Romans 5:3 (YLT)

Passage

And not only <FI>so<Fi> , but we also boast in the tribulations, knowing that the tribulation doth work endurance;

Nearby Context

Romans 5:1 Having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:2 through whom also we have the access by the faith into this grace in which we have stood, and we boast on the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:3 And not only <FI>so<Fi> , but we also boast in the tribulations, knowing that the tribulation doth work endurance;

Romans 5:4 and the endurance, experience; and the experience, hope;

Romans 5:5 and the hope doth not make ashamed, because the love of God hath been poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that hath been given to us.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "only", "boast", "tribulations", "knowing", "doth", and "endurance". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "only" and "boast", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "through whom also we have the access..." into verse 4's "and the endurance experience and the experience...", so "only" and "boast" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "only" and "boast" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.