Romans 5:4

4 fortitude, ripeness of character; and ripeness of character, hope;

Romans 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 5:4

And patience experience
As tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience, so patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his power in supporting them; and of their own frailty and weakness; and so are taught humility, thankfulness, and resignation to the will of God:

and experience, hope;
hope is a gift of God's grace, and is implanted in regeneration, but abounds, increases, and becomes more strong and lively by experience of the love, grace, mercy, power, and faithfulness of God.

Romans 5:4 In-Context

2 through whom also, as the result of faith, we have obtained an introduction into that state of favour with God in which we stand, and we exult in hope of some day sharing in God's glory.

3 And not only so: we also exult in our sufferings, knowing as we do, that suffering produces fortitude;

4 fortitude, ripeness of character; and ripeness of character, hope;

5 and that this hope never disappoints, because God's love for us floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For already, while we were still helpless, Christ at the right moment died for the ungodly.