For as many things as have been written before have been written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
Paul has just quoted from the older Scriptures, and he stops to explain why he may use them at all. His answer tells every Christian what God meant those older words to do in us.
Why the Statement Appears Here
The verse is not a stray remark about Bible study. It defends the quotation Paul has just made.
Paul's use of this passage gives him occasion to justify it by a principle of the greatest importance: what was written before was written for our instruction. It was written so that, as we walk in patience and perhaps in reproach here, the comfort of the Scripture may be ours. It was written so that we may know God's mind was in it, and that our reproach is His reproach, because in serving Him we had our part with Him. And so we have hope and bright confidence of soul in any and every trial in the whole path of faith.
Our Title to the Old Testament
One short sentence hands every believer a legal claim on the whole of the older Scriptures.
By one short sentence the "ready writer" has given all saints an immediate personal interest in all the old Scriptures: "Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction." This one sentence writes our title to this most precious inheritance. The old Scriptures are God's gift, and this word from Romans 15 is the deed of gift, entitling all saints to a common property in it. The title is short and clear and simple, as the inheritance conveyed is invaluable.
Learning That Is Not Academic
Which writings does Paul mean, and who are they for?
The reference here is to the Old Testament Scriptures, for there we find the things written "in former days." They had their bearing, of course, on the generations that first received them. But God also had us in view when He gave them by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They are for our learning, but that learning is not to be academic — the mere gaining of right information — but very practical… What we can say of the Old Testament Scriptures we can say with even more force of the New Testament.
Endurance and Encouragement
One word is missing from some older editions of this verse. Restoring it, and reading "comfort" as encouragement, sharpens the sense.
The addition of a single word, left out in the received text and so in the Authorised Version, makes this Scripture much clearer. It should read, "that we through patience [endurance] and through comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." It helps further to take "comfort" to mean, as it often does, "encouragement": "through [the] encouragement of the Scriptures." That is the encouragement God ministers by His word to His tried and faithful servants. Then comes "might have hope" — hope in the final outcome of present trials, even in the glory of God Himself.
Endurance is what we lack by nature. We learn it by watching how God works.
How impatient and unenduring we are by nature!… The same spirit shows itself all too often in true saints of God. They want to reach what is right and scriptural, yet they chase it in their own energy, without giving God time to act and bring it about in the power of His Spirit… Now if we learn as we should from the "things written in former days" we shall see how God reaches His end with infinite patience, and often through what looks like defeat. He is "the God of patience," as the next verse of Romans 15 says. It will produce patience in us.
Comfort in a World of Fear
The Psalms tie the same comfort to God's word, and that comfort meets a fearful world.
In Psalm 119 some 174 verses refer to the word of God. In verse 50 the psalmist uses the usual word for comfort: "This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life."… Our world is full of confusion and uncertainty, and men's hearts are failing them for fear. How thankful we are that we can turn to the Holy Scriptures! What comfort and encouragement is ours! In them we see the mind of the blessed God revealed, and the outpourings, too, of His eternal heart of love.
A Caution in Reading
How we read decides whether we find comfort or foolish notions.
To learn from the Old Testament Scriptures in this way, we do not need to hunt for fanciful parallels, curious theories, or far-fetched illustrations. Many, sadly, have tried these things. Instead of finding "comfort" in the Scriptures, they were led away into empty and foolish notions, if not into deadly errors.
Summary
- Occasion — Paul defends his quotation by one great principle: those older words were written to instruct us. In serving Christ we share His part, so our reproach is His reproach.
- Deed — One sentence gives every believer a title deed to the older Scriptures. The claim is short and clear; the inheritance is priceless.
- Purpose — The learning is not academic. God means it to produce endurance, encouragement and lasting hope.
- Method — Hunt for fanciful parallels and far-fetched illustrations, and you find no comfort, only empty notions.
- Outcome — Watch how God reaches His end with infinite patience, and endurance grows. His encouragement through His word gives hope in the outcome of present trials.