Romans 15:5

Translation
King James Version
¶ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
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KJV (with Strong's)
Now G1161 the God G2316 of patience G5281 and G2532 consolation G3874 grant G1325 you G5213 to be G846 likeminded G5426 one G240 toward another G1722 G240 according G2596 to Christ G5547 Jesus G2424:
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Complete Jewish Bible
And may God, the source of encouragement and patience, give you the same attitude among yourselves as the Messiah Yeshua had,
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Berean Standard Bible
Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,
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American Standard Version
Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:
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World English Bible Messianic
Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Messiah Yeshua,
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Now the God of patience and consolation giue you that ye be like minded one towards another, according to Christ Iesus,
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Young's Literal Translation
And may the God of the endurance, and of the exhortation, give to you to have the same mind toward one another, according to Christ Jesus;
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See also
Philippians 2:4Philippians 2:51 Peter 3:8Romans 12:16Ephesians 5:2Romans 15:132 Corinthians 13:11
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In the KJVVerse 28,309 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Romans 15:5 presents a profound prayer from the Apostle Paul, invoking the very character of God as the source of steadfast endurance and comforting encouragement. Paul petitions God to empower believers to cultivate a shared mindset and purpose, fostering genuine unity and mutual acceptance within the community, all patterned after the transformative example and mind of Christ Jesus Himself. This verse serves as a theological anchor for Christian fellowship, emphasizing divine enablement for relational harmony.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Romans 15:5 stands as a pivotal prayer within Paul's concluding exhortations to the Roman church. It immediately follows his extensive discussion in Romans 14:1-23 and Romans 15:1-4, where he addresses practical issues of Christian liberty and conscience. Paul meticulously outlines the principles for "strong" and "weak" believers to coexist in mutual love and acceptance, particularly concerning dietary laws, observance of special days, and avoiding judgment. Having laid this theological and ethical groundwork, Paul now turns to God in prayer, acknowledging that the desired unity and mutual edification are not merely human achievements but divine gifts. This prayer thus serves as a capstone, seeking God's enablement for the practical outworking of the unity he has just commanded.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The church in Rome was a diverse community, comprising both Jewish and Gentile converts. This diversity, while a testament to the Gospel's power, also brought inherent tensions. Jewish believers often held onto certain Mosaic traditions (like dietary laws and Sabbath observance), while Gentile believers, freed from such obligations, sometimes viewed these practices as unnecessary or even legalistic. This cultural and religious divergence led to potential divisions and judgments within the nascent Christian community. Paul's letter, written around A.D. 57-58 from Corinth, aimed to address these internal conflicts, establish theological clarity, and prepare for his eventual visit. His prayer for "likemindedness" directly confronts the challenge of maintaining unity amidst diverse backgrounds and practices, a common struggle in early Christian communities.
  • Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several major themes woven throughout Romans and Paul's broader theology. Firstly, it underscores the unity of the church, a recurring Pauline concern, emphasizing that genuine fellowship transcends cultural and personal differences when centered on Christ. Secondly, it highlights the character of God, portraying Him as the ultimate source of the very qualities (patience and consolation) needed for believers to live harmoniously. This divine character is not just an attribute to be admired but a wellspring from which believers can draw strength and comfort. Thirdly, the phrase "according to Christ Jesus" reinforces the theme of Christ as the supreme example and standard for Christian living and community, echoing the humility and self-sacrifice described in Philippians 2:5-8. Finally, it subtly points to the theme of divine enablement, acknowledging that true transformation and unity are ultimately granted by God, not achieved by human effort alone, aligning with Paul's consistent emphasis on grace.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Patience (Greek, hypomonḗ', G5281): Derived from hypomenō (to remain under, to endure), hypomonḗ signifies not merely passive waiting, but active, cheerful, and hopeful endurance. It describes a steadfast perseverance in the face of difficulties, trials, or opposition, without giving up or losing heart. When applied to God, as "the God of patience," it speaks to His enduring faithfulness, His long-suffering with humanity, and His unwavering commitment to His purposes despite human failings. For believers, it means the capacity to bear with one another's weaknesses, differences, and even offenses, maintaining steadfastness in love and commitment to the community.
  • Consolation (Greek, paráklēsis', G3874): From parakaleō (to call alongside, to comfort, to exhort), paráklēsis encompasses comfort, encouragement, and exhortation. It implies a drawing near to offer support, solace, and strength, particularly in times of distress or conflict. As "the God of consolation," God is the ultimate Comforter, the one who draws near to His people, providing solace and strengthening them. In the context of unity, it means that God provides the encouragement needed to overcome divisions, to speak words of grace, and to build one another up rather than tear down.
  • Likeminded (Greek, phronéō', G5426): This verb means "to exercise the mind," "to have a sentiment or opinion," or "to be (mentally) disposed." It refers not to uniformity of thought on every minor detail, but a shared disposition, purpose, or spiritual outlook. It implies a common spiritual orientation, a unity of affection and will, prioritizing the Gospel and the welfare of the body of Christ. The idea is to have the same "mind" or "attitude" toward one another, which, as the verse clarifies, is "according to Christ Jesus."

Verse Breakdown

  • "Now the God of patience and consolation": Paul begins his prayer by addressing God according to two of His essential attributes: His boundless patience and His comforting presence. This invocation is foundational, recognizing that the qualities needed for unity among believers are divine in origin and are perfectly embodied in God Himself. It sets the stage for God to be the active agent in granting the prayer's request.
  • "grant you to be likeminded": This is the core petition. The verb "grant" (G1325, dídōmi) highlights that this unity is a gift from God, not something achievable by human will or effort alone. "Likeminded" (G5426, phronéō) signifies a shared spiritual disposition, a common purpose, and a unity of heart and mind, rather than a forced conformity of opinion. It is a prayer for a shared spiritual outlook that prioritizes the Gospel and mutual edification.
  • "one toward another": This phrase specifies the relational sphere where this likemindedness is to be manifested. It directly addresses the internal dynamics of the Christian community, particularly the tensions between "strong" and "weak" believers that Paul discussed in the preceding chapter. The unity sought is horizontal, between individual members of the body of Christ.
  • "according to Christ Jesus": This crucial qualifier defines the nature and standard of the desired likemindedness. It is not unity for unity's sake, nor is it based on human compromise or lowest common denominator. Instead, it is a unity that is shaped by, modeled after, and consistent with the character, teachings, and example of Christ Jesus. His humility, self-sacrificial love, and unwavering commitment to God's will serve as the ultimate paradigm for how believers should relate to one another.

Literary Devices

Paul employs several significant literary devices in Romans 15:5. Firstly, he uses Apostrophe by directly addressing God ("Now the God of patience and consolation grant..."), transforming the statement into a heartfelt prayer and underscoring the divine source of the desired outcome. Secondly, the phrase "God of patience and consolation" is a form of Theological Statement or Attributive Naming, which highlights specific aspects of God's character that are directly relevant to the petition. This emphasizes that God possesses the very qualities He is asked to impart. Thirdly, the structure of the verse itself functions as an Exhortation embedded in a Prayer, where the act of praying for unity simultaneously serves to instruct and encourage the recipients to pursue such unity. Finally, the concluding phrase "according to Christ Jesus" acts as a Christological Standard, providing the ultimate measure and model for the "likemindedness" Paul desires, thereby grounding the ethical appeal in the person and work of Christ.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Romans 15:5 serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of Christian unity and its divine source. It asserts that true harmony within the body of Christ is not merely a product of human effort or compromise, but a gracious gift from God, who Himself embodies the very patience and comfort necessary for such unity. This likemindedness, however, is not a superficial agreement on all matters, but a deep, Christ-shaped disposition that prioritizes mutual love, acceptance, and the advancement of the Gospel over individual preferences or contentious issues. It underscores the profound truth that our capacity to bear with one another, to comfort and encourage, flows directly from God's character and is made possible by His empowering presence. The verse thus links the internal health and relational dynamics of the church directly to the attributes of God and the example of Christ, making unity a theological imperative rooted in divine grace.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Romans 15:5 offers a compelling call to both prayer and practice for believers today. In a world increasingly fractured by division, and within church communities that often reflect these societal rifts, Paul's prayer for likemindedness "according to Christ Jesus" is profoundly relevant. It reminds us that genuine unity is not achieved by avoiding difficult conversations or by forcing conformity, but by cultivating a shared spiritual disposition rooted in Christ's humility, love, and self-sacrifice. This means actively seeking to understand and bear with those who hold different convictions on non-essential matters, extending the same patience and comfort that God extends to us. It challenges us to look beyond our personal preferences and cultural biases, allowing the mind of Christ to shape our interactions, our priorities, and our collective mission. Ultimately, this verse encourages us to pray earnestly for God's enabling grace to foster a unity that glorifies Him and powerfully witnesses to a broken world.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of my life or church community do I struggle to extend patience and consolation to others?
  • What does it practically mean for me to be "likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" in my daily interactions?
  • How can I actively pray for and contribute to the unity of my local church, especially amidst differing opinions or backgrounds?
  • What specific attitudes or actions might I need to surrender or adopt to better reflect the mind of Christ in my relationships?

FAQ

What does "likeminded" mean in a Christian context, and does it imply uniformity of opinion?

Answer: In the context of Romans 15:5, "likeminded" (Greek: phronéō) does not imply a rigid uniformity of opinion on every minor issue. Instead, it refers to a shared spiritual disposition, a common purpose, and a unity of heart and will, all centered on Christ. It means having the same fundamental attitude, priorities, and values as Christ, which then guides how believers relate to one another. Paul addresses this in Philippians 2:2, urging believers to be "of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." This unity is about shared devotion to Christ, mutual love, and a common commitment to the Gospel, allowing for diversity in non-essential practices while maintaining spiritual harmony.

How does God grant patience and consolation to believers for the purpose of unity?

Answer: God grants patience and consolation to believers primarily through the Holy Spirit and through His Word. As "the God of patience and consolation," He is the ultimate source of these qualities. The Holy Spirit indwells believers, empowering them with the fruit of the Spirit, which includes "patience" (longsuffering) and "peace" (Galatians 5:22-23). God's Word also provides comfort and instruction, equipping believers to endure and to encourage one another (Romans 15:4). Furthermore, God's own example of patience with humanity and His constant provision of comfort in trials serve as both a model and a source of strength for believers to extend these same qualities within their community, fostering the unity Paul prays for.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Romans 15:5 finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in Christ Jesus, who is not only the standard for unity but also the very means by which it is achieved. Paul's prayer for believers to be "likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" points directly to the incarnate Son of God as the paradigm for all Christian relationships. Christ perfectly embodied patience in His suffering and long-suffering with His disciples (Hebrews 12:2-3), and He is the ultimate source of consolation, having promised the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter" or "Helper" (John 14:16). His self-emptying love, as described in Philippians 2:5-8, provides the blueprint for the humility and servant-heartedness required for true unity. Furthermore, Christ Himself prayed for the unity of His followers, that they "may be one, just as we are one" (John 17:21), demonstrating that this likemindedness is integral to the divine purpose and the church's witness. Therefore, the unity Paul prays for is not merely an ethical ideal, but a spiritual reality made possible by Christ's atoning work, His indwelling Spirit, and His ongoing headship over His body, the Church (Ephesians 4:15-16).

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Commentary on Romans 15 verses 5–6

The apostle, having delivered two exhortations, before he proceeds to more, intermixes here a prayer for the success of what he had said. Faithful ministers water their preaching with their prayers, because, whoever sows the seed, it is God that gives the increase. We can but speak to the ear; it is God's prerogative to speak to the heart. Observe,

I. The title he gives to God: The God of patience and consolation, who is both the author and the foundation of all the patience and consolation of the saints, from whom it springs and on whom it is built. He gives the grace of patience; he confirms and keeps it up as the God of consolation; for the comforts of the Holy Ghost help to support believers, and to bear them up with courage and cheerfulness under all their afflictions. When he comes to beg the pouring out of the spirit of love and unity he addresses himself to God as the God of patience and consolation; that is, 1. As a God that bears with us and comforts us, is not extreme to mark what we do amiss, but is ready to comfort those that are cast down - to teach us so to testify our love to our brethren, and by these means to preserve and maintain unity, by being patient one with another and comfortable one to another. Or, 2. As a God that gives us patience and comfort. He had spoken (Rom 15:4) of patience and comfort of the scriptures; but here he looks up to God as the God of patience and consolation: it comes through the scripture as the conduit-pipe, but from God as the fountain-head. The more patience and comfort we receive from God, the better disposed we are to love one another. Nothing breaks the peace more than an impatient, and peevish, and fretful melancholy temper.

II. The mercy he begs of God: Grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus. 1. The foundation of Christian love and peace is laid in like-mindedness, a consent in judgment as far as you have attained, or at least a concord and agreement in affection. To auto phronein - to mind the same thing, all occasions of difference removed, and all quarrels laid aside. 2. This like-mindedness must be according to Christ Jesus, according to the precept of Christ, the royal law of love, according to the pattern and example of Christ, which he had propounded to them for their imitation, Rom 15:3. Or, "Let Christ Jesus be the centre of your unity. Agree in the truth, not in any error." It was a cursed concord and harmony of those who were of one mind to give their power and strength to the beast (Rev 17:13); this was not a like-mindedness according to Christ, but against Christ; like the Babel-builders, who were one in their rebellion, Gen 11:6. The method of our prayer must be first for truth, and then for peace; for such is the method of the wisdom that is from above: it is first pure, then peaceable. This is to be like-minded according to Christ Jesus. 3. Like-mindedness among Christians, according to Christ Jesus, is the gift of God; and a precious gift it is, for which we must earnestly seek unto him. He is the Father of spirits, and fashions the hearts of men alike (Psa 33:15), opens the understanding, softens the heart, sweetens the affections, and gives the grace of love, and the Spirit as a Spirit of love, to those that ask him. We are taught to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven - now there it is done unanimously, among the angels, who are one in their praises and services; and our desire must be that the saints on earth may be so too.

III. The end of his desire: that God may be glorified, Rom 15:6. This is his plea with God in prayer, and is likewise an argument with them to seek it. We should have the glory of God in our eye in every prayer; therefore our first petition, as the foundation of all the rest, must be, Hallowed be thy name. Like-mindedness among Christians is in order to our glorifying God, 1. With one mind and one mouth. It is desirable that Christians should agree in every thing, that so they may agree in this, to praise God together. It tends very much to the glory of God, who is one, and his name one, when it is so. It will not suffice that there be one mouth, but there must be one mind, for God looks at the heart; nay, there will hardly be one mouth where there is not one mind, and God will scarcely be glorified where there is not a sweet conjunction of both. One mouth in confessing the truths of God, in praising the name of God - one mouth in common converse, not jarring, biting, and devouring one another - one mouth in the solemn assembly, one speaking, but all joining. 2. As the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is his New Testament style. God must be glorified as he has now revealed himself in the face of Jesus Christ, according to the rules of the gospel, and with an eye to Christ, in whom he is our Father. The unity of Christians glorifies God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because it is a kind of counter-part or representation of the oneness that is between the Father and the Son. We are warranted so to speak of it, and, with that in our eye, to desire it, and pray for it, from Joh 17:21, That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee: a high expression of the honour and sweetness of the saints' unity. And it follows, The the world may believe that thou hast sent me; and so God may be glorified as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–6. Public domain.
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TertullianAD 220
On Modesty
For God is "jealous," and is One who is not contemptuously derided -derided, namely, by such as flatter His goodness-and who, albeit "patient," yet threatens, through Isaiah, an end of (His) patience.
Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
Here Paul is blessing the Romans in the manner of the patriarchs and prophets.… It is a great blessing that they should all understand and think alike. If you want to know just how great it is, look at what the Savior said in the Gospel: “If two or three of you agree, whatever they ask will be done for them by God.” …This unanimity must be “in accord with Christ Jesus,” for of course it is possible to conspire together for evil.
AmbrosiasterAD 384
COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES
As if he had been sent for their salvation, the apostle charges the people with a good wish, praying that God may grant them a common understanding of his wisdom according to Christ Jesus, so that they may be wise in the teaching of Christ. For then they will be able to please God by following the example of the Lord, who said: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends” and his brethren, and with one voice and one confession magnify God the Father in Christ.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Romans 27
For since he had given his own advice, and had also urged the example of Christ, he added the testimony of the Scriptures also, to show that with the Scripture Himself giveth patience also. And this is why he said, "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus." For this is what love would do, be minded toward another even as toward himself. Then to show again that it is not mere love that he requires, he adds, "according to Christ Jesus." And this he does, in all places, because there is also another sort of love. And what is the advantage of their agreeing?
PelagiusAD 418
PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS
The God of steadfastness is the Holy Spirit, who grants that with one mind, in accordance with Christ, we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. His steadfastness is meant to lead to repentance, and his encouragement is for those who have already repented.We are to live in harmony, so that each one may seek the salvation of the other as if it were his own, just as Christ saved everyone from death by his own death.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS
Paul adds “in accord with Christ Jesus” in order to show that he is not praying for them to live in unbounded harmony but rather in a godly consensus.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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