Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Romans 15:4

Romans 15:4. For. This introduces a justification of the previous citation, and a preparation for the subject which follows, the duty of being ‘of the same mind one toward another' (Romans 15:6).

Whatsoever things were written aforetime. Evidently including the whole Old Testament.

Were written for our learning; to instruct us also; the immediate design does not preclude this further and permanent one, a principle which underlies many other citations made by the Apostle.

That we through the patience and through the comfort of the Scriptures. This is the literal rendering of the better established reading. ‘Of the Scriptures' qualifies both words: ‘the patience and comfort produced by a study of the Scriptures; the repeated ‘through' does not disconnect them, but gives rhetorical emphasis. ‘Patience' is especially needed to hold out in not pleasing ourselves (Romans 15:1), and ‘comfort' or ‘consolation,' that we may find joy therein.

Might have our hope, lit., ‘the hope,' the specific hope of the Christian, possessing more and more of it by means of the patience, etc. Those who neglect the Old Testament Scriptures may well remember that this expresses the Christian experience of an inspired Apostle.

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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Romans 15:4

Old Testament

New Testament