5:3a

Not only that, but: The Greek is literally “and not only but also.” Here it indicates that Paul wanted to talk about more things that believers rejoice in. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

More than that, but (English Standard Version)
-or-
Not only so, but…also (New International Version)
-or-
And it is not only that that we are happy-about but rather…also

we also rejoice in our sufferings: This is the second thing that believers rejoice/boast in. We can rejoice/boast even when we suffer because we know the results will be good (5:3b–5:4b).

rejoice: The Greek word here is literally “boast,” as in 5:2c. Translate it in the same way here.

in our sufferings: Here the Greek is more literally “in the sufferings.” In the NT the word sufferings usually refers to the hardships and troubles people experience because they are believers in Jesus. So many English versions add the word our here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in our troubles
-or-
in our tribulations (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
when we are suffering (God’s Word)

5:3b

because we know that suffering produces perseverance: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because we know implies that 5:3b–4b are reasons for rejoicing/boasting in our sufferings.

produces: The word produces means “to cause.” For example:

creates (God’s Word)
-or-
develops (New Jerusalem Bible)

perseverance: This word means “patiently continuing in something.” When troubles come, believers continue to believe in Jesus. They do not give up. Here are other ways to translate this word:

endurance (English Standard Version)
-or-
patience (New Century Version)

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.