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. 3#Ps 69.9. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4#1 Macc 12.9; 2 Macc 15.9. And 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
7Honor 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, 9#2 S 22.50; Ps 18.49. so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,
“I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name.”
10 #
Dt 32.43. The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, “Come and celebrate with God's people.”
11 #
Ps 117.1. Again the Scriptures say,
“Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him.”
12 # Is 11.10 (LXX). Isaiah says,
“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 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 treated me with undeserved grace! 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 worked 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 someone else's foundation. 21#Is 52.15 (LXX). It is just as the Scriptures say,
“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
22 #
Ro 1.13. My work has always kept me from coming to see you. 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, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.
25-26 #
1 Co 16.1-4. I 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. 27#1 Co 9.11. This 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. 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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Romans 15: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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