 189-90. Quoted in Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Romans 2021 Edition p 101.

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” (Romans 5:3).

At first glance, the next benefit conferred upon us through faith in Christ may not seem very beneficial. That benefit is the ability to “…rejoice in our sufferings” (ESV). While this might lead some to conclude that only a masochistic personality would rejoice in suffering, the wisdom of this teaching hinges on a shift in our perspective.

To illustrate this concept, let’s consider Jesus’ parable of the two houses from Matthew 7:24-27…

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

We should notice that the storms that battered these homes shared the same destructive characteristics. However, one remained standing while the other collapsed. The difference was in the underlying foundation that supported them. The immediate takeaway from this parable is obvious: a life that is built upon the solid foundation of Jesus’ teachings can withstand the storms of life.

However, there is a secondary aspect to this parable that relates to our text from Romans 5:3. For instance, the homeowner whose home remained intact surely did not rejoice in the storm itself. However, that homeowner could rejoice in the fact that his or her home withstood the ravages of a terrible storm and still remained intact.

With this in mind, we can say that Romans 5:3 does not lead us to “exult in our sufferings” (AMP) in the way that a masochist welcomes the application of pain. Instead, we can find satisfaction in the beneficial effects those sufferings produce. While tribulations may be a fact of life in a fallen world, we can take comfort in knowing that there is a benevolent Creator who works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), even if we struggle to understand why things sometimes happen as they do.

As Charles Spurgeon, the famous 19th-century commentator once observed, “You cannot learn to swim on dry land, and you cannot learn to be patient without having something to endure.” ₍₁₎

(1) Spurgeon, C. H. (1901). A DOOR OF HOPE. In Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit (Vol. 47). [pg.9] Sermon #2750

“through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

In addition to peace with God, Romans 5:2 also tells us that we have the extraordinary privilege of direct access to God through faith in Christ. Another translation of Romans 5:2 highlights this aspect of our relationship with God in the following manner: “Through Christ we can approach God  and stand in his favor” (GW).

In the original language of this passage, the word “access” conveys the assured demeanor of one who steps into the presence of a royal dignitary. It also expresses the idea of continual admission into that royal presence. ₍₁₎ So, much like a young son or daughter who enjoys intimate access to a parent who serves as a head of state, we enjoy access to God’s presence through faith in Christ as well.

The following source expands on this idea with a lengthy quote that illuminates this concept for the benefit of a contemporary audience…

“The word he uses for introduction is prosagoge, (G4318). It is a word with two great pictures in it. (i) It is the regular word for introducing or ushering someone into the presence of royalty; and it is the regular word for the approach of the worshipper to God. It is as if Paul was saying, ‘Jesus ushers us into the very presence of God. He opens the door for us to the presence of the King of Kings; and when that door is opened what we find is grace; not condemnation, not judgment, not vengeance, but the sheer, undeserved, incredible kindness of God.’

But prosagoge (G4318) has another picture in it. In late Greek it is the word for the place where ships come in, a harbour or a haven. If we take it that way, it means that so long as we tried to depend on our own efforts we were tempest-tossed, like mariners striving with a sea which threatened to overwhelm them completely, but now that we have heard the word of Christ, we have reached at last the haven of God’s grace, and we know the calm of depending, not on what we can do for ourselves, but on what God has done for us.” ₍₂₎

In the words of one New Testament scholar, “The French have a word for this, entree. And that is exactly what our Lord does for a believing sinner. He clothes him with Himself as his righteousness, cleanses him in His own precious blood, and brings him into the full favor (grace charis) of God the Father.” ₍₃₎

(1) See G4318 – prosagoge – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4318/kjv/tr/0-1/

(2) Barclay, William. “Commentary on Romans 2”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-5.html . 1956-1959.

(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [Romans 5:2] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 NET).

As we close our brief discussion of peace from Romans 5:1, we can turn our attention to a meaningful observation from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. In an era that was characterized by spiritual complacency, Isaiah cast his gaze toward a future monarch who would reign with righteousness. In doing so, Isaiah described the lasting impact of that leader’s reign…

“The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17 CSB).

From a New Testament perspective, we can understand why the “…effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.” The assurance we have in Christ means we are no longer burdened by the prospect of divine judgment and its associated consequences. Since He has absorbed God’s wrath for our sins, we can enjoy “quiet confidence forever.”

The Living Bible paraphrase of 1 John 4:17-18 communicates a similar idea…

“And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face him with confidence and joy because he loves us and we love him too. We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us.”

So, we can obtain peace with God through faith in Christ. Centuries ago, Matthew Henry made several notable observations on this subject in his commentary on Romans 5:1…

“It is sin that breeds the quarrel between us and God… Justification takes away the guilt, and so makes way for peace. …There is more in this peace than barely a cessation of enmity, there is friendship and loving-kindness, for God is either the worst enemy or the best friend. …Christ has called his disciples friends, Joh 15:13-15. And surely a man needs no more to make him happy than to have God his friend! But this is through our Lord Jesus Christ – through him as the great peace-maker, the Mediator between God and man…” ₍₁₎

In the words of another ancient commentator, “Faith gives us peace with God because it reconciles us to him by taking away those sins that had made us his enemies.” ₍₂₎

See related study from Colossians chapter three beginning here.

(1) Henry, M. (1996, March 1). Commentary on Romans 5. Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Rom/Rom_005.cfm

(2) Ambrosiaster, Commentaries on Romans-2 Corinthians, quoted in ESV Church History Study Bible: Voices from the Past, Wisdom for the Present. (2023). Crossway. p.1692