Romans 15:13 – Abounding in Hope

CMB_5627The benediction from this mornings Morning Prayer ends with this passage, “May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NRSV: 13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I am not sure why the BCP version deleted this clause, but εἰς τὸ περισσεύειν ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐλπίδι is there in the GNT, “so that you may abound in hope.” I think this is my new watchword, my mantra to recite. I never commit anything to memory, but I think this is one.

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So what is the relationship here? Believing brings us joy and peace. That allows us to “abound in hope” and all by the power of the Holy Spirit. That seems about right. There remains for us then the step of believing, trusting that what we have received is true. Can I set aside my critical, academic faculties to simply have faith, to believe? This allows us to abound in hope with joy and peace. It brings me back to Brunner, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.”

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