Romans 15
1 WE WHO are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves.2 Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].3 For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me. 4 For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.5 Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,6 That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).7 Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God.8 For I tell you that Christ (the Messiah) became a servant and a minister to the circumcised (the Jews) in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by confirming (verifying) the promises [given] to our fathers,9 And [also in order] that the Gentiles (nations) might glorify God for His mercy [not covenanted] to them. As it is written, Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles and sing praises to Your name. 10 Again it is said, Rejoice (exult), O Gentiles, along with His [own] people; 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him! 12 And further Isaiah says, There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles hope. 13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.14 Personally I am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another also.15 Still on some points I have written to you the more boldly and unreservedly by way of reminder. [I have done so] because of the grace (the unmerited favor) bestowed on me by God16 In making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable [to God], consecrated and made holy by the Holy Spirit.17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have legitimate reason to glory (exult) in my work for God [in what through Christ Jesus I have accomplished concerning the things of God].18 For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually done through me [as an instrument in His hands] to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,19 [Even as my preaching has been accompanied] with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the power of the Holy Spirit. [The result is] that starting from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel [faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the full the good news] of Christ (the Messiah) in its entirety.20 Thus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel, not where Christ’s name has already been known, lest I build on another man’s foundation;21 But [instead I would act on the principle] 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 This [ambition] is the reason why I have so frequently been hindered from coming to visit you.23 But now since I have no further opportunity for work in these regions, and since I have longed for enough years to come to you,24 I hope to see you in passing [through Rome] as I go [on my intended trip] to Spain, and to be aided on my journey there by you, after I have enjoyed your company for a little while.25 For the present, however, I am going to Jerusalem to bring aid (relief) for the saints (God’s people there).26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make some contribution for the poor among the saints of Jerusalem.27 They were pleased to do it; and surely they are in debt to them, for if these Gentiles have come to share in their [the Jerusalem Jews’] spiritual blessings, then they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.28 When therefore I have completed this mission and have delivered to them [at Jerusalem] what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain.29 And I know that when I do come to you, I shall come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.30 I appeal to you [I entreat you], brethren, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love [given by] the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in prayer to God in my behalf.31 [Pray] that I may be delivered (rescued) from the unbelievers in Judea and that my mission of relief to Jerusalem may be acceptable and graciously received by the saints (God’s people there),32 So that by God’s will I may subsequently come to you with joy (with a happy heart) and be refreshed [by the interval of rest] in your company.33 May [our] peace-giving God be with you all! Amen (so be it).
Romans 15
Exhortation for the Strong to Help the Weak
1 But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.t2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.3 For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”s4 For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.5 Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one anothert in accordance with Christ Jesus,
6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Exhortation to Mutual Acceptance
7 Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcisedt on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers,t9 and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy.t As it is written, “Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name.”s10 And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”s11 And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.”s12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope.”s
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him,t so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Motivation for Writing the Letter
14 But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters,t that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.15 But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I servet the gospel of Godt like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering,t sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 So I boastst in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God.18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obediencet of the Gentiles, by word and deed,19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.20 And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation,
21 but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”s
Paul’s Intention of Visiting the Romans
22 This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you.23 But now there is nothing more to keep met in these regions, and I have for many years desiredt to come to you
24 when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help met on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.26 For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.27 For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints.t For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.28 Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them,t I will set out for Spain by way of you,
29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,t through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf.31 Prayt that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
33 Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.ss