Romans 15
15
1We who are strong in faith should help those who are weak. We should help them with their weaknesses, and not please only ourselves. 2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to help him 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.”# Quotation from Psalm 69:9. 4Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us. 5Patience and encouragement come from God. And I pray that God will help you all agree 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. This will bring glory to God. 8I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews. This was to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true. 9And he also did this so that the non-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,
11Again the Scripture says,
“All you non-Jews, praise the Lord.
All you people, sing praises to him.” Psalm 117:1
12And Isaiah says,
“A new king will come from Jesse’s family.# Jesse was the father of David, king of Israel. Jesus was from their family.
He will come to rule over the non-Jews;
and the non-Jews 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, 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 that I wanted you to remember. I did this because God gave me this special gift: 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the non-Jewish people. 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 I did myself. I will talk only about what Christ has done through me in leading the non-Jewish people to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done. 19And they have obeyed God because of the power of miracles and the great things they saw, and 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. I do this because I do not want to build on the work that 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
22That is why many times I was stopped 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. I will enjoy being with you, and 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 non-Jews have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings. So they should use their material possessions to help the Jews. 28I must be sure that the poor in Jerusalem get the money that has been given for them. After I do this, 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, I beg you to help me in my work by praying for me to God. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us. 31Pray that I will be saved from the non-believers in Judea. And pray that this help I bring to Jerusalem will please God’s people there. 32Then, if God wants me to, I will come to you. I will come 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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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Romans 15
15
Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves
1Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength,#Rm 14:1; Gl 6:2; 1Th 5:14 and not to please ourselves. 2Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.#1Co 9:22; 10:24,33; 2Co 13:9 3For even Christ did not please himself.#2Co 8:9 On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.#15:3Ps 69:9#Ps 69:9 4For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction,#Rm 4:23; 2Tm 3:16 so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5Now may the God who gives#15:5 Lit God of endurance and encouragement#2Co 1:3 grant you to live in harmony with one another,#Rm 12:16 according to Christ Jesus, 6so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ#Rv 1:6 with one mind and one voice.
Glorifying God Together
7Therefore welcome one another,#Rm 14:1 just as#15:7 Or because Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. 8For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised#15:8 The Jews on behalf of God’s truth,#Mt 15:24; Ac 3:26 to confirm the promises to the fathers,#Rm 4:16; 2Co 1:20 9and so that Gentiles#Rm 3:29; 11:30 may glorify God for his mercy.#Mt 9:8 As it is written,
Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and I will sing praise to your name. # 15:9 2Sm 22:50; Ps 18:49 #
2Sm 22:50; Ps 18:49
10Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people!#15:10Dt 32:43#Dt 32:43 11And again,
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples praise him! # 15:11 Ps 117:1 #
Ps 117:1
12And again, Isaiah says,
The root of Jesse #
Rv 5:5; 22:16 will appear,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
the Gentiles will hope in him. # 15:12 Is 11:10 #
Is 11:10; Mt 12:21
13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe#Rm 14:17 so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.#1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5
From Jerusalem to Illyricum
14My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness,#Eph 5:9; 2Th 1:11 filled with all knowledge,#1Co 1:5; 8:1,7,10; 12:8; 13:2 and able to instruct one another. 15Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points#15:15 Other mss add brothers because of the grace given me by God#Rm 12:3 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles,#Ac 9:15; Rm 11:13 serving as a priest of the gospel of God.#Rm 1:1 God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering,#Rm 12:1; Eph 5:2; Php 2:17 sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus#Php 3:3 regarding what pertains to God.#Heb 2:17; 5:1 18For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me#Ac 15:12; 21:19; Rm 1:5; 2Co 3:5 by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19by the power of miraculous signs and wonders,#Jn 4:48 and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem#Ac 22:17–21 all the way around to Illyricum.#15:19 A Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea#Ac 20:1 20My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named,#Rm 1:15; 10:15 so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,#1Co 3:10; 2Co 10:15–16 21but, as it is written,
Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand. # 15:21 Is 52:15 #
Is 52:15
Paul’s Travel Plans
22That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.#Rm 1:13; 1Th 2:18 23But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions,#15:23 Lit now, having no longer a place in these parts and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you#Ac 19:21; Rm 1:10 24whenever I travel to Spain.#15:24 Other mss add I will come to you. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there,#Ac 15:3 once I have first enjoyed your company#Rm 1:12 for a while. 25Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem#Ac 19:21 to serve the saints,#Ac 24:17 26because Macedonia#Ac 16:9; 1Co 16:5; 2Co 1:16; 2:13; 7:5; 8:1; 9:2,4; 11:9; Php 4:15; 1Th 1:7; 4:10; 1Tm 1:3 and Achaia#Ac 18:12; 19:21 were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits,#1Co 9:11 then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs. 28So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds#15:28 Lit delivered this fruit to them,#15:28 Or and placed my seal of approval on this fruit for them#Jn 3:33 I will visit you on the way to Spain. 29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing#15:29 Other mss add of the gospel of Christ.
30Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit,#Gl 5:22; Col 1:8 to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.#2Co 1:11; Col 4:12 31Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea,#2Co 1:10; 2Th 3:2; 2Tm 3:11; 4:17 that my ministry to#15:31 Lit that my service for Jerusalem#2Co 8:4; 9:1 may be acceptable to the saints,#Ac 9:13; Rm 15:15 32and that, by God’s will,#Ac 18:21; Rm 1:10 I may come to you with joy#Rm 15:23 and be refreshed together with you.
33May the God of peace be with all of you.#Rm 16:20; 2Co 13:11; Php 4:9; 1Th 5:23; 2Th 3:16; Heb 13:20 Amen.
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