Romans 15
1 NOW we that are stronger, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.2 Let every one of you please his neighbour unto good, to edification.3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me.4 For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.5 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ:6 That with one mind, and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7 Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour of God.8 For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.9 But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name.10 And again he saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.11 And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify him, all ye people.12 And again Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.14 And I myself also, my brethren, am assured of you, that you also are full of love, replenished with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another.15 But I have written to you, brethren, more boldly in some sort, as it were putting you in mind: because of the grace which is given me from God.16 That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.17 I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God.18 For I dare not to speak of any of those things which Christ worketh not by me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,19 By the virtue of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem round about as far as unto Illyricum, I have replenished the gospel of Christ.20 And I have so preached this gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation.21 But as it is written: They to whom he was not spoken of, shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand.22 For which cause also I was hindered very much from coming to you, and have been kept away till now.23 But now having no more place in these countries, and having a great desire these many years past to come unto you,24 When I shall begin to take my journey into Spain, I hope that as I pass, I shall see you, and be brought on my way thither by you, if first, in part, I shall have enjoyed you:25 But now I shall go to Jerusalem, to minister unto the saints.26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor of the saints that are in Jerusalem.27 For it hath pleased them; and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also in carnal things to minister to them.28 When therefore I shall have accomplished this, and consigned to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.29 And I know, that when I come to you, I shall come in the abundance of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.30 I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God,31 That I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea, and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints.32 That I may come to you with joy, by the will of God, and may be refreshed with you.33 Now 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
