The Meaning of Romans 12:12 Explained

Romans 12:12

KJV: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

YLT: in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

Darby: As regards hope, rejoicing: as regards tribulation, enduring: as regards prayer, persevering:

ASV: rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Rejoicing  in hope;  patient  in tribulation;  continuing instant  in prayer; 

What does Romans 12:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We must never lose sight of our hope of things in the future that God has promised us. This will help us persevere in tribulation (cf. Romans 5:3-4). Prayer is our great resource whenever we feel stress and strain (cf. Philippians 4:6-7). Note the same progression from hope to perseverance to prayer in Romans 8:24-27. We should not just pray, but we should be devoted to prayer (cf. Acts 1:14). [1] It should have high priority in our lives. Frequent attendance at prayer meetings is one indication of devotion to prayer.

Context Summary

Romans 12:9-21 - Living As A Christian
In this section the Apostle shows how the great principle of consecration must affect the details of conduct. It is most necessary to insist on these practical issues. At some impressive religious convention, where the vision of a surrendered and transfigured life is presented, sensitive souls are led to make the vows and claim the plane of life which have been presented; but on their return to the commonplaces, there is no perceptible improvement in their speech, or tone, or attitude. This induces shame and contempt. Hence the great wisdom of the Apostle's particular teaching in this and the following chapters.
The lumbering wagon must be hitched to a star. We must not be star-gazers only. God has endowed us with faith as the receptive faculty, through which we may receive His blessed help. In the power of the Holy Spirit let us set ourselves to our common tasks, thinking humbly and soberly of ourselves, lovingly of our associates, and reverently of God. We are inspired to fulfill the obligations of our position, whether in giving money or in teaching the ignorant; whether in showing mercy or in exercising authority, because all is done as under the eye of the great Master of the household. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 12

1  God's mercies must move us to offer ourselves
3  No man must think too well of himself;
6  but everyone attend to the calling wherein he is placed
9  Love, and many other duties are required of us
19  Revenge is especially forbidden

Greek Commentary for Romans 12:12

Patient in tribulation [τηι τλιπσει υπομενοντες]
So soon this virtue became a mark of the Christians. [source]
Continuing instant [προσκαρτεροῦντες]
Compare Acts 1:4; Acts 6:4. Rev., steadfastly for instant, which has lost its original sense of urgent (Latin, instare to press upon ). Thus Latimer: “I preached at the instant request of a curate.” Compare A.V., Luke 7:4; Acts 26:7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 12:12

Luke 7:4 They besought him instantly [παρεκάλουν σπουδαίως]
On besought, see on Luke 6:24. Instantly, which commonly means at once, is used in its older meaning, pressingly, from the Latin instare, to urge or press upon. So Romans 12:12, “instant in prayer.” Wyc., prayed busily. [source]
Luke 23:23 They were instant [ἐπέκειντο]
Instant, in the sense of urgent, pressing. See on Luke 7:4. Compare Romans 12:12; 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 7:4; Acts 26:7. The verb means to lie upon, and answers to our vulgarism, to lay one's self down to work. Compare Aristophanes, “Knights,” 253: κἀπικείμενος βόα , roar with all your might. Lit., roar, lying down to it. [source]
Acts 1:14 Continued [ἦσαν προσκαρτεροῦντες]
Participle and finite verb, as above. The verb is from καρτερὸς strong, stanch, and means originally to persist obstinately in. In this sense here, and in Romans 12:12; Romans 13:6. Hence to adhere firmly to. So in Mark 3:9, “that a small ship should wait on him; ” i.e., keep near at hand. The idea of steady persistence is supplied by the Rev., steadfastly. [source]
Romans 13:6 Attending continually []
The same word as continuing steadfastly in Romans 12:12. [source]
Colossians 4:2 Continue [προσκαρτερεῖτε]
See on Acts 1:14. Compare Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46; Acts 6:4; Romans 12:12; Romans 13:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Rev., correctly, continue steadfastly. [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Without ceasing [ἀδιαλείπτως]
Comp. Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+12:12&sr=1">Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2. [source]
2 Timothy 4:2 Be instant [ἐπίστηθι]
Better, be ready. Once in Paul, 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Frequent in Luke and Acts. Lit. stand by, be at hand, be present. To come suddenly upon, Luke 2:38. Hence, be ready. Instant signifies urgent, importunate, persevering. Lat. instare to press upon. Thus Latimer, “I preached at the instant request of a curate.” So N.T., Romans 12:12, “Continuing instant in prayer.” [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 12:12 mean?

- in hope rejoicing in tribulation being patient in prayer being constant
τῇ ἐλπίδι χαίροντες θλίψει ὑπομένοντες προσευχῇ προσκαρτεροῦντες

τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐλπίδι  in  hope 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐλπίς  
Sense: expectation of evil, fear.
χαίροντες  rejoicing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: χαίρω  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
θλίψει  in  tribulation 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: θλῖψις  
Sense: a pressing, pressing together, pressure.
ὑπομένοντες  being  patient 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπομένω 
Sense: to remain.
προσευχῇ  in  prayer 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: προσευχή  
Sense: prayer addressed to God.
προσκαρτεροῦντες  being  constant 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: προσκαρτερέω  
Sense: to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one.