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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Romans 15: NRSV-CI
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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.
Romans 15
15
1We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up. 3Christ didn’t please himself, but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insulted you fell on me.”#15.3 Ps 69:9 4Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. 6That way you can glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ together with one voice.
7So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory. 8I’m saying that Christ became a servant of those who are circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the ancestors, 9and so that the Gentiles could glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, ”
“and I will sing praises to your name”.#15.9 Ps 18:49
10And again, it says,
“Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people”.#15.10 Deut 32:43
11And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, ”
“and all the people should sing his praises”.#15.11 Ps 117:1
12And again, Isaiah says,
“There will be a root of Jesse, ”
“who will also rise to rule the Gentiles. ”
“The Gentiles will place their hope in him”.#15.12 Isa 11:10
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles
14My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are able to teach each other. 15But I’ve written to you in a sort of daring way, partly to remind you of what you already know. I’m writing to you in this way because of the grace that was given to me by God. 16It helps me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I’m working as a priest of God’s gospel so that the offering of the Gentiles can be acceptable and made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17So in Christ Jesus I brag about things that have to do with God. 18I don’t dare speak about anything except what Christ has done through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles. He did it by what I’ve said and what I’ve done, 19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. So I’ve completed the circuit of preaching Christ’s gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. 20In this way, I have a goal to preach the gospel where they haven’t heard of Christ yet, so that I won’t be building on someone else’s foundation. 21Instead, as it’s written, “Those who hadn’t been told about him will see, and those who hadn’t heard will understand”.#15.21 Isa 52:15
Travel plans to visit Rome
22That’s why I’ve been stopped so many times from coming to see you. 23But now, since I don’t have any place to work in these regions anymore, and since I’ve wanted to come to see you for many years, 24I’ll visit you when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while I’m passing through. And I hope you will send me on my way there, after I have first been reenergized by some time in your company.
25But now I’m going to Jerusalem, to serve God’s people. 26Macedonia and Achaia have been happy to make a contribution for the poor among God’s people in Jerusalem. 27They were happy to do this, and they are actually in debt to God’s people in Jerusalem. If the Gentiles got a share of the Jewish people’s spiritual resources, they ought to minister to them with material resources. 28So then after I have finished this job and have safely delivered the final amount of the Gentiles’ offering to them, I will leave for Spain, visiting you on the way. 29And I know that when I come to you I will come with the fullest blessing of Christ.
30Brothers and sisters, I urge you, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggles in your prayers to God for me. 31Pray that I will be rescued from the people in Judea who don’t believe. Also, pray that my service for Jerusalem will be acceptable to God’s people there 32so that I can come to you with joy by God’s will and be reenergized with your company. 33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
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