That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Parallel translations
- WEB that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
- 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 3:7–10Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
- 3 Jn 1:3–4For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
- 2 Cor 7:13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
- 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
- 2 Cor 7:4–7Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
- Titus 1:4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
- 1 Th 2:17–20But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
- Acts 11:23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
- Rom 15:32That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
- 2 Cor 2:1–3But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
- Jude 1:3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
- 2 Tim 1:4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
- 2 Jn 1:4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
- Eph 4:5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
- Rom 15:24Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.