Romans 15:4-7 teaches that the Scriptures were written to give believers hope, and that the God who gives perseverance and encouragement also makes his people of one mind and one voice. Paul then calls the church to accept one another just as Christ accepted them, for the glory of God. The passage closes a section in which Paul urges the stronger believers in Rome to bear with the weaker ones rather than pleasing themselves.
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 moves in a short arc. He first says that the old writings of Israel were recorded for instruction, so that through steadiness and the comfort they provide, believers can hold on to hope. He then turns that hope into a prayer: that the God who supplies endurance and encouragement would give the Roman believers a shared mind shaped by Christ Jesus. The goal is that they would glorify God together, with one voice.
The passage ends with a command drawn from that unity. Because Christ welcomed you, accept one another. The same grace that reached you is meant to shape how you treat the believer who is different from you in background, habit or conviction. Unity here is not sameness. It is a community that receives each other the way Christ received them.
Context of Romans 15:4-7
Paul wrote Romans, traditionally dated to around the mid-50s AD, to a church in Rome made up of Jewish and Gentile believers. The tensions between them seem to have been real, especially over food, holy days and which customs should guide fellowship. Paul addresses these questions in chapters 14 and 15 with great pastoral care, without declaring one side right and the other wrong on every point.
In the verses just before our passage, Paul tells the stronger believers that they should not please themselves but bear with the weaknesses of others, and he points to Christ as the model, who did not please himself. Verse 4 then steps back to explain why the Scriptures matter for this kind of living. Verses 5 to 7 bring the argument to a head: the same God who gives endurance is the one who creates unity, and that unity is shown in mutual welcome.
Romans 15:4-7 Verse by Verse
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)
Paul urges believers to live in harmony with one another and not to be proud, but to associate with the humble. The call to shared mind in Romans 15 finds its everyday shape in this kind of humble, peaceful living together.
Philippians 2:5
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus…
(WEB)
Paul asks the Philippians to have the same mindset that was in Christ Jesus. This verse explains the root of the unity Romans 15:5 describes: believers are to take on the humility and self-giving love that marked Christ himself.
A Prayer Based on Romans 15:4-7
Lord, you are the God who gives endurance and encouragement. Thank you for the Scriptures that teach me what I need to know and give me hope when my strength runs low. Give me a steady heart when I am tired, and a patient spirit when I am tested. Where I have pulled away from people who are different from me, draw me back into humble welcome. Help our church to share one mind in Christ Jesus, so that we may honor you with one voice. Shape my life so that the grace I have received flows out to others, and let everything I do bring glory to you. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Romans 15:4 mean by “written for our learning”?
Paul means that the ancient Scriptures were recorded so that later believers could be instructed by them. They teach God’s character and promises, and they give hope to people who are living in hard times.
Why does Paul connect unity with glorifying God in Romans 15:6?
Paul sees a divided church as a weak witness to God. When believers share one mind and one voice, their worship reflects the harmony God intends, and God receives honor.
How does Christ’s acceptance shape the command in Romans 15:7?
Paul grounds the call to accept one another in the welcome Christ extended to believers. Because Christ received people who did not earn it, his followers are called to receive others in the same way.
