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.
Currently Selected:
Romans 15: ERV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Romans 15
15
1So those of us who have a strong ⌞faith⌟ must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose ⌞faith⌟ is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves. 2We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his faith. 3Christ did not think only of himself. Rather, as Scripture says, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
God Gives Us Unity
4Everything written long ago was written to teach us so that we would have confidence through the endurance and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. 5May God, who gives you this endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other by following the example of Christ Jesus. 6Then, having the same goal, you will praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God. 8Let me explain. Christ became a servant for the Jewish people to reveal God’s truth. As a result, he fulfilled God’s promise to the ancestors of the Jewish people. 9People who are not Jewish praise God for his mercy as well. This is what the Scriptures say,
“That is why I will give thanks to you among the nations
and I will sing praises to your name.”
10And Scripture says again,
“You nations, be happy together with his people!”
11And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Praise him, all you people of the world!”
12Again, Isaiah says,
“There will be a root from Jesse.
He will rise to rule the nations,
and he will give the nations hope.”
13May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Desire to Tell the Good News to the World
14I’m convinced, brothers and sisters, that you, too, are filled with goodness. I’m also convinced that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to instruct each other. 15However, I’ve written you a letter, parts of which are rather bold, as a reminder to you. I’m doing this because God gave me the gift 16to be a servant of Christ Jesus to people who are not Jewish. I serve as a priest by spreading the Good News of God. I do this in order that I might bring the nations to God as an acceptable offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17So Christ Jesus gives me the right to brag about what I’m doing for God. 18I’m bold enough to tell you only what Christ has done through me to bring people who are not Jewish to obedience. By what I have said and done, 19by the power of miraculous and amazing signs, and by the power of God’s Spirit, I have finished spreading the Good News about Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum.
20My goal was to spread the Good News where the name of Christ was not known. I didn’t want to build on a foundation which others had laid. 21As Scripture says,
“Those who were never told about him will see,
and those who never heard will understand.”
22This is what has so often kept me from visiting you. 23But now I have no new opportunities for work in this region. For many years I have wanted to visit you. 24Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain.
25Right now I’m going to Jerusalem to bring help to the Christians there. 26Because the believers in Macedonia and Greece owe a debt to the Christians in Jerusalem, they have decided to take up a collection for the poor among the Christians in Jerusalem. 27These Macedonians and Greeks have shared the spiritual wealth of the Christians in Jerusalem. So they are obligated to use their earthly wealth to help them.
28When the collection is completed and I have officially turned the money over to the Christians in Jerusalem, I will visit you on my way to Spain. 29I know that when I come to you I will bring the full blessing of Christ.
30Brothers and sisters, I encourage you through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit creates, to join me in my struggle. Pray to God for me 31that I will be rescued from those people in Judea who refuse to believe. Pray that God’s people in Jerusalem will accept the help I bring. 32Also pray that by the will of God I may come to you with joy and be refreshed when I am with you.
33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.