Romans 15
15
1We who are strong in faith should help the weak with their weaknesses, and not please only ourselves. 2Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to help them be stronger in faith. 3Even Christ did not live to please himself. It was as the Scriptures said: “When people insult you, it hurts me.” 4Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope. 5May the patience and encouragement that come from God allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants. 6Then you will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God. 8I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true. 9And he also did this so that those who are not Jews could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures:
“So I will praise you among the non-Jewish people.
I will sing praises to your name.”#Psalm 18:49
10The Scripture also says,
“Be happy, you who are not Jews, together with his people.”#Deuteronomy 32:43
11Again the Scripture says,
“All you who are not Jews, praise the Lord.
All you people, sing praises to him.”#Psalm 117:1
12And Isaiah says,
“A new king will come from the family of Jesse.
He will come to rule over the non-Jewish people,
and they will have hope because of him.”#Isaiah 11:10
13I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul Talks About His Work
14My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other. 15But I have written to you very openly about some things I wanted you to remember. I did this because God gave me this special gift: 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to those who are not Jews. I served God by teaching his Good News, so that the non-Jewish people could be an offering that God would accept—an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17So I am proud of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus. 18I will not talk about anything except what Christ has done through me in leading those who are not Jews to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done, 19because of the power of miracles and the great things they saw, and because of the power of the Holy Spirit. I preached the Good News from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, and so I have finished that part of my work. 20I always want to preach the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ, because I do not want to build on the work someone else has already started. 21But it is written in the Scriptures:
“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard about him will understand.”#Isaiah 52:15
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22This is the reason I was stopped many times from coming to you. 23Now I have finished my work here. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you, 24I hope to visit you on my way to Spain. After I enjoy being with you for a while, I hope you can help me on my trip. 25Now I am going to Jerusalem to help God’s people. 26The believers in Macedonia and Southern Greece were happy to give their money to help the poor among God’s people at Jerusalem. 27They were happy to do this, and really they owe it to them. These who are not Jews have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, so they should use their material possessions to help the Jews. 28After I am sure the poor in Jerusalem get the money that has been given for them, I will leave for Spain and stop and visit you. 29I know that when I come to you I will bring Christ’s full blessing.
30Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us. 31Pray that I will be saved from the nonbelievers in Judea and that this help I bring to Jerusalem will please God’s people there. 32Then, if God wants me to, I will come to you with joy, and together you and I will have a time of rest. 33The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.
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Romans 15: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Romans 15
15
Please Others, Not Yourselves
1We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. 3For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel for Jews and Gentiles Alike
7Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will confess#15.9 Or thank you among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to your name”;
10and again he says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;
11and again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him”;
12and again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul's Reason for Writing So Boldly
14I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters,#15.14 Gk brothers that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished#15.18 Gk speak of those things that Christ has not accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God,#15.19 Other ancient authorities read of the Spirit or of the Holy Spirit so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news#15.19 Or gospel of Christ. 20Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news,#15.20 Or gospel not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else's foundation, 21but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”
Paul's Plan to Visit Rome
22This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you 24when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. 25At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; 26for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things. 28So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected,#15.28 Gk have sealed to them this fruit I will set out by way of you to Spain; 29and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing#15.29 Other ancient authorities add of the gospel of Christ.
30I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,#15.30 Gk brothers by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, 31that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry#15.31 Other ancient authorities read my bringing of a gift to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33The God of peace be with all of you.#15.33 One ancient authority adds 16.25-27 here Amen.
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.