Romans 1:12

Romans 1:12 [AV]
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

ANNOTATED NOTES:

comforted together = sumparakaleo: comforted, strengthened, helped, encouraged together at the same time; only occurrence in NT; Paul will strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage them, and they will strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage Paul - all for one and one for all

mutual = allelon: one another, reciprocal, mutual; this word occurs 100x in the Greek NT, and in the AV it is translated “one another” 76x

faith = pistis: believing, faith

mutual faith: literally “in one another believing”; God wants us to not just believe the gospel, which is requisite - He wants us to believe together in that gospel, and believe in one another according to that gospel, where we stand firmly together on the Word of God, sharing with one another and being comforted together, with all walking in harmony as one. It’s a “one another” walk of believing in Romans: 12:10 “be kindly affectionate one to another”; 13:8 “love one another”; 14:13 “let us not judge one another”; 15:7 “receive one another, just as Christ also received us”, 15:14 “admonish one another”, 16:16 “salute one another” (also see Eph 4:2, 32; Col 3:13, 16; I Thes 4:9, 18; 5:11)

both of you and me: There is an inherent humility within this phrase befitting a doulos, with no implication of Paul being the strong one and them being the weak ones. The repetitive reference to both parties in this verse makes it clear that Paul was needful of help, strength, comfort, and encouragement through “in one another believing” just like every other believer. A leader of men must lead, but it’s done by serving with humility, absent of condescension or self-exaltation (see Deut 17:18-20; Acts 20:19; 1 Thes 2:6; 1 Pet 5:5)

ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:

Romans 1:12 [ASV]
that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Romans 1:12 (GNB)
What I mean is that both you and I will be helped at the same time, you by my faith and I by yours.

.