Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
This is a significant hermeneutical statement that I think I’ve overlooked before. Here is a divinely inspired apostle writing to us the mind and heart of God, and while writing under this inspiration he tells us that all of scripture is intended to do at least one thing. Now, there are many points, many purposes, many goals of God in written revelation, but one of them—in every text—is what Paul tells us here; namely, that the disciples of Jesus Christ might have hope.
Every passage in what we would call the Old Testament was inspired by God with this goal in mind—so that those who are trusting in the slain and risen Lord might have hope. That is awesome to consider. Now, why do I qualify this statement as “those who are trusting in the slain and risen Lord”? Simply because that is the category of people entailed in the “we” of verse 4. Yes, all of scripture—because if it is God’s purpose in the OT, certainly it does not cease to be so in the NT—all of scripture is intended to kindle and to fuel the HOPE of those who have received the crucified and risen Messiah as their Lord and their God.
Here, then, is a hermeneutical lens that Paul calls us to use as we read scripture…..how does this passage give me hope in Christ? How does this passage encourage me to endure with heart and mind set on the Son of God? How does this passage dispel the vapors of doubt and fear and despair and let in the bright shafts of unshaken and blood-bought hope? We have confidence that every passage will yield this fruit because “whatever was written in former times was written for our instruction so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”
