Romans 15

1 But we who are stronger must bear with the feebleness of the weak, and not so as to please ourselves.2 Each one of you should please his neighbor unto good, for edification.3 For even Christ did not please himself, but as it was written: “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell upon me.”4 For whatever was written, was written to teach us, so that, through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures, we might have hope.5 So may the God of patience and solace grant you to be of one mind toward one another, in accord with Jesus Christ,6 so that, together with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7 For this reason, accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you, in the honor of God.8 For I declare that Christ Jesus was the minister of circumcision because of the truth of God, so as to confirm the promises to the fathers,9 and that the Gentiles are to honor God because of his mercy, just as it was written: “Because of this, I will confess you among the Gentiles, O Lord, and I will sing to your name.”10 And again, he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, along with his people.”11 And again: “All Gentiles, praise the Lord; and all peoples, magnify him.”12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, and in him the Gentiles shall hope.”13 So may the God of hope fill you with every joy and with peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope and in the virtue of the Holy Spirit.14 But I am also certain about you, my brothers, that you also have been filled with love, completed with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another.15 But I have written to you, brothers, more boldly than to the others, as if calling you to mind again, because of the grace which has been given to me from God,16 so that I may be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God, in order that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and may be sanctified in the Holy Spirit.17 Therefore, I have glory in Christ Jesus before God.18 So I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ does not effect through me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles, in word and deed,19 with the power of signs and wonders, by power of the Holy Spirit. For in this way, from Jerusalem, throughout its surroundings, as far as Illyricum, I have replenished the Gospel of Christ.20 And so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was known by name, lest I build upon the foundation of another,21 but just as it was written: “Those to whom he was not announced shall perceive, and those who have not heard shall understand.”22 Because of this also, I was greatly hindered in coming to you, and I have been prevented until the present time.23 Yet truly now, having no other destination in these regions, and having already had a great desire to come to you over the past many years,24 when I begin to set out on my journey to Spain, I hope that, as I pass by, I may see you, and I may be guided from there by you, after first having borne some fruit among you.25 But next I will set out for Jerusalem, to minister to the saints.26 For those of Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a collection for those of the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.27 And this has pleased them, because they are in their debt. For, since the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they also ought to minister to them in worldly things.28 Therefore, when I have completed this task, and have consigned to them this fruit, I shall set out, by way of you, to Spain.29 And I know that when I come to you I shall arrive with an abundance of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ.30 Therefore, I beg you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and though the love of the Holy Spirit, that you assist me with your prayers to God on my behalf,31 so that I may be freed from the unfaithful who are in Judea, and so that the oblation of my service may be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem.32 So may I come to you with joy, through the will of God, and so may I be refreshed with you.33 And 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