Meaning of Romans 12:12

The New Testament contains letters to various churches with the core message of the gospel of Christ. It shows how the apostles preached the gospel and taught the disciples of Christ the right way to live 🙏🏻.

The books in the New Testament are actually letters the apostles wrote to the churches they started at the time. The book of Romans is one such letter where you find chapter 12 and verse 12 which says, 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12

1) Who Wrote Romans 12 ?

📜 The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans, which includes chapter 12. We know this because he starts by identifying himself at the beginning of the book. 

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.”
Romans 1:1

Paul wrote the letter to the Roman church to tell them about the essence of the gospel of Christ. He explains faith in Christ, our righteousness through Christ, and that in Christ, Jews and Gentiles are one ✝️.

Romans 12 has a passage that teaches how to behave like a Christian. This is where we find verse 12.

2) Meaning of Romans 12:12 in the NIV Bible Version

Romans 12:12 in the NIV Bible version reads, 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12

The above verse shows us how we are to respond in various situations we face in life. Our hearts should be full of joy because we have hope in Christ. When facing troubles, patience will prevent us from giving up before seeing our victory. Prayer is something we do always and in every situation knowing God will answer our prayers.

Romans 12:12 is a simple exhortation to behave in a way that shows we trust God in all situations we face in life. 

A. Meaning of “Be joyful in hope”

As Christians, we are to rejoice because of the hope we have in Christ. In Him, we have hope despite our circumstances because He has promised us victory. You can find rest in God when you put your hope in Him and not anything else.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Psalm 62:5

This means that your heart will be full of joy knowing you have God’s peace in any situation ❤.

Titus 3:7 says we have hope of eternal life meaning we can look forward to an eternity with God because of our faith in Jesus. Because of this promise, our hearts have joy as we wait for our Savior to return.

"so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
Titus 3:7

B. Meaning of “Patient in affliction”

We are to be patient in our afflictions because they don’t last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
2 Corinthians 4:17

Afflictions are for a season and when they are over, we know that the glory of God will be evident to all who see us 👍🏻.

According to Isaiah 48:10, God refines us in the furnace of affliction and this process makes us pure and equipped to live a life that pleases Him. By being patient, you allow God to transform you into a better person who reflects the true nature of Christ in the world.

"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."
Isaiah 48:10

C. Meaning of “Faithful in prayer”

When we don’t see answers to our prayers, we fall into the temptation to stop praying. But when we stop praying, we deny God the chance to intervene in our lives 😥.

Being faithful in prayer means praying always without giving up and with all kinds of prayers and requests.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Ephesians 6:18

Praying faithfully requires a heart that keeps trusting that God answers all prayers. A person who believes he or she will see what they are praying for will more likely pray always. As Christians, we should devote ourselves to prayer where we continually seek God for guidance and help ✊🏻.

3) Romans 12:12 Commentary and Conclusion

Romans 12:12 is a simple Scripture but packed with a powerful message. By taking the time to understand its meaning, you will find a lot of wisdom for your everyday living 👼.

God uses His word to teach us how to live right and the three nuggets of wisdom in Romans 12:12 show us how to do just that 😊.

Read next: Meaning of Proverbs 4:23 to you as a Christian. The Bible is a book of wisdom that God uses to show us how to live our lives. In it, you will find the book of Proverbs which shows you the right way to deal with the various situations in your life...
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."