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15 We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Let everyone please his neighbor for good toward edification.

For Christ would not please Himself, either. But as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you, fell on Me.”

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning. So that we, through the endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures, might have hope.

Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant that you be like-minded towards one another, according to Christ Jesus.

That you, with one mind and with one mouth, may praise God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, receive one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Now, I say that Jesus Christ became a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God; to confirm the promises made to the Fathers.

And let the Gentiles praise God for His mercy. As it is written, “For this reason I will praise You among the Gentiles and sing to Your Name.”

10 And again He says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people!”

11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! And laud Him, all you people!”

12 And again, Isaiah says, “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles. In Him shall the Gentiles trust.”

13 Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

14 And concerning you, my brothers, I myself am also persuaded that you too are full of goodness, and filled with all knowledge, and are able to admonish one another.

15 Nevertheless, brothers, I have written to you somewhat more boldly (as one who reminds you through the grace given me by God),

16 that I might be the minister of Jesus Christ toward the Gentiles (ministering the Gospel of God) that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

17 Therefore, I have reason to rejoice in God through Christ Jesus.

18 For I do not dare speak of anything which Christ has not worked through me to make the Gentiles obedient, in word and deed -

19 with the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.

20 Thus, I earnestly strive to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named (lest I should build on another’s foundation),

21 but as it is written, “To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see Him. And those who did not hear, shall understand.”

22 For this reason, also, I have often been hindered in coming to you.

23 But now, seeing I no longer have a place in these regions, and have longed to come to you for many years,

24 I will come to you when I take my journey into Spain. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be brought on my way there by you, after I have first enjoyed your company for a while.

25 But now I go to Jerusalem, to minister to the Saints.

26 For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution to the poor Saints who are at Jerusalem.

27 It has pleased them. And indeed, they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is to minister to them also, in material things.

28 Therefore, once I have performed this, and have sealed their fruit, I will pass by you into Spain.

29 And I know when I come, that I shall come to you with abundance of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

30 Also brothers, I beg you for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you would strive with me by prayers to God for me,

31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea; and that my service which I have to do at Jerusalem may be accepted by the Saints.

32 So 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.

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak(A) and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good,(B) to build them up.(C) For even Christ did not please himself(D) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a](E) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,(F) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind(G) toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify(H) the God and Father(I) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another,(J) then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b](K) on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises(L) made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles(M) might glorify God(N) for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”[c](O)

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[d](P)

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”[e](Q)

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse(R) will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”[f](S)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace(T) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(U)

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness,(V) filled with knowledge(W) and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me(X) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.(Y) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,(Z) so that the Gentiles might become an offering(AA) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus(AB) in my service to God.(AC) 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles(AD) to obey God(AE) by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders,(AF) through the power of the Spirit of God.(AG) So from Jerusalem(AH) all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.(AI) 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel(AJ) where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.(AK) 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,
    and those who have not heard will understand.”[g](AL)

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.(AM)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,(AN) 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain.(AO) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist(AP) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem(AQ) in the service(AR) of the Lord’s people(AS) there. 26 For Macedonia(AT) and Achaia(AU) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.(AV) 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.(AW) 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain(AX) and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you,(AY) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,(AZ) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.(BA) 31 Pray that I may be kept safe(BB) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution(BC) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people(BD) there, 32 so that I may come to you(BE) with joy, by God’s will,(BF) and in your company be refreshed.(BG) 33 The God of peace(BH) be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:3 Psalm 69:9
  2. Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision
  3. Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
  4. Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43
  5. Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1
  6. Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see Septuagint)
  7. Romans 15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see Septuagint)