Romans 15

1 We who are strong in faith should help the weak with their weaknesses, and not please only ourselves.2 Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to help them be stronger in faith.3 Even Christ did not live to please himself. It was as the Scriptures said: “When people insult you, it hurts me.” 4 Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.5 May the patience and encouragement that come from God allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants.6 Then you will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7 Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.8 I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true.

9 And he also did this so that those who are not Jews could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures:
“So I will praise you among the non-Jewish people. I will sing praises to your name.” t

10 The Scripture also says,
“Be happy, you who are not Jews, together with his people.” t

11 Again the Scripture says,
“All you who are not Jews, praise the Lord. All you people, sing praises to him.” t

12 And Isaiah says,
“A new king will come from the family of Jesse. 

13 I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul Talks About His Work

14 My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.15 But I have written to you very openly about some things I wanted you to remember. I did this because God gave me this special gift:

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to those who are not Jews. I served God by teaching his Good News, so that the non-Jewish people could be an offering that God would accept—an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17 So I am proud of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus.18 I will not talk about anything except what Christ has done through me in leading those who are not Jews to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done,19 because of the power of miracles and the great things they saw, and because of the power of the Holy Spirit. I preached the Good News from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, and so I have finished that part of my work.20 I always want to preach the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ, because I do not want to build on the work someone else has already started.

21 But it is written in the Scriptures:
“Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard about him will understand.” t

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

22 This is the reason I was stopped many times from coming to you.23 Now I have finished my work here. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you,24 I hope to visit you on my way to Spain. After I enjoy being with you for a while, I hope you can help me on my trip.25 Now I am going to Jerusalem to help God’s people.26 The believers in Macedonia and Southern Greece were happy to give their money to help the poor among God’s people at Jerusalem.27 They were happy to do this, and really they owe it to them. These who are not Jews have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, so they should use their material possessions to help the Jews.28 After I am sure the poor in Jerusalem get the money that has been given for them, I will leave for Spain and stop and visit you.

29 I know that when I come to you I will bring Christ’s full blessing.
30 Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us.31 Pray that I will be saved from the nonbelievers in Judea and that this help I bring to Jerusalem will please God’s people there.32 Then, if God wants me to, I will come to you with joy, and together you and I will have a time of rest.33 The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 15

1 Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.3 For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.5 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:6 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7 Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.8 For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers,9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, Therefore will I give praise unto thee among the Gentiles, And sing unto thy name.

10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; And let all the peoples praise him.

12 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.15 But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,16 that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.17 I have therefore my glorifying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.18 For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ;20 yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man’s foundation;21 but, as it is written, They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, And they who have not heard shall understand.

22 Wherefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you:23 but now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you,24 whensoever I go unto Spain (for I hope to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first in some measure I shall have been satisfied with your company)--25 but now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints.26 For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem.27 Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister unto them in carnal things.28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by you unto Spain.29 And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.30 Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;31 that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judaea, and that my ministration which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;32 that I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.