Romans 15:4-7 teaches that the Scriptures were written to give Christians hope, and that the God who gives perseverance and encouragement also gives believers a shared mind and a common voice of praise. Paul’s call is simple: accept one another in the way Christ first accepted you, so that God is glorified. The passage sits near the close of Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he addresses tension between believers who were strong in their convictions and those who were weaker.
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.
Romans 15:4-7 (WEB)
Romans 15:4-7 Summary
Paul begins with a statement about Scripture. Whatever was written in earlier generations was written for instruction, so that through steadfastness and the encouragement the Scriptures give, believers would hold on to hope. He then turns that hope into a prayer. He asks the God who gives steadfastness and encouragement to grant the Roman believers a unity of mind shaped by Christ Jesus, so that they might praise God together with one voice.
The passage ends with a command. Because Christ welcomed you, accept one another, and do it for the glory of God. The movement runs from what Scripture teaches, to what God gives, to how believers should live together.
Context of Romans 15:4-7
Paul wrote Romans around the middle of the first century, most likely from Corinth, to a church in Rome that he had not yet visited. The congregation was mixed, with Jewish and Gentile believers, and the letter repeatedly works to hold them together. Many scholars see the sharpest friction in chapters 14 and 15, where disputes over food and holy days divided the community.
Verses 1-3 set the tone just before our passage. The strong are told to bear the weaknesses of the weak rather than please themselves, and Paul points to Christ as the pattern. Verses 8-10 then widen the frame to show that Christ served both the circumcised and the Gentiles, so that all peoples would glorify God. Our passage sits in the middle as the hinge between the example of Christ and the goal of shared worship.
Romans 15:4-7 Verse by Verse
Philippians 2:2
Make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind…
(WEB)
Paul urges the Philippians to be of the same mind, having the same love and being united in spirit. His language echoes our passage and shows that shared purpose in Christ was central to his pastoral concern for every church.
Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
(WEB)
In Romans 12, Paul calls believers to live in harmony with one another and to refuse pride. This verse gives a concrete picture of the humility that makes welcome and unity possible in a diverse congregation.
A Prayer Based on Romans 15:4-7
Lord, you are the God who gives endurance and encouragement. Thank you that the words written long ago still speak hope into my life today. Teach me to read your Word with patience and to let it steady me when I am weary. Grant me, and the people you have placed around me, a shared mind shaped by Christ Jesus. Where I am tempted to insist on my own way, turn my heart toward your purposes. Help me to accept others as Christ has accepted me, not because they have earned it, but because you have welcomed me first. May our life together bring glory to you, and may our voices rise together in praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main message of Romans 15:4-7?
The passage says Scripture gives believers hope, that God grants unity of mind and purpose in Christ, and that Christians should welcome one another as Christ welcomed them. The goal is that God is glorified through a united, worshiping church.
Who is Paul writing to in Romans 15?
Paul writes to the church in Rome, which included both Jewish and Gentile believers. Chapters 14 and 15 address tensions between these groups over matters of conscience, such as food and special days.
How does Romans 15:4 relate to the Old Testament?
Paul says earlier writings were given for instruction. He wants Christians to see the Old Testament as a source of perseverance and hope that speaks directly to the life of the church.
