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

The reference to “hope” in verse 12 leads to a prayer of hope (v. 13). In verse 13, Paul injected a prayer of benediction. There are two more benedictions to Romans (15:33; 16:20) and a doxology (16:25-27).

This verse brings to a close the major body of the epistle. From this point forward, Paul dealt with personal matters between him and the Romans.

¹³ Now

The word “now” indicates a transition from an exhortation section to a prayer.

may the God of hope

Paul had just made the point that the Gentiles will “hope” in the Messiah (15:12). This verse links God as both the cause and the object of hope.

Paul here called upon the God of hope to bless the Romans. Without Him we are “without hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:12). When we introduce what Christ has done, then God reverses hopelessness.

PRINCIPLE:

No Christian should carry despondent attitudes about the future.

APPLICATION:

God Himself gives us hope whereby we may enjoy His blessings of the future in time. He generates hope in us. He is also the object of hope.

“Hope” in the Bible is not always referring to the future. The fundamental idea is that it is something certain, fixed, and unmovable. It is not something frivolous or a wish about the future, but is absolute reality. Biblical hope carries an expectation and prospect. Our future is as bright as the promises of God. God bound Himself by an oath to keep His promises.

He 6:19, This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

There is no ultimate place for dejection or discouragement for the Christian. Hope always rests in his soul because the things of this life are not forever.