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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