Daily Bible Nugget #170, Romans 15:4

The Nugget:

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

My Comment:

The Scriptures were written for our instruction. Notice that Paul in this statement explains what the Scriptures are for and what they can do for us. “Patience” is translated “quiet waiting” (Bible in Basic English) or “endurance” (NET Bible). The Scriptures were written for our instruction or learning in order that we might derive comfort from them, and that we might have hope. The Emphasized Bible translates “might have their hope.” Young’s Literal Translation reads “might have the hope.” Should you need a dose of encouragement, turn to the Bible. Some books in the Bible were written in a manner that provides much encouragement when they are read. The book of Philippians is a good example. Certain Psalms are most encouraging, especially Psalm 34 and Psalm 37. Might as well throw in Psalm 40, especially its last verse, which observes “yet the Lord thinketh upon me.” Jesus taught a similar truth when he said we are much more valuable than sparrows (Luke 12:7). He said God knows each of us so well he knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8). He even knows how many hairs are growing on our head! Jesus told us that each individual is worth more than the whole world (Matthew 16:26). When I taught public school, I emphasized some of these truths from time to time by sharing selected Bible verses scattered among the daily proverbs and quotations I posted on the blackboard. When students truly understand that they each are very valuable–that God did not make any junk–their attitude towards others improves. There are many other avenues of encouraging thought that can be springboarded into your life when you read the Bible for yourself.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1298 for Romans 15:4.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1318 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 15:4.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 15:4. whatsoever. Ro *+4:23, 24. 1 C *9:9, 10. *10:11. 2 T +**3:16, 17. 2 P *1:19-21. written. Ro +3:10. Ps *102:18. Je 30:2. Da 7:1. Mt *4:4. Jn 19:35. 20:30, **31. aforetime. Jb 8:8. Ga 3:1. Ep 3:3g. Ju 4. for our learning. or, teaching. Note: Rather, “for our instruction.” T#1030. Ro 2:18. 12:7. Ps +*119:130. Is +*8:20. Mt 13:44. Mk 1:44. +*12:24. Jn +*5:39. **20:31. 1 C 1:5. *10:6, 11. Col 2:17. 1 T 1:16. 2 T +**3:16. He 10:1. 2 P *1:19. 1 J **5:13. patience. or, patient endurance. FS134, Mt +3:9. In Hebrew the words “patience” and “hope” would be sabbar and subar, thus exhibiting the figure Parechesis, or Foreign Paronomasia. Ro +*2:7. *5:3-5. 8:24, 25. *12:12. Ps 119:81-83. Lk +*8:15. 21:19. 1 C *13:4, 5. 2 C 6:4-6. 12:12. 1 Th 1:3. 2 Th 1:4. He *6:10-19. +*10:35, 36. *13:5, 6. Ja 1:3. *5:7-11. 1 P 1:13. 2:19-23. 2 P 1:6. Re 2:3. 14:12. and comfort. FS93A, Ge +1:26. T#1051. Ro 8:28. 2 Ch 31:4. 35:2. Jb 5:19. 6:10. 11:16. Ps 27:5. 30:5. 42:5. 103:13. +*119:50, **52, 82, 92, 143. 138:7. Is 46:4. 61:3. 63:9. Mt +*5:4. Jn 14:1-3. Ac 4:36. 15:30, 31. 1 C +14:3. 1 Th 3:7. 4:13. Ja 5:7-11. 1 P 4:12, 13. Re 2:10. 3:10. 7:14-17. 14:13. the scriptures. Ro +1:2. 16:26. Ps 19:7. Mt +21:42. 22:29. Mk +*12:24. 2 T +**3:15-17. hope. T#1042. Ro 4:18. 5:2, 4-6. 8:24. 12:12. Ps +*34:4. *71:14. +*119:49, 74, 81, 114, 116. 130:5. Pr +*3:5. 14:32. Jn 15:16. Ac 23:6. 26:6. 1 C 9:10. 13:13. 2 C 3:12. Ga 5:5. Ep 1:18. +**2:12. 4:4. Col 1:5, 23, 27. 1 Th 1:3. 2:19. *5:8. 2 Th +*2:16. 1 T 1:1. T *1:2. *2:13. 3:7. He *3:6. +*6:11, 18. 7:19. 1 P +*1:3, 4. +*3:15. 1 J **3:3.