Romans 5:3–4

Commentary on Romans 5:3–4

The Text (King James Version)

Romans  5:3:
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

Romans  5:4:
“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

1. Setting the Scene: Romans Chapter 5

Romans chapter 5[i] is Paul’s rich exposition of the blessings that flow from justification by faith. Having established in earlier chapters that all people stand guilty before God and that righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, Paul now turns to the fruits of that justification.

Romans  5:1 declares:
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This peace is not merely a feeling; it is an objective reality. The war between the sinner and God is over. The believer stands in grace, welcomed into the presence of God.

From that foundation, Paul moves to something surprising: the believer’s relationship to suffering.

2. Exegetical Commentary on Romans 5:3–4

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also…” (verse 3)

Paul has just said that believers “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2: “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”). That makes sense. But now he says we also “glory in tribulations.”

The word “tribulations” refers to pressures, afflictions, and hardships. It is the same word used for the crushing of olives or grapes. Paul is not glorifying pain for its own sake. He is saying that because we have peace with God and stand in grace, even suffering becomes meaningful.

To “glory” here means to boast, to rejoice, to take confidence. This is not stoicism. It is gospel-shaped joy.

“…knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” (verse 3)

The Christian rejoices in suffering because he or she knows something. Suffering is not random. God uses it.

“Patience” here means steadfast endurance. It is the ability to remain under pressure without collapsing. Tribulation does not automatically produce patience; it produces it in those who trust God in the midst of it.

This aligns with James 1:3:
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

“And patience, experience…” (verse 4)

“Experience” means tested character. It is the quality of a person who has been through fire and proven genuine. It is the difference between theoretical faith and seasoned faith.

The believer who endures suffering with trust in God becomes a person of depth, maturity, and spiritual resilience.

“…and experience, hope:” (verse 4)

This is the surprising end of the chain. Suffering leads to endurance, endurance leads to tested character, and tested character leads to hope.

Why hope? Because the believer who has walked with God through hardship has seen God’s faithfulness firsthand. Their confidence in God’s promises grows stronger, not weaker.

This hope is not wishful thinking. It is the confident expectation that God will finish what He has begun.

Romans 5:5 continues:
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Hope is grounded in God’s love poured into the believer’s heart by the Holy Spirit.

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3. Theological Insights

A. Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence but of His fatherly care

In Christian theology, God is sovereign over all things, including suffering. Yet His sovereignty is never cold. It is the sovereignty of a loving Father who disciplines, shapes, and strengthens His children.

Hebrews 12:6 says:
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

B. Justification leads to sanctification

Romans 5 shows that justification is not the end of the Christian life but the beginning. The believer is declared righteous, but then God begins the lifelong work of shaping that believer into the image of Christ.

Suffering is one of the tools God uses in sanctification.

C. Christian hope grows through lived experience

Hope is not merely doctrinal; it is experiential. The believer learns hope by walking with God through real trials.

This is why older saints often radiate a deep, quiet confidence. They have lived Romans 5:3–4.

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4. Application to Modern Christian Living

A. Do not be surprised by suffering

Many Christians assume that hardship means something has gone wrong spiritually. Paul says the opposite. Suffering is part of the normal Christian life.

B. See suffering as purposeful

You may not see the purpose immediately, but God is always at work. Ask:
“What is God forming in me through this?”

C. Lean into endurance, not escape

Our culture avoids discomfort at all costs. The gospel calls us to endure hardship with faith, trusting that God is shaping us.

D. Look for the growth of character

Ask yourself:
“How has God used past trials to deepen my faith?”
“What qualities is He forming in me now?”

E. Let hope rise

The end of the chain is hope. Suffering does not crush Christian hope; it strengthens it. The believer who has seen God’s faithfulness in the past can trust Him for the future.

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5. Meditation Guide

Use these steps for personal reflection or small group discussion.

Step 1: Read the passage slowly

Read Romans 5:1–5 aloud. Notice the flow from justification to hope.

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Step 2: Reflect on a past trial

How did God use it to grow patience, character, or hope?

Step 3: Pray for endurance

Ask God to help you remain steadfast in current pressures.

Step 4: Meditate on God’s love

Romans 5:5 reminds us that the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts. Sit quietly and reflect on that truth.

Step 5: Look forward with hope

Thank God that He is shaping you for glory.

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[i] Romans 5

King James Version

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.