Romans 15

1 We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves.2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up.3 Christ didn’t please himself, but, as it is written, The insults of those who insulted you fell on me. t4 Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures.5 May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude.

6 That way you can glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ together with one voice.
7 So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory.8 I’m saying that Christ became a servant of those who are circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the ancestors,

9 and so that the Gentiles could glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and I will sing praises to your name .t

10 And again, it says,
Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people .t

11 And again,
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and all the people should sing his praises .t

12 And again, Isaiah says,
There will be a root of Jesse,
who will also rise to rule the Gentiles.
The Gentiles will place their hope in him .t

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles

14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are able to teach each other.15 But I’ve written to you in a sort of daring way, partly to remind you of what you already know. I’m writing to you in this way because of the grace that was given to me by God.16 It helps me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I’m working as a priest of God’s gospel so that the offering of the Gentiles can be acceptable and made holy by the Holy Spirit.17 So in Christ Jesus I brag about things that have to do with God.18 I don’t dare speak about anything except what Christ has done through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles. He did it by what I’ve said and what I’ve done,19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. So I’ve completed the circuit of preaching Christ’s gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.20 In this way, I have a goal to preach the gospel where they haven’t heard of Christ yet, so that I won’t be building on someone else’s foundation.

21 Instead, as it’s written, Those who hadn’t been told about him will see, and those who hadn’t heard will understand .t

Travel plans to visit Rome

22 That’s why I’ve been stopped so many times from coming to see you.23 But now, since I don’t have any place to work in these regions anymore, and since I’ve wanted to come to see you for many years,

24 I’ll visit you when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while I’m passing through. And I hope you will send me on my way there, after I have first been reenergized by some time in your company.
25 But now I’m going to Jerusalem, to serve God’s people.26 Macedonia and Achaia have been happy to make a contribution for the poor among God’s people in Jerusalem.27 They were happy to do this, and they are actually in debt to God’s people in Jerusalem. If the Gentiles got a share of the Jewish people’s spiritual resources, they ought to minister to them with material resources.28 So then after I have finished this job and have safely delivered the final amount of the Gentiles’ offering to them, I will leave for Spain, visiting you on the way.

29 And I know that when I come to you I will come with the fullest blessing of Christ.
30 Brothers and sisters, I urge you, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggles in your prayers to God for me.31 Pray that I will be rescued from the people in Judea who don’t believe. Also, pray that my service for Jerusalem will be acceptable to God’s people there32 so that I can come to you with joy by God’s will and be reenergized with your company.

33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

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