Audio commentary on this verse

Note 7 at Rom. 5:3: Paul had just expressed the joy that he had concerning the second coming of Jesus and the glory that would be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18; see note 6 at v. 2, p. 768). Anybody can rejoice about heaven. But now Paul begins to say that he has that same rejoicing in the midst of tribulations. This is something that very few people can say and Paul is presenting this as a direct result of justification by faith.

When we are believing that God loves us because of our faith in Him and not our performance for Him, then we rejoice; not only in the good times and pleasant things, like thoughts of Heaven, but also in the hard times. Our faith remains steadfast. However, a person who is trusting in their own efforts will be devastated in trouble because they will know they are getting what they deserve and they will feel that they have to clean up their act before they can expect any help. Their attention will be on self instead of Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith (Heb. 12:2).

Paul continues this same thought on through verse 10. In verses 6-8, he illustrates how great the love of God for us was in that He died for us when we were ungodly. Then he draws a conclusion by way of comparison. If God loved us when we were His enemies, then how much more does He love us now that we are His sons. That's the reason he could rejoice even in tribulation. If God could work in his life while he was a sinner to bring him to justification, then how much more, now that he is reconciled to God, will God work whatever comes against him for his good!

Note 8 at Rom. 5:3: People have taken these scriptures to say that God is the one who brings tribulations to accomplish these positive results in our lives. That is not what these scriptures say.

Tribulations exist, not because God creates them, but because there is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. And when we operate in faith, God can grant us such victory that we are actually better off because of the battle (see note 9 at this verse, p. 770).

It's just like when a army goes to war. If they win, there are spoils to be gained. But if those soldiers embraced their enemy because of the spoil they were expecting to receive, they would be killed instead of blessed. First, you have to fight and win the war and then, and only then, will the spoils be available. The enemy doesn't come to be a blessing, but a blessing can be obtained from the enemy if we are victorious.

Likewise, tribulations and adversities are not blessings from God (see note 2 at Jn. 9:1, p. 296). They are attacks from the enemy intended to steal away the Word of God out of our lives (see note 4 at Mk. 4:16, p. 193). No man should say that the temptation came from God, for God is not the one who tempts any man (Jas. 1:13). However, there are spoils to be gained when we fight and win over our problems.

If problems were the thing that perfected us, then most Christians would have been perfected long ago and those who experience the greatest problems would be the greatest Christians, but that's not the way it is. God's Word is given to make us perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:17). God's Word does not need to be supplemented with problems to accomplish its work.

This is a pivotal point. Those who believe God has ordained the problems in their life to work some redemptive virtue will submit to those problems and therefore to Satan, the author of those problems (see note 3 at Lk. 13:16, p. 335). They have to or else, in their way of thinking, they would be rebelling at God. Yet James 4:7 tells us to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. If Satan can reverse our thinking on this issue and get us to submit to problems that he brings into our lives, he's got us (Rom. 6:16).

Paul is simply rejoicing that even in tribulation, he had the opportunity to use, and therefore strengthen, his patience that had already been given him as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and through the Word of God (Rom. 15:4). And as he believed that, as he stood in patience, he would gain experience that would cause him to hope even more the next time the devil attacked.

Likewise, we can rejoice in tribulation, knowing that regardless of what the devil does we will win and reap the spoils of victory.

Note 9 at Rom. 5:3: The word "worketh" was translated from the Greek word "katergazomai" meaning "to work fully; i.e. accomplish; by implication to finish; fashion." Paul was not saying that tribulations produced patience. Patience comes from the scriptures (Rom. 15:4). But tribulations cause us to use what God has already given us through His Word and we therefore become stronger as a result (see note 8 at this verse).

Note 10 at Rom. 5:3: According to the dictionary, patience is "the capacity of calm endurance." The Greek word used for patience here is "hupomone" meaning "cheerful (or hopeful) endurance; constancy." Patience is not a passive word as many people use it, but it is an active word.

Patience is actually faith; faith that is sustained over a long period of time. Patience comes from the scriptures (Rom. 15:4) just as faith does (Rom. 10:17). Patience is a fruit of the Spirit just like faith (Gal. 5:22-23). It was by faith that Moses endured (the definition of patience--Heb. 11:27). It was through faith and patience that Abraham received the promises (Heb. 6:12-15). Not just faith, but a faith that was constant over a twenty-five year period of time.

Therefore, patience is not just passively waiting on God to do something, but it is actively believing for the manifestation of God's promise against all odds, regardless of how long it takes. That kind of faith will make you perfect and complete, not wanting for any good thing (Jas. 1:4).

Patience is a by-product of hope. Romans 8:25 says, "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." When people have hope firmly established in them, then no obstacle or length of time can keep them from enduring. That's why the scriptures produce patience, because they give us hope (Rom. 15:4).

Therefore, patience, hope, and faith are all intertwined. You can't have one without the others. A person who says he is patiently waiting on God and yet has lost his hope is deceived. Likewise, a person who isn't believing God is not operating in patience. First comes hope from a promise of God's Word. Then faith begins to give substance and evidence to those things that were hoped for (Heb. 11:1) and if time is involved before the manifestation comes, then patience does its work (Jas. 1:4).