Romans 15:14-16

New International Version

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

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

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

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

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

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²³But 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,^(S) ²⁴I plan to do so when I go to Spain.^(T) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist^(U) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem^(V) in the service^(W) of the Lord’s people^(X) there. ²⁶For Macedonia^(Y) and Achaia^(Z) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.^(AA) ²⁷They 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.^(AB) ²⁸So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain^(AC) and visit you on the way. ²⁹I know that when I come to you,^(AD) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,^(AE) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.^(AF) ³¹Pray that I may be kept safe^(AG) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution^(AH) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people^(AI) there, ³²so that I may come to you^(AJ) with joy, by God’s will,^(AK) and in your company be refreshed.^(AL) ³³The God of peace^(AM) be with you all. Amen.

Personal Greetings

16 I commend^(AN) to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon^[b]^[c] of the church in Cenchreae.^(AO) ²I ask you to receive her in the Lord^(AP) in a way worthy of his people^(AQ) and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

³Greet Priscilla^[d] and Aquila,^(AR) my co-workers^(AS) in Christ Jesus.^(AT) ⁴They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

⁵Greet also the church that meets at their house.^(AU)

Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert^(AV) to Christ in the province of Asia.^(AW)

⁶Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews^(AX) who have been in prison with me.^(AY) They are outstanding among^[e] the apostles, and they were in Christ^(AZ) before I was.

⁸Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

⁹Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ,^(BA) and my dear friend Stachys.

¹⁰Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.^(BB)

Greet those who belong to the household^(BC) of Aristobulus.

¹¹Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.^(BD)

Greet those in the household^(BE) of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹²Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

¹³Greet Rufus,^(BF) chosen^(BG) in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

¹⁴Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

Footnotes

Romans 15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see Septuagint)
Romans 16:1 Or servant
Romans 16:1 The word deacon refers here to a Christian designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Phil. 1:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.
Romans 16:3 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
Romans 16:7 Or are esteemed by