Romans 5:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations.” Understand, then, what the future blessings are, since we magnify ourselves even in what seems sorrowful to us. Such is God's gift, and in it there is nothing unpleasant. In external affairs, contests are accompanied by labor, sickness, and misfortune, while crowns and rewards bring pleasure. But there it is not so. The struggle itself is no less pleasant to us than the reward. Since trials then were numerous, while the Kingdom was only in hope, misfortunes were at hand and blessings were in expectation. All this weakened the infirm even more. Therefore Paul gives them rewards even before the heavenly crowns, saying that one must boast also in tribulations.

"And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience, patience produces tested character, tested character produces hope, and hope does not put to shame." We boast, he says, not only in future blessings, but, what is still greater, even in our present tribulations. Therefore do not be troubled, he says, because we are in tribulations. This itself is the Christian's boast.

The Apostle says, "And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations," and so on, proceeding step by step to the love of God, which we have through the gift of the Holy Spirit. He shows that everything we are able to attribute to ourselves must be rendered to God, who has deemed us worthy by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

For those well prepared, torments are like food and exercises for athletes. They lead the one who takes part in the contest to the inheritance of glory. When we are reviled, we bless. When we are cursed, we pray. When we are tormented, we give thanks. When we are subjected to sufferings, we boast in sufferings (cf. 1 Cor 4:12-13).

But we also boast in tribulations endured for His sake, knowing that tribulation produces patience in us.

Although “through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22), Paul teaches that praise should also be given for them. For tribulations, added to hope, increase our reward. Tribulations are the measure of our hope, bearing witness to the crown that lies ahead. The Lord also says: “Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Mt 5:11-12). Not to reject present sufferings and obstacles, and not to fall away from future hope during persecutions, is great merit before God. Therefore, when in tribulations, one should give praise, believing that the stronger a man is before tribulation, the more pleasing he will be to God. He knows that patience comes from tribulation. That is, tribulations give patience, if they are not a cause of weakness or doubt.

"And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations." The Apostle clearly revealed his unconquerable greatness of soul. For he did not say, "We endure tribulations," but, "we boast in tribulations." That is, we magnify ourselves and think highly of ourselves, as sharing in sufferings with the Master. Yet even this he did not say plainly, because such thinking belongs to the perfect, like himself. He encourages the others by what is to come. See Rom 5:4.

Not only do we boast in the hope of receiving future eternal glory, but we boast, he says, in tribulations themselves. That is, in sorrows, persecutions, misfortunes, and generally in every distressing circumstance. Why do we boast in tribulations? Because we know that they produce patience. Through patience, we are tested, and this testing guides us to hope that is not ashamed. But do all boast in tribulations? Do all receive them with patience? We see many complain, become vexed, and grow indignant in misfortunes. Some even fall into despair. The Apostle did not say that all boast in tribulations, or that tribulations produce patience in everyone. Speaking in the first person, “we boast in tribulations,” he made known that he says this of himself and of all who are like him in virtue.

Then the Apostle pauses, with a deep feeling of grateful love, over the great fruits of redemption. These visibly testify that they came to us not at all by our works. We are no longer enemies and rejected slaves, as we would have been by our works. Rather, as sons of God, “we have received access to this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:2). In this grace, even the very sorrows on earth are turned into praise and bring us joy. Hardly anyone will die even for a righteous man. Yet our Savior, in His ineffable mercy, “while we were still sinners, died for us” (Rom 5:8). Thus we now neither tremble nor are terrified before God as criminals. Rather, “we also rejoice in God,” as children boast in their father, “through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Rom 5:11).

Having depicted the doctrine of justification by faith with sufficient fullness, the Apostle here indicates the great fruits of justification, in order to stir Christians to a life corresponding to justification. The Apostle points to reconciliation with God as the first and greatest fruit of justification. The second fruit of justification is grace, with its manifold actions upon Christian life. The third fruit of justification is firm hope of sharing in the kingdom of glory. The last fruit, as the most important, produces a particularly joyful feeling of boundless love. Yet Christians can also experience joy from those fruits of Christian faith which, in the eyes of others, can bring nothing but sorrow. These are insults and torments, for beneficial fruits can also come from them.

“And why do I say,” the Apostle continues, “that we can boast in future blessings? Even present afflictions are such that they serve our glory, and we can exalt ourselves in them” (Chrysostom). It is as though the Apostle heard an objection: You say the future is bright. Let it be bright, but the present is very sorrowful. We are deprived of property, honor, and shelter. We are persecuted, beaten, and killed. Are these present sorrows not strong enough to shake and completely extinguish the hope of future glory? No, the Apostle answers. These sorrows also lead there, to the strengthening and elevation of hope. Therefore we can boast in them, as we boast in hope of the future.