Romans 1:12 Explained

"That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." — Romans 1:12 (KJV)

Paul corrects himself mid-sentence: he had said he wanted to strengthen them, and stops to add that he needs it too.

Read it in context: The Book of Romans. Also gathered under verses about encouragement.

Romans 1:12 in context

What does Romans 1:12 mean?

'Mutual' is the load-bearing word. The apostle writing the most systematic letter in the New Testament expects to be encouraged by people he has not met, on the strength of a faith they hold in common. It rules out the model where the strong give and the weak receive; the verse says the traffic runs both ways or it is not this thing at all.

What is the context of Romans 1:12?

The opening of Romans, to a church Paul has never met. In verse 11 he says he longs to visit in order to give them something. Verse 12 is an immediate qualification — the Greek reads like a man catching himself sounding one-directional.

How do I pray Romans 1:12?

Pray it before meeting someone you assume you are there to help. Ask to receive something from them, and mean it. If you are the one currently at the bottom, pray it the other way: your faith is not merely being topped up by stronger people, it is also feeding them, and Paul says so.

Carry this verse with you

Save Romans 1:12 and a daily verse to your lock screen with Quiethaven. Read the whole Bible in the Bible app, pair it with a prayer timer, and turn Scripture into a daily habit.

Keep Romans 1:12 close — free on iPhone.

Download on the App Store

More verses explained

From the blog