Scripture Explained

Romans is Paul’s deep, careful explanation of the gospel, written to believers in Rome made up of both Jews and Gentiles navigating tension, suffering, and questions about how to live together. In chapter 15 he is urging the “strong” to bear with the “weak,” to put others’ good ahead of their own preferences, and to follow Christ’s example of self‑denial. Verse 4 appears right after he quotes the Old Testament about Christ bearing insults, and then he widens the lens to say that “whatever was written in former days” was written with believers like you in mind.

The logic is straightforward and powerful. What was written then was written for “our instruction,” so that “through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Scripture is not just information; it is God’s instrument to form endurance and deliver encouragement that produces hope. God’s intent is that as you watch Him deal with His people across history, your own capacity to stick it out and trust Him in your story gets built. He is not distant from your long week; He speaks into it through the same words He gave centuries ago.

Think About This

Alarm, shower, coffee, commute, work, errands, home, screen, bed. Somewhere in that loop sits a Bible on a shelf or a glowing app icon on his phone. Some days he taps it, reads a few verses, and feels nothing move. Other days he skips it entirely, telling himself he already knows the basic stories and does not have the mental space for more words. The pressure he feels in his body and mind seems more concrete than the ink on thin pages.

One week, the weight gets heavier. A deal falls through, a kid starts to drift, a doctor calls back with news that unsettles everything. He opens his Bible almost by habit and lands in a story where God carries people through disappointment, silence, or threat. He sees that they waited longer than he has, that they failed and were restored, that God stayed faithful when they could not see what He was doing. The circumstances are different, but the patterns line up. Without fireworks or emotion, something solid rises in him: if God carried them, He can carry me. That is Romans 15:4 in real time.

What Should I Do

You can start by changing how you see Scripture in your day. Ask God to shift your mindset from “optional religious content” to “training ground for endurance and source of encouragement.” Build a simple, consistent reading pattern that fits your real life: a chapter in the morning, a psalm at lunch, or a gospel scene at night. Do not chase novelty; let the same truths work on you again and again.

When you read, look specifically for two things this verse highlights: endurance and encouragement. Ask, “What did this person or group have to endure, and how did God meet them?” and “What about God here is meant to encourage me right now?” Write down even one line you can carry into your day. This turns reading from checking a box into linking your story to God’s track record. Over weeks and months, that habit builds hope that is not built on circumstances.

You also need to let Scripture speak into places you would rather numb out. When you feel the urge to escape into endless scrolling, constant entertainment, or unhealthy habits, choose instead to pause with God’s Word, even briefly. Tell Him honestly, “I do not feel like reading, but I need what You say this will give me: endurance, encouragement, hope.” Over time, those choices will rewire where you go for strength when life squeezes you.

Learn More

Romans 15 ties this verse to real community: bearing with the weak, refusing self‑pleasing, and living in harmony like Christ. The verses that follow ask the “God of endurance and encouragement” to give believers unity and hope together. Sitting in the whole chapter will show you how Scripture is meant not just to prop up your private life, but to shape a shared life of perseverance, encouragement, and hope among brothers.

For Leaders:

This Scripture trains how you lead under pressure

Paul says everything “written in former days” was written for our instruction. That means the way God dealt with leaders in Scripture is meant to shape how you handle authority, conflict, and risk now.

• You see men like Moses, David, Nehemiah, and Paul leading with courage and also failing, repenting, and adjusting.

• Their stories become case studies. You learn what happens when a leader prays before acting, when he listens to counsel, when he ignores warning, or when he leads from fear or pride.

Leadership challenges today look different on the surface, but the core issues are the same: trust, obedience, humility, courage, and endurance. Scripture is meant to train those muscles in you.

Scripture builds endurance when leadership gets long and lonely

Paul connects Scripture to “endurance.” Leadership for a man often means carrying weight others do not see, absorbing pressure, and staying steady when outcomes are slow.

Through the Word, you watch:

• People wait years for promises to unfold.

• Leaders walk through opposition, misunderstanding, and dry seasons.

• God remain faithful when circumstances scream the opposite.

That history is not trivia. It builds your tolerance for long obedience. When business is tight, your kid is wandering, or your ministry feels stalled, those accounts keep you from quitting or cutting corners. You are reminded that you are not the first man to lead through fog.

Scripture gives encouragement when leadership exposes your weakness

Romans 15:4 says Scripture gives “encouragement.” That matters because leadership constantly reveals where you are not enough: limited wisdom, limited energy, limited control.

In Scripture you see:

• God use imperfect leaders who know they need Him.

• Grace extended after failure, not just before.

• Promises that God will never leave, will give wisdom, and will complete His work.

That encouragement does not flatter you. It strengthens you to keep leading when you feel exposed, because your hope is not in your flawless performance, but in God’s steady character.

Scripture anchors your hope beyond results

Paul’s line ends “that we might have hope.” Leadership challenges can erode hope: plans shift, people disappoint you, and outcomes do not match effort.

Scripture re‑anchors hope in:

• Who God is, not just how the quarter went.

• His larger story, not just your current role.

• His promises to build His church, sustain His people, and reward quiet faithfulness.

For a man leading at home, at work, or in church, that kind of hope keeps you from turning cynical or hard when things do not move as fast as you want.

Concrete ways to live this as a leader

You can bring Romans 15:4 straight into your leadership by:

• Building a non‑negotiable rhythm in the Word, not just for personal comfort but as leadership training.

• Reading narratives of biblical leaders and asking, “What would it look like to respond this way in my team, my business, or my home?”

• Letting Scripture define success: faithfulness, endurance, obedience, and love, not just numbers or applause.

• Using Scripture in conversations with those you lead, so their hope is tied to God’s Word, not to your personality.

In short, Romans 15:4 says your leadership challenges are not supposed to be carried with bare willpower. God intends His Word to instruct you, toughen you, encourage you, and anchor your hope while you lead.