Bible Verses

Romans · Chapter 5 · Hope

Romans 5:3 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Hope is the anchor that holds when feelings cannot.

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Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;"

KJV · King James Version

"And1161 not3756 only3440 so, but235 we glory2744 in1722 tribulations2347 also2532: knowing1492 that3754 tribulation2347 worketh2716 patience5281;"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses and, glory, tribulations, tribulation, while the WEB renders these as this, rejoice, our, sufferings. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Romans 5:3 in Romans 5

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Romans 5:3 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Romans 5. Read the full chapter →

  1. v.1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
  2. v.2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
  3. v.3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;
  4. v.4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope:
  5. v.5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Book background

About the Book of Romans

Testament
New Testament
Genre
Pauline epistle
Author
Paul the apostle
Date written
c. 57 AD
Audience
The Christians at Rome (whom Paul had not yet met)
Chapters
16

Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). It has transformed every major Christian revival in history.

Setting: Written from Corinth on the eve of Paul's final trip to Jerusalem.

Key themes: righteousness · faith · justification · sin · gospel

Read Romans from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Romans 5:3

Romans 5:3 contains 15 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

  1. 1

    Not only this

    NOT

  2. 2

    but we also rejoice in our sufferings

    BWARIO

  3. 3

    knowing that suffering produces perseverance;

    KTSPP

Frequently asked

FAQ about Romans 5:3

What does Romans 5:3 say?

Romans 5:3 reads: "Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;" — from the New Testament, Romans (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Romans 5:3 in?

Romans 5:3 is in the book of Romans, traditionally attributed to Paul the apostle and written around c. 57 AD. Romans is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to The Christians at Rome (whom Paul had not yet met). Best known for "the just shall live by faith" and Romans 8:28.

What is Romans 5:3 about?

Romans 5:3 is primarily a Bible verse about Hope. Within Romans, Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Romans 5:3 in WEB and KJV?

Romans 5:3 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And1161 not3756 only3440 so, but235 we glory2744 in1722 tribulations2347 also2532: knowing1492 that3754 tribulation2347 worketh2716 patience5281;". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Romans 5:3?

Romans 5:3 is 15 words in the WEB translation (99 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 5 seconds.

How can I memorise Romans 5:3?

To memorise Romans 5:3, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Romans 5:3 matter in Romans?

Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). It has transformed every major Christian revival in history. Romans 5:3 sits within this larger story — Romans as a whole emphasises righteousness, faith, justification.

How can I apply Romans 5:3 today?

Many readers use Romans 5:3 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Romans 5:3 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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