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.

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