Romans 15
1 WE WHO are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves.2 Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].3 For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me. 4 For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.5 Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,6 That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).7 Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God.8 For I tell you that Christ (the Messiah) became a servant and a minister to the circumcised (the Jews) in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by confirming (verifying) the promises [given] to our fathers,9 And [also in order] that the Gentiles (nations) might glorify God for His mercy [not covenanted] to them. As it is written, Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles and sing praises to Your name. 10 Again it is said, Rejoice (exult), O Gentiles, along with His [own] people; 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him! 12 And further Isaiah says, There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles hope. 13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.14 Personally I am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another also.15 Still on some points I have written to you the more boldly and unreservedly by way of reminder. [I have done so] because of the grace (the unmerited favor) bestowed on me by God16 In making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable [to God], consecrated and made holy by the Holy Spirit.17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have legitimate reason to glory (exult) in my work for God [in what through Christ Jesus I have accomplished concerning the things of God].18 For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually done through me [as an instrument in His hands] to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,19 [Even as my preaching has been accompanied] with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the power of the Holy Spirit. [The result is] that starting from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel [faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the full the good news] of Christ (the Messiah) in its entirety.20 Thus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel, not where Christ’s name has already been known, lest I build on another man’s foundation;21 But [instead I would act on the principle] as it is written, They shall see who have never been told of Him, and they shall understand who have never heard [of Him]. 22 This [ambition] is the reason why I have so frequently been hindered from coming to visit you.23 But now since I have no further opportunity for work in these regions, and since I have longed for enough years to come to you,24 I hope to see you in passing [through Rome] as I go [on my intended trip] to Spain, and to be aided on my journey there by you, after I have enjoyed your company for a little while.25 For the present, however, I am going to Jerusalem to bring aid (relief) for the saints (God’s people there).26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make some contribution for the poor among the saints of Jerusalem.27 They were pleased to do it; and surely they are in debt to them, for if these Gentiles have come to share in their [the Jerusalem Jews’] spiritual blessings, then they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.28 When therefore I have completed this mission and have delivered to them [at Jerusalem] what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain.29 And I know that when I do come to you, I shall come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.30 I appeal to you [I entreat you], brethren, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love [given by] the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in prayer to God in my behalf.31 [Pray] that I may be delivered (rescued) from the unbelievers in Judea and that my mission of relief to Jerusalem may be acceptable and graciously received by the saints (God’s people there),32 So that by God’s will I may subsequently come to you with joy (with a happy heart) and be refreshed [by the interval of rest] in your company.33 May [our] peace-giving God be with you all! Amen (so be it).
ROMANOS 15
El ejemplo de Cristo
1 Nosotros, los que tenemos una fe bien formadat, debemos prescindir de nuestro propio gusto y cargar con las debilidades de quienes no la tienen todavía. 2 Que cada uno de nosotros procure agradar a los demás, buscando su bien y su crecimiento en la fe.
3 Porque tampoco Cristo buscó su propia satisfacción; al contrario, como dice la Escritura: los insultos de quienes te insultan han caído sobre mí.t
4 Y lo que dice la Escritura se escribió para enseñanza nuestra, a fin de que, uniendo nuestra constancia al consuelo que proporcionan las Escrituras, mantengamos la esperanza.t 5 Ojalá que Dios, la fuente de la constancia y del consuelo, les conceda a ustedes vivir en mutua armonía, según el ejemplo de Cristo 6 para que todos ustedes juntos y a una sola vozt alaben a Dios, Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. 7 Acójanse, pues, unos a otros, como Cristo los acogió a ustedes para gloria de Dios. 8 Porque les digo que Cristo se hizo servidor de los judíost para mostrar que Dios es fiel al confirmar las promesas hechas a los antepasados,
9 y al hacer que las naciones glorifiquen a Dios por su misericordia, como dice la Escritura:
Por eso te alabaré en medio de las naciones t
y cantaré himnos en tu honor. t
10 Y dice también:
Alégrense, naciones, juntamente con el pueblo de Dios. t
11 Y de nuevo:
Alaben al Señor todas las naciones,
que todos los pueblos celebren su grandeza. t
12 Y añade Isaías:
Surgirá un descendiente de la familia de Jesé t;
se alzara para gobernar a los pueblos
y en él pondrán las naciones su esperanza. t
13 Que el Dios de la esperanza, llene de alegría y paz la fe que ustedes tienen, para que desborden de esperanza sostenidos por la fuerza del Espíritu.Conclusión (15,14—16,27)
La actividad misionera de Pablo
14 Por lo demás, hermanos míos, estoy convencido de que ustedes rebosan bondad y están repletos de ese conocimiento gracias al cual pueden aconsejarse unos a otros. 15 Me he atrevido, sin embargo, a escribirles con cierta audacia, tratando de refrescar su propia memoria. Lo hago amparado en el privilegio que Dios me ha concedido,
16 de ser ministro de Cristo Jesús entre las naciones, ejerciendo el oficio sagrado* de anunciar la buena noticia* de Dios, a fin de que los paganos se presenten como ofrenda agradable a Diost, consagrada por el Espíritu Santo.t
17 Tengo, pues, motivos para enorgullecerme como cristiano en lo que atañe al servicio de Dios. 18 Y eso hablando únicamente —a más no me atrevo— de lo que Cristo ha llevado a cabo sirviéndose de mí para hacer que los paganos respondan a la fet. Se ha valido para ello de palabras y acciones, 19 de señales y prodigios, y de la fuerza del Espíritu. De este modo, desde Jerusalén y viajando en todas direcciones hasta llegar a Iliriat, he proclamado a fondo el mensaje evangélico de Cristo. 20 Eso sí, hice siempre cuestión de amor propio proclamar ese mensaje allí donde Cristo era aún desconocido; nunca quise edificar sobre cimiento ajeno,
21 para que se cumpla la Escritura:
Los que no tenían noticia de él, podrán ver,
y los que nada habían oído de él, entenderán. tPlanes de Pablo para visitar Roma
22 Ha sido precisamente esta tarea la que una y otra vez me ha impedido visitarlos. 23 Pero mi labor ha terminado ya en estos lugares, y como hace ya muchos años que deseo verlos, 24 confío en que, al fin, de paso para España, se logre mi deseo. Así lo espero, como también que me encaminen hacia allá después de haber disfrutado algún tiempo de la compañía de ustedest. 25 En este momento estoy a punto de emprender viaje a Jerusalén para prestar un servicio a aquellos hermanos en la fet.t 26 Y es que los de Macedonia y Acayat han tenido a bien organizar una colecta en favor de los creyentes necesitados de Jerusalén.t 27 Han tenido a bien, aunque en realidad es una obligación, ya que, si los paganos han participado en los bienes espirituales de los judíos, justo es que ahora los ayuden en lo material. 28 Cumplida esta misión, y una vez que haya entregado el fruto de la colecta, partiré para España pasando por Roma.
29 Estoy seguro de que la visita que pienso hacerles cuenta con la plena bendición de Cristo.
30 Finalmente, hermanos, un favor les pido por nuestro Señor Jesucristo y por el amor del Espíritu: apóyenmet con sus oraciones ante Dios 31 para que pueda escapar con bien de los que en Judea se oponen a la fe y para que la ayuda que llevo a Jerusalén sea bien acogida por aquellos hermanost.t 32 De este modo, cuando, Dios mediante, vaya a visitarlos, será grande mi alegría y podré descansar entre ustedes. 33 Que Dios, fuente de paz, esté con todos ustedes. Amént.