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
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