Romans 1:12
in Romans 1that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
KJV
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
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This verse in Romans 1
Commentary
16 notes on this verseBlessed therefore are those to whom the Apostle wishes to impart spiritual grace for the confirming of their faith, that they may no longer be little ones, nor be carried about with every wind of doctrine. And when this is done by Paul, he himself also receives consolation, seeing his own work firm and stable; and those are consoled who are made partakers of the apostolic grace.
This site's exposition
impart to you some spiritual gift
on Romans 1:11-12
Paul wants to impart some spiritual gift to strengthen the church, and charisma covers any grace God hands through one person to another. Verse 12 corrects the picture at once: the encouragement runs both ways, through the faith each has. An apostle expects to receive as much as he gives.
This site's exposition
mutually encouraged by each other
The gift Paul hoped to impart could suggest a church weak in faith, and Chrysostom sees Paul removing that thought at once. Wesley adds that he places the Romans first.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Paul says that he will be comforted with them insofar as they come to understand spiritual things. Even while he may rejoice in their faith, he nevertheless grieves insofar as they have not received the faith rightly. The apostle was the type to grieve for …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusINTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul wanted to receive as well as to give. The eagerness was on both sides.
A commentator
Gennadius of ConstantinoplePAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 471.
proposed
Paul says this for fear of tripping up his hearers, who might not have known what to say to the prospect of sharing in some spiritual gift. For what could have been lacking in the teaching of Peter? Paul might be accused of criticizing Peter's …
As if he said, Do not suspect that I spoke to accuse you. It was not with this feeling that I said what I did. But what may it be that I wished to say? Ye are undergoing many tribulations, being drenched on every side (by those who persecute you). I desired then to see you, that I might comfort you, or rather, not that I might comfort you only, but that I might myself receive comfort. See the wisdom of the teacher. He said, to the end that "ye may be strengthened;" he knew that what he had said would be heavy and irksome to the disciples. He says, "to the end that ye may be comforted." But this again is heavy, not indeed to such a degree as the former, still it is heavy. He then pares down what is galling in this also, smoothing his speech on every side, and rendering it easy of acceptance. For he does not say barely, "to be comforted," but, "to be comforted together with you;" nor was he content with this but he puts in a further lenitive, when he says, "by the mutual faith both of you and me." Oh how great was his humble-mindedness! He showed himself also to be in need of them, and not them only of him. And he puts the disciples in the position of teachers, not letting any superiority remain upon his own side, but pointing out their full equality. For the gain is mutual, he means, and I need the comfort from you, and you that from me. And how comes this to pass? "Through the mutual faith both of you and me." For as in the case of fire, if any one gather together many lights, it is a bright flame that he kindles, thus also does it naturally happen with the faithful. For when we be by ourselves, torn away from others, we are somehow in worse spirits. But when we see one another, and are entwined with the members of our own selves, great is the comfort we receive. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
In a covert manner he gave them to understand that the Romans needed to be corrected in many things. But since even this was said too strongly (for the Romans could say: what are you saying? Are we really wavering, going in circles, and in …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
The second cause is the mutual consolation found in friendly communication. Hence he continues that I may be comforted together in you, i.e., me by seeing you and imparting a grace, and all of us by that which is common to us both, your faith …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
That is, I long to be comforted by the mutual faith both of you and me - He not only associates the Roman with, but even prefers them before, himself. How different is this style of the apostle from that of the modern court of Rome!
He had heard so much of them that he had a great desire to be better acquainted with them. Fruitful Christians are as much the joy as barren professors are the grief of faithful ministers. Accordingly, he often purposed to come, but was let hitherto (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
That is, that I may be comforted together with you,....
Paul could take comfort in the fruit of the labours of other ministers.-- By the mutual faith both of you and me, that is, our mutual faithfulness and fidelity. It is very comfortable when there is a mutual confidence between minister and people, they confiding in him as a faithful minister, and he in them as a faithful people.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me--"Not wishing to "lord it over their faith," but rather to be a "helper of their joy," the apostle corrects his former expressions: my desire is to instruct you and do you good, that is, for us to instruct and do one another good: in giving I shall also receive" [JOWETT].
That I may be comforted together with you - He here, with great address, intimates that he longs for this opportunity, as well on his own account as on theirs, and to show them that he arrogates nothing to himself; for he intimates that it will require the conjoint action of their faith as well as his own, to be the means of receiving those blessings from God to which he refers.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That I may be comforted ... - It was not merely to confirm them that Paul wished to come. He sought the communion of saints; he expected to be himself edified and strengthened; and to be comforted by seeing their strength of faith, and their rapid growth in grace. We may remark here, (1) That one effect of religion is to produce the desire of the communion of saints. It is the nature of Christianity to seek the society of those who are the friends of Christ. (2) Nothing is better suited to produce growth in grace than such communion. Every Christian should have one or more Christian friends to whom he may unbosom himself. No small part of the difficulties which young Christians experience would vanish, if they should communicate their feelings and views to others. Feelings which they suppose no Christians ever had, which greatly distress them, they will find are common among those who are experienced in the Christian life. (3) There is nothing better suited to excite the feelings, and confirm the hopes of Christian ministers, than the firm faith of young converts, of those just commencing the Christian life, 3Jn 1:4. (4) The apostle did not disdain to be taught by the humblest Christians. He expected to be strengthened himself by the faith of those just beginning the Christian life. “There is none so poor in the church of Christ, that he cannot make some addition of importance to our stores,” Calvin.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῦτο | touto | that | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| δέ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| συμπαρακληθῆναι | sumparaklethenai | to be encouraged together | G4837 → | |
| ἐν | en | among | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | among | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀλλήλοις | allelois | one another | G240 → | 100 times |
| πίστεως, | pisteos | faith | G4102 → | 242 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τε | te | both | G5037 → | 213 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐμοῦ.¶ | emou | of me. | G1473 → | 839 times |
τοῦτοthat
toutoG3778 →1381 times
δέnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
συμπαρακληθῆναιto be encouraged together
sumparaklethenaiG4837 →
ἐνamong
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖνyou
huminG4771 →2973 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐνamong
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀλλήλοιςone another
alleloisG240 →100 times
πίστεως,faith
pisteosG4102 →242 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
τεboth
teG5037 →213 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐμοῦ.¶of me.
emouG1473 →839 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
- Philemon 1:20
Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 7:13
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
- Philemon 1:7
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- Acts 18:21
But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
Through
Titus 1:4To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Jude 1:3
Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all…
- 2 Corinthians 2:13
I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
- 2 Timothy 1:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Romans
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Gennadius of Constantinople, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.