Romans 15
15
1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; 2let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. 3#Ps 69.9. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me.” 4#Rom 4.23-24; 1 Cor 9.10; 2 Tim 3.16. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5#Rom 12.16; 1 Cor 1.10; 2 Cor 13.11; Phil 2.2; 4.2. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9#Ps 18.49; 2 Sam 22.50. and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles,
and sing to thy name”;
10 #
Deut 32.43. and again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;
11 #
Ps 117.1. and again,
“Praise the Lord, all Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him”;
12 #
Is 11.10; Mt 12.21. and further Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse shall come,
he who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him shall the Gentiles hope.”
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
14I myself am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16#Acts 9.15. to 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 be proud of my work for God. 18#Rom 1.5; Acts 15.12; 21.19. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19#Acts 19.11; 2 Cor 12.12. by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ, 20#2 Cor 10.15-16. thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation, 21#Is 52.15. but as it is written,
“They shall see who have never been told of him,
and they shall understand who have never heard of him.”
22 #
Rom 1.13. This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23#Acts 19.21; Rom 1.10-11; 15.32. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24#Rom 15.28. I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be sped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little. 25#Acts 19.21; 24.17; 15.31. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints. 26#2 Cor 8.1-5; 9.2; 1 Thess 1.7-8. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem; 27#1 Cor 9.11. they were pleased to do it, and indeed they are in debt 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 blessings. 28#Rom 15.24. When therefore I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been raised,#15.28 Greek sealed to them this fruit I shall go on by way of you to Spain; 29#Acts 19.21. and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fulness of the blessing#15.29 Other ancient authorities insert of the gospel of Christ.
30I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31#2 Thess 3.2; Rom 15.25-26; 2 Cor 8.4; 9.1. that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32#Rom 1.10; Acts 19.21. so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33#2 Cor 13.11; Phil 4.9. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Romans 15
15
1Some of us have no problem with these things. So we should be patient with those who are not so strong and have doubts. We should not do what pleases us 2but do what pleases them and is for their good. We should do whatever helps everyone grow stronger in faith. 3Even Christ did not live trying to please himself. As the Scriptures say about him, “Those people who insulted you have also insulted me.”#Quote from Ps. 69:9. 4Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us. 5All patience and encouragement come from God. And I pray that God will help you all agree with each other, as Christ Jesus wants. 6Then you will all be joined together. And all together 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 honor#15:7 honor Or “glory.” See “glory” in the Word List. to God. 8I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews to show that God has done what he promised their great ancestors. 9Christ also did this so that the non-Jewish people could praise God for the mercy he gives to them. The Scriptures say,
“So I will give thanks to you among the people of other nations;
I will sing praise to your name.” Psalm 18:49
10And the Scriptures say,
“You people of other nations should be happy together with God’s people.” Deuteronomy 32:43
11The Scriptures also say,
“Praise the Lord all you people of other nations;
all people should praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:1
12And Isaiah says,
“Someone will come from Jesse’s family.#15:12 Jesse’s family Jesse was the father of David, king of Israel. Jesus was from their family.
He will come to rule over the nations,
and they will put their hope in him.” Isaiah 11:10
13I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul Talks About His Work
14My brothers and sisters, I know without a doubt that you are full of goodness and have all the knowledge you need. So you are certainly able to counsel 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 servant of Christ Jesus for those who are not Jews. I serve like a priest whose duty it is to tell God’s Good News. He gave me this work so that you non-Jewish people could be an offering that he will accept—an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17That is why I feel so good about what I have done for God in my service to Christ Jesus. 18I will not talk about anything I did myself. I will talk only about what Christ has done with me in leading the non-Jewish people to obey God. They have obeyed him because of what I have said and done. 19And they obeyed him because of the power of the miraculous signs and wonders that happened—all because of the power of God’s Spirit. I have told people the Good News about Christ in every place from Jerusalem to Illyricum. And so I have finished that part of my work. 20I always want to tell the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ. I do this because I don’t want to build on the work that someone else has already started. 21But as the Scriptures say,
“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’s what has kept me so busy and prevented my coming to see you even though I have wanted to come many times.
23Now I have finished my work in these areas. And for many years I have wanted to visit you. 24So I will visit you when I go to Spain. Yes, I hope to visit you while I am traveling to Spain, and I will stay and enjoy being with you. Then you can help me continue on my trip.
25Now I am going to Jerusalem to help God’s people there. 26Some of them are poor, and the believers in Macedonia and Achaia wanted to help them. So they gathered some money to send them. 27They were happy to do this. And it was like paying something they owed them, because as non-Jews they have been blessed spiritually by the Jews. So now they should use the material blessings they have to help the Jews. 28I am going to Jerusalem to make sure the poor get this money that has been given for them.
After I finish that, I will leave for Spain and stop to visit you on the way. 29And I know that when I visit you, I will bring you 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 Spirit gives us. 31Pray that I will be saved from those in Judea who refuse to accept our message. And pray that this help I am bringing 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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