Salutation

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

⁷ To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(A)

¹¹ For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened— ¹² or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you, as I have among the rest of the gentiles.

²³ But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you^{(A) 24} when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. ²⁵ At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints,^{(B) 26} for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.^{(C) 27} They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them, for if the gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.^{(D) 28} So, when I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,^[a] I will set out by way of you to Spain, ²⁹ and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing^[b] of Christ.