It is well known that the words "rejoice," "glory," and "joy," in these verses represent the same word in the original, and that the true rendering is to "boast." The beautiful connection in the Apostle's argument is, to say the least, disturbed by the needless change which our translators have made. Thus, after showing that "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," that through Him "also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand," the Apostle adds, "and rejoice [boast] in hope of the glory of God." We are not in it yet, but, having the sure and certain hope of its possession, we can boast of it as in prospect, But what of the persecutions and trials by the way? The answer is, "We glory [boast] in tribulations also," knowing that God takes them up and uses them for our needful discipline and blessing. Moreover, during this process, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." The proof as well as the measure of this love is seen in the death of Christ, and in the death of Christ for us as "without strength," "ungodly," "sinners," and "enemies." This leads the Apostle to show what God will yet do, on the ground of what He has already done. A legal person argues, that God's attitude depends upon what he is for God; but grace concludes, as in this scripture, what God will be and do, from what He has manifested Himself to be, and from what He has done, in the death of His beloved Son. Hence we read, "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." The close of the argument is now reached: "And not only so, but we also joy [boast] in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [reconciliation]." We "boast" thus in hope of the glory of God; we "boast" in the tribulations that beset us on our journey to this consummation of our hope; and, finally, we "boast" in God Himself, who is the blessed fount and source of all the blessing we have received, or shall receive, and who, in the display of all that He is as already revealed in Christ, will be the blessed Object of our "boast" throughout eternity.