that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Parallel translations
- KJV That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
- BSB that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
- NKJV that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
- NASB that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
- NLT When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul clarifies that the encouragement will be mutual — he and the Romans will be strengthened by one another's faith. Even an apostle expects to be edified by fellow believers.
Overview
With humility, Paul reframes his hope: not a one-way impartation but mutual encouragement through shared faith. This models the interdependence of the body of Christ, where every believer, even the most mature, both gives and receives spiritual strengthening. It guards against any sense of spiritual superiority.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Th 3:7–10for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
- 3 Jn 1:3–4For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
- 2 Cor 7:13Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
- 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
- 2 Cor 7:4–7Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
- Titus 1:4to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
- 1 Th 2:17–20But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
- Acts 11:23who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.
- Rom 15:32that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.
- 2 Cor 2:1–3But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
- Jude 1:3Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
- 2 Tim 1:4longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;
- 2 Jn 1:4I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
- Eph 4:5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
- Rom 15:24whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 1:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.