This Too Shall Pass: Uncovering The Biblical Truth Behind The Famous Phrase

Have you ever found yourself repeating the comforting words "this too shall pass" during a season of intense struggle, only to wonder if it actually appears in the Bible? This timeless adage is one of the most frequently quoted phrases in times of hardship, yet its origins are shrouded in mystery and misconception for many believers. While it perfectly captures a profound spiritual truth about the transient nature of earthly suffering, the exact wording is a modern distillation of a much older biblical principle. This article will journey beyond the popular quote to explore its authentic scriptural roots, unpack its intended meaning, and reveal how this concept—when properly understood—can transform our perspective on pain, loss, and perseverance. We'll examine the actual Bible passage that inspired it, discuss the dangers of misapplication, and discover how to hold both hope and realism in the midst of life's storms.

The Great Misattribution: Where "This Too Shall Pass" Really Comes From

For countless people, the phrase "this too shall pass" feels inherently biblical. It’s etched on sympathy cards, shared in sermon illustrations, and whispered as a mantra during personal crises. However, a critical fact often gets overlooked: the exact phrase "this too shall pass" does not appear in any standard English translation of the Bible. This statement consistently surprises audiences, yet it is unequivocally true. The sentiment is powerfully biblical, but the specific, pithy formulation is a later creation that has been retrofitted onto Scripture.

So, where did the phrase originate? Historians trace its popularization to a 19th-century context, often linked to a story about King Solomon seeking a wise saying to ring true in all circumstances. Some attribute its modern spread to secular writers and poets in the 1800s and 1900s who appreciated its universal wisdom. Its beauty lies in its simplicity and its resonance with a fundamental human experience: the intense feeling of a present moment being eternal, whether that moment is joyful or painful. The phrase became a cultural meme long before the internet, passed down through oral tradition and literature. Its misattribution to the Bible speaks to a deep human desire for divine endorsement of hope. We instinctively feel that such a comforting truth must be rooted in sacred text, and in our collective memory, it has become so.

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This misattribution, while well-intentioned, creates a theological vulnerability. If we build our hope on a quote we think is biblical but isn't, a skeptic can easily dismantle our comfort by pointing out the error. Therefore, grounding our hope in the actual Scripture from which the sentiment flows is not just an academic exercise; it's a defense for our faith and a foundation for resilient hope. The real biblical source provides not just a platitude, but a rich theological context that deepens its meaning and strengthens its application.

The Actual Biblical Source: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

The true biblical wellspring for the "this too shall pass" mindset is found in the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, specifically 1 Corinthians 7:29-31. This passage is part of a larger discussion on marriage, celibacy, and the proper Christian response to the present age. Let's read it in a clear translation, such as the New International Version:

"What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of this world, as if they were not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."

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Here lies the raw, unpolished essence of the famous saying. Paul doesn't use the gentle, poetic "this too shall pass." Instead, he delivers a urgent, almost stark, theological declaration: "the time is short" and "this world in its present form is passing away." His language is deliberate and radical. He instructs believers to engage with life's realities—relationships, grief, joy, possessions—with a unique detachment, not because these things are unimportant, but because they are temporary. The Greek term for "passing away" (παράγεται, paragétai) conveys the idea of something moving quickly past, like a fleeting shadow or a rushing stream.

Paul is not advocating for a life of asceticism or emotional numbness. He is calling for a profound reorientation of the heart. The "things of this world"—our marital status, our emotional highs and lows, our material acquisitions—are all part of a temporal order that is inevitably fading. This isn't a call to abandon them, but to hold them with an open hand. Our ultimate citizenship, our permanent inheritance, lies elsewhere. This passage is the engine of the "this too shall pass" sentiment, providing the "why" behind the "what." It anchors our hope not in the vague idea of time passing, but in the specific, eschatological (end-times) promise of Christ's return and the renewal of all things.

Paul's Urgent Purpose: Focusing on Eternal Matters

Understanding why Paul wrote these words is crucial to applying them correctly. He was writing to a church in a bustling, morally chaotic port city. The Corinthians were grappling with persecution, social pressure, and theological confusion. Some were using their newfound freedom in Christ to indulge in excess, while others were paralyzed by anxiety about the future. Paul’s directive about the "time being short" was a pastoral strategy to refocus their priorities.

He wanted them to live with a sense of already/not yet. The Kingdom of God had broken into history through Jesus, but it had not yet been fully consummated. Therefore, the present age, with all its systems, powers, and pressures, was on borrowed time. If the world's structures are passing, then our ultimate allegiance cannot be to them. This means:

• A married person should love their spouse deeply, but not make the marital relationship their ultimate source of identity or security, which can lead to idolatry or despair if the marriage struggles.
• Those who mourn should grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13), recognizing that present sorrow is not the final chapter.
• Those who rejoice should celebrate fully, but without the anxious clinging that comes from believing this joy is the only source of meaning.
• Buyers and owners should enjoy God's gifts responsibly, but without the possessive anxiety that treats possessions as eternal.

The practical effect is a life of engaged detachment. We participate fully in life—loving, mourning, rejoicing, working—but we do so with a spiritual posture that acknowledges the impermanence of the current order. This frees us from the tyranny of the present moment. A devastating job loss is not the end of your story because the "present form" of your career is passing. A deep betrayal is not the final definition of your relationships because the current broken system is passing. Paul’s logic is liberating: if the container (the present age) is fragile, then what we store up in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21) is what truly lasts.

From Sacred Text to Secular Saying: The Phrase's Popular Journey

The gap between Paul's theological treatise and the popular, standalone phrase "this too shall pass" is a fascinating study in how wisdom enters the cultural bloodstream. The sentiment, as we've seen, is biblical, but the packaging is largely secular. Its journey can be mapped through several key channels:

1. Literary Adoption: Writers and poets in the 18th and 19th centuries, many drawing on classical and biblical allusions, embraced the theme of transience. It became a staple in Romantic and Victorian literature, often expressed in more elegant prose than Paul's directness.
2. Wisdom Tradition: The idea that all earthly states are temporary is a cornerstone of many ancient philosophies, from Stoicism to Buddhism. The phrase acts as a universal bridge, making a profound spiritual concept accessible regardless of one's specific religious affiliation.
3. Modern Media: The 20th and 21st centuries cemented the phrase in the global consciousness. It appeared in films, television shows, self-help books, and motivational posters. Its use in contexts ranging from addiction recovery to business setbacks stripped away some of its specific Christian eschatology, broadening its appeal but also diluting its original source.
4. The Internet Age: Social media and quote-sharing platforms accelerated its spread exponentially. It became a go-to response for someone sharing bad news, often detached from any deeper theological reflection.

This secularization has a double-edged effect. On one hand, it allows a truth of God to penetrate spaces where the Bible itself might be rejected. A non-religious person can find genuine solace in the idea that their pain is not permanent. On the other hand, when the phrase is severed from its biblical root, it risks becoming a hollow, humanistic optimism. Without the anchor of God's eternal purpose and the hope of resurrection, "this too shall pass" can devolve into a mere observation that time moves on, offering no real comfort for why it passes or what comes next. It can also lead to the toxic positivity of simply "getting over it" without processing pain.

A Double-Edged Sword: Comfort and the Danger of Dismissal

The phrase "this too shall pass" is a powerful tool for comfort, but in the hands of well-meaning friends, it can become a weapon of dismissal. This is where a robust, biblical understanding is essential. The true biblical perspective, as seen in Paul and the wider counsel of Scripture, offers comfort without minimizing suffering.

How it provides comfort:

• It validates the reality of pain. The Bible never says, "Don't feel that." It acknowledges suffering is profound and present (John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble").
• It provides a timeline. The "shortness of time" (1 Cor 7:29) gives a boundary to our suffering. It is not an infinite, expanding horror. It has a limit within the grand narrative of God's plan.
• It points to a purpose. Our present troubles are "achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17). The passing is not random; it is within God's sovereign, loving orchestration.
• It connects us to Christ. We share in his sufferings, knowing we will also share in his glory (Romans 8:17). Our temporary affliction is a participation in his temporary earthly state.

How it can cause harm if misapplied:

• It can truncate lament. The Bible has an entire book (Lamentations) and countless psalms of raw complaint. Telling someone "this too shall pass" too quickly can shut down their God-given need to pour out their heart in honest grief.
• It can imply the problem is trivial. If "it" passes so easily, why are you so upset? This minimizes the person's experience and can feel like a rebuke.
• It can foster passive resignation. The biblical call is to engage with the world as if it's not our ultimate home, not to disengage. We are to be agents of healing and justice within the temporary order, not just wait for it to vanish.
• It can ignore systemic injustice. For those trapped in prolonged oppression or poverty, "this too shall pass" can sound like a cruel joke if not coupled with the biblical call to act for justice now. The "passing away" of the present form includes the passing away of unjust systems, which we are called to help usher in through our actions.

The key is balance: hope that is honest about horror, and action that is motivated by eternity. We acknowledge the deep, long-lasting pain while simultaneously holding the unshakeable truth of its temporary nature. We weep with those who weep, but not as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Beyond the Bible: A Universal Human Insight

The core insight of "this too shall pass"—the transient nature of all conditioned states—is not exclusively Christian. Its resonance across cultures and millennia points to a universal human intuition about the flux of existence. Exploring these parallels doesn't diminish the biblical truth; it highlights its wisdom and can open doors for meaningful dialogue.

• Stoicism: Philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca constantly reminded themselves and their readers that both joy and sorrow are fleeting. "This too is a human experience," they would say. The Stoic practice was to maintain inner equanimity (apatheia) by remembering the temporary nature of external events. The biblical view shares the recognition of transience but differs in its source of hope: not in self-sufficient reason, but in God's faithful character and future promise.
• Buddhism: The First Noble Truth states that life is dukkha (unsatisfactory, stressful, suffering). A core teaching is anicca, the impermanence of all phenomena. Attachment to what is impermanent is the root of suffering. The biblical perspective agrees on impermanence but differs on the solution: not the extinguishing of desire (Nirvana), but the redirecting of desire toward the eternal God.
• Folklore & Proverbs: The phrase appears in various forms across world cultures—from Persian poetry to Native American wisdom traditions. This commonality suggests that the observation of life's cyclical changes is an empirical insight as much as a spiritual one. Seasons change, fortunes rise and fall, emotions ebb and flow.

For the Christian, these parallels should encourage humility and provide common ground. We can affirm the observable truth of impermanence while pointing to the unique, historical, and personal hope found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our hope is not in an abstract principle of change, but in a personal God who has acted in history to defeat death and guarantee a future where "the former things will not be remembered" (Isaiah 65:17).

Practical Application: Living in the Tension of "Already" and "Not Yet"

How do we move from understanding this doctrine to living in its freedom? It requires a daily, conscious practice of eternal perspective-taking. This is not about denying reality, but about interpreting reality through a different lens.

1. For Personal Suffering:

• Name the Pain: Start by fully acknowledging what you are feeling. "I am devastated. This feels endless." Bring it to God in prayer with raw honesty, as the Psalmists did.
• Speak the Truth: Counter the feeling of permanence with the fact of temporality. "This situation is part of the present form that is passing away. My feelings are real, but they are not the final truth about my story."
• Anchor in Eternity: Actively recall God's eternal nature and promises. Meditate on verses like 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Visualize the "eternal weight of glory" beyond the "light and momentary troubles."
• Take One Step: Use the temporary nature of your current capacity to act. If you're overwhelmed, just do the next small, faithful thing. Your strength for this season is temporary; use what you have.

2. For Anxiety About the Future:

• Limit the "What Ifs": Anxiety often lives in the hypothetical future. Remind yourself that the future, as you imagine it, is also part of the "present form" that is passing. You are not living in that future; you are living in the present, with God's presence.
• Practice Contentment: Paul links this mindset to contentment (Philippians 4:11-13). Recognize that your current provisions—food, shelter, relationships—are gifts for this temporary journey. They are sufficient for today because today is all you truly have.
• Focus on the Unchanging: Shift your meditation from changing circumstances to the unchanging character of God. His love, faithfulness, and goodness are not passing away. Anchor your soul to these.

3. For Enjoying Present Blessings:

• Celebrate Without Clinging: Fully enjoy your health, your family, your success. But hold these blessings with gratitude and open hands. Say, "This is a wonderful gift for this season, and I receive it with joy, knowing it is a temporary manifestation of God's grace."
• Invest Eternally: Use your temporary resources—time, money, energy—to invest in what lasts. This transforms enjoyment into worship. A joyful moment becomes an act of worship when it reminds you of the Giver and points you to the eternal joy to come.
• Document the Journey: Keep a journal or a gratitude list that specifically connects present blessings to their eternal significance. "Today I enjoyed a beautiful sunset—a temporary glimpse of the eternal beauty of the Creator."

Addressing Common Questions and Misunderstandings

Q: If everything is passing, why should I try to change anything or fight injustice?
A: This is the most critical application error. Paul's teaching is not a call to passive resignation. The "present form" includes systems of oppression, corruption, and sin that are already passing away in Christ's victory. Our labor for justice, mercy, and truth is the way we participate in God's kingdom breaking into the present. We work as if these things are not our ultimate focus, meaning we do not place our identity or hope in the success of our efforts, but we engage with all our strength because we serve an eternal King whose justice will ultimately prevail. Our action flows from worship, not from desperation to save the world ourselves.

Q: Does this mean my grief or my joy isn't real?
A: Absolutely not. Paul says, "those who mourn, as if they did not." He doesn't say, "Don't mourn." He assumes they are mourning. The "as if" is about the ultimate reference point of their mourning. They mourn with the full weight of human emotion, but their hope is not anchored in the permanence of their loss. Their mourning is real, but it is not the final reality. Similarly, joy is real, but it is not dependent on the permanence of the joyful circumstance.

Q: How long is "short" in "the time is short"?
A: Paul is speaking from the perspective of the inaugurated Kingdom. From God's viewpoint of eternity, the entire church age—the period between Christ's first and second comings—is a "short" period. This isn't a prediction about the year of Christ's return, but a theological statement about the character of the current age. It is temporary, bounded, and moving toward a conclusion. This should give us urgency in mission and patience in suffering.

Q: Can this teaching be used to comfort someone with a chronic illness or lifelong disability?
A: With extreme care. The promise is that the present form of this world is passing away. This includes the current form of our bodies, which are subject to decay and disease. The biblical hope is the resurrection of a glorified, perfected body (1 Corinthians 15). For someone with a chronic condition, the comfort is not that their specific pain will magically end before death, but that their entire embodied existence in this fallen, temporary order is passing. Their identity is not defined by their disability or their pain. Their hope is in a future where "he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). The "passing away" is cosmic and final, not merely a change in circumstance.

Conclusion: The Unshakable Hope of the Passing World

The journey from the popular, misattributed phrase "this too shall pass" to the gritty, glorious truth of 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 reveals a hope that is far more substantial than a simple platitude. It is a hope built on the solid rock of God's eternal plan. The present age, with all its pain, pressure, and fleeting pleasures, is indeed passing away. This is not a reason for despair, but the very foundation of courageous living.

When we internalize this biblical perspective, we are freed from the tyranny of the temporary. We can face loss without it defining us, endure hardship without it defeating us, and enjoy blessings without clinging to them desperately. We are pilgrims with a destination, soldiers with a secured victory, and artists creating temporary beauty that points to an eternal Artist. The next time you hear or are tempted to say "this too shall pass," remember its true source. Remember Paul's urgent whisper to a struggling church: The time is short. This world in its present form is passing away. Therefore, live—fully, faithfully, and freely—in the light of what does not pass away: the love of God, the work of Christ, and the eternal weight of glory that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us.

Hold your circumstances, your emotions, and your possessions with a holy looseness. Engage with the world with passion, but with a perspective that sees beyond the horizon. This, too, is passing. And because it is, we can live with a courage, compassion, and conviction that the world cannot understand.