Romans 15
15
Self-denial on Behalf of Others
1Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves. 2Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his #15:2 I.e. all those with whom we have contact.neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually. 3For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written [in Scripture], “The reproaches of those who reproached You (the Father) fell on Me (the Son).” [Ps 69:9] 4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. 5Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Therefore, [continue to] accept and welcome one another, just as Christ has accepted and welcomed us to the glory of [our great] God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant and a minister to the circumcision (Jews) on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm and verify the promises made to the fathers, 9and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy [to them, since God had no covenant with them]. As it is written and forever remains written,
“Therefore I praise You among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.” [Ps 18:49]
10Again it says,
“Rejoice and celebrate, O Gentiles, along with His people.” [Deut 32:43]
11And again,
“Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him!” [Ps 117:1]
12Again Isaiah says,
“There shall be a root of #15:12 Jesse was the father of David the king, and Jesus (the Messiah) was a descendant of David.Jesse,
He who arises to rule [as King] over the Gentiles,
In Him shall the Gentiles hope.” [Is 11:1, 10; Rev 5:5; 22:16]
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.
14Personally I am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge, and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another. 15Still, on some points I have written to you very boldly and without reservation to remind you [about them] again, because of the grace that was given to me from God, 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I minister as a priest the gospel of God, in order that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable [to Him], sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit. 17In Christ Jesus, then, I have found [legitimate] reason for boasting in things related [to my service] to God. 18For I will not [even] presume to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me [as an instrument in His hands], resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles [to the gospel], by word and deed, 19with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] in the power of the Spirit. So [starting] from Jerusalem and as far away as #15:19 Located nearly 1,400 miles from Jerusalem, Illyricum was a Roman province of economic and strategic importance. It was a large region north of Macedonia located between the Adriatic Sea and the Danube River, and was known for its commercial seaports and gold mines. The great Roman road, Via Egnatia, started in Illyricum and ran eastward to Byzantium.Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel [faithfully preaching the good news] of Christ [where it had not before been preached]. 20Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture],
“They who had no news of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.” [Is 52:15]
22This [goal—my commitment to this principle] is the reason why I have often been prevented from coming to you [in Rome]. 23But now, with no further place for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you— 24whenever I go [on my trip] to Spain—I hope to see you as I pass through [Rome], and to be helped on my journey there by you, after I have first enjoyed your company for a little while. 25But for now, I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints (Jewish believers). 26For [Gentile believers in] #15:26 In addition to Macedonia and Achaia some churches in Asia Minor also contributed to this offering.Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints (Jewish believers) in Jerusalem. 27They were pleased to do it, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then they are indebted to serve them also in [tangible] material things. 28Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29I know that when I do come to you, I will come in the abundant blessing of Christ.
30I urge you, believers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join together with me in your prayers to God in my behalf, 31[and pray] that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints (Jewish believers) there; 32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and find rest in your company. 33May the God of peace be with you all! Amen.
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Romans 15
15
Please others and not yourself
1If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.”#Ps 69.9. 4And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The good news is for Jews and Gentiles
7Honour God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,#2 S 22.50; Ps 18.49.
“I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name.”
10The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, “Come and celebrate with God's people.”#Dt 32.43.
11Again the Scriptures say,#Ps 117.1.
“Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him.”
12Isaiah says,#Is 11.10 (LXX).
“Someone from David's family
will come to power.
He will rule the nations,
and they will put their hope
in him.”
13I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Paul's plans and personal greetings
Paul's work as a missionary
14My friends, I am sure that you are very good and that you have all the knowledge you need to teach each other. 15But I have spoken to you plainly and have tried to remind you of some things. God was so kind to me! 16He chose me to be a servant of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles and to do the work of a priest in the service of his good news. God did this so that the Holy Spirit could make the Gentiles into a holy offering, pleasing to him.
17Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God. 18In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work, so that the Gentiles would obey him. 19Indeed, I will tell how Christ performed miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have preached the good news about him all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum. 20But I have always tried to preach where people have never heard about Christ. I am like a builder who doesn't build on anyone else's foundation. 21It is just as the Scriptures say,#Is 52.15 (LXX).
“All who haven't been told
about him
will see him,
and those who haven't heard
about him
will understand.”
Paul's plan to visit Rome
22My work has always kept me from coming to see you.#Ro 1.13. 23Now there is nothing left for me to do in this part of the world, and for years I have wanted to visit you. 24So I plan to stop off on my way to Spain. Then after a short, but refreshing, stay with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.
25-26I am now on my way to Jerusalem to deliver the money that the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia collected for God's needy people.#1 Co 16.1-4. 27This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles.#1 Co 9.11. 28After I have safely delivered this money, I will visit you and then go on to Spain. 29And when I do arrive in Rome, I know it will be with the full blessings of Christ.
30My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. 31Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing. 32Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit. 33I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.
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