Romans 15

1 We who have strong faith should help the weak with their problems. We should not please only ourselves.2 We should all please our neighbors. Let us do what is good for them. Let us build them up.
3 Even Christ did not please himself. It is written, "Those who make fun of you have made fun of me also." (Psalm 69:9)4 Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They cheer us up and give us hope.
5 Our God is a God who strengthens you and cheers you up. May he help you agree with each other as you follow Christ Jesus.6 Then you can give glory to God with one heart and voice. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Christ has accepted you. So accept one another in order to bring praise to God.
8 I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews. He teaches us that God is true. He shows us that God will keep the promises he made to the founders of our nation.

9 Jesus became a servant of the Jews so that people who are not Jews could give glory to God for his mercy. It is written,
"I will praise you among those who aren't Jews.
I will sing praises to you." (2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49)

10 Again it says,
"You non-Jews, be full of joy.
Be joyful together with God's people." (Deuteronomy 32:43)11 And again it says,
"All you non-Jews, praise the Lord.
All you nations, sing praises to him." (Psalm 117:1)

12 And Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will grow up quickly.
He will rule over the nations.
Those who aren't Jews will put their hope in him." (Isaiah 11:10)
13 May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

Paul Serves the Non-Jews

14 My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. What you know is complete. You are able to teach one another.
15 I have written to you very boldly about some things. I wanted you to think about them again. The grace of God has allowed me16 to serve Christ Jesus among those who aren't Jews. My duty as a priest is to preach God's good news. Then the non-Jews will become an offering that pleases God. The Holy Spirit will make the offering holy.
17 Because I belong to Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my work for God.18 I will not try to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me. He has been leading those who aren't Jews to obey God. He has been doing this by what I have said and done.
19 He has given me power to do signs and miracles. He has given me the power of the Holy Spirit.
From Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum I have finished preaching the good news about Christ.20 I have always wanted to preach the good news where Christ was not known. I don't want to build on what someone else has started.

21 It is written,
"Those who were not told about him will understand.
Those who have not heard will know what it all means." (Isaiah 52:15)

22 That's why I have often been kept from coming to you.

Paul Plans to Visit Rome

23 Now there is no more place for me to work in those areas. For many years I have been longing to see you.24 So I plan to see you when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while I am passing through. And I hope you will help me on my journey there. But first I want to enjoy being with you for a while.
25 Now I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve God's people there.26 The believers in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to take an offering for those who were poor among God's people in Jerusalem.27 They were happy to do it. And of course they owe it to them. Those who aren't Jews have shared from the Jews' spiritual blessings. So the non-Jews should share their earthly blessings with the Jews.
28 I want to finish my task. I want to make sure that the poor in Jerusalem have received the offering. Then I will go to Spain. On my way I will visit you.29 I know that when I come to you, I will come with the full blessing of Christ.
30 Brothers and sisters, I am asking you through the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray for me with the love the Holy Spirit provides.31 Pray that I will be saved from those in Judea who do not believe. Pray that my work in Jerusalem will be accepted by God's people there.32 Then, as God has planned, I will come to you with joy. Together we will be renewed.
33 May 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.