In this passage, Paul writes about glorying in their sufferings, “because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
When Paul writes of suffering in this passage, he is not writing about life’s difficulties. He is talking about suffering because of being a follower of Jesus. Suffering for the faith produces Christian character.
A few years before, during the reign of Claudius as Emperor, many of the Jews and Jewish Christians had been tossed out of Rome. When Claudius died, they were able to return if they wanted. The whims of an Emperor could result in suffering because of who you were. Paul writes during the first years of Nero’s reign as Emperor. At this point, Nero has been OK as an emperor. Yet, in just a few years that will change and Christians will suffer at his hand.
Paul writes about the suffering for the sake of Christian faith to help the Roman Christians stand strong and faithful. Their Christian character will be strengthened and developed through suffering. They are to rest and trust in God to see them through the difficult days that will come in the years ahead…Paul has already lived through many of those kinds of days!
I can’t say that I have ever suffered for Christ, for his sake…have you? If you have, take heart and find strength in Paul’s words.
