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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Romans 15: CEB
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