Romans 14-16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Romans 14

The Law of Liberty

 ¹ Accept ^(A) anyone who is weak in faith, ^{(B) [a]} but don't argue about doubtful issues. ² One person believes he may eat anything, ^(C) but one who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; ^(D) and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, ^(E) because God has accepted him. ^{(F) 4} Who are you to criticize ^(G) another's household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And stand he will! For the Lord is able ^[b] to make him stand.

    ⁵ One person considers one day to be above another day. ^(H) Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. ^{(I) 6} Whoever observes the day, observes it to the Lord. ^[c] Whoever eats, eats to the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; ^(J) and whoever does not eat, it is to the Lord that he does not eat, yet he thanks God. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ^{(K) 8} If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ^{(L) 9} Christ died and came to life ^(M) for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living. ^{(N) 10} But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ^{(O) [d] 11} For it is written:

    As I live, says the Lord,

    every knee will bow to Me, ^(P)

    and every tongue will give praise to God. ^{(Q) (R)}

    ¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. ^(S)

   

The Law of Love

 ¹³ Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another, ^(T) but instead decide not to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother's way. ^{(U) 14} (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. ^(V) Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. ^(W) ) ¹⁵ For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. ^(X) By what you eat, do not destroy that one for whom Christ died. ^{(Y) 16} Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, ^{(Z) 17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, ^(AA) but righteousness, peace, and joy ^(AB) in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Whoever serves the Messiah ^(AC) in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. ^(AD)

    ¹⁹ So then, we must pursue what promotes peace ^(AE) and what builds up one another. ^{(AF) 20} Do not tear down God's work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. ^{(AG) 21} It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. ^{[e] 22} Do you have faith? Keep it to yourself before God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. ^{(AH) 23} But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, ^(AI) because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.

Romans 15

Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves

 ¹ Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, ^(AJ) and not to please ourselves. ² Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, in order to build him up. ^{(AK) 3} For even the Messiah did not please Himself. ^(AL) On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me. ^{(AM) (AN) 4} For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, ^(AO) so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope. ⁵ Now may the God of endurance and encouragement ^(AP) grant you agreement with one another, ^(AQ) according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ^(AR) with a united mind and voice.

   

Glorifying God Together

 ⁷ Therefore accept one another, ^(AS) just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God. ⁸ Now I say that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised ^[f] on behalf of the truth of God, ^(AT) to confirm the promises to the fathers, ^{(AU) 9} and so that Gentiles ^(AV) may glorify God for His mercy. ^(AW) As it is written:

    Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles,

    and I will sing psalms to Your name. ^{(AX) (AY)}

    ¹⁰ Again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people! ^{(AZ) (BA) 11} And again:

    Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;

    all the peoples should praise Him! ^{(BB) (BC)}

    ¹² And again, Isaiah says:

    The root of Jesse ^(BD) will appear,

    the One who rises to rule the Gentiles;

    in Him the Gentiles will hope. ^{(BE) (BF)}

    ¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, ^(BG) so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ^(BH)

   

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

 ¹⁴ Now, my brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, ^(BI) filled with all knowledge, ^(BJ) and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, to remind you, I have written to you more boldly on some points ^[g] because of the grace given me by God ^{(BK) 16} to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ^(BL) serving as a priest of God's good news. ^(BM) My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, ^(BN) sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus ^(BO) regarding what pertains to God. ^{(BP) 18} For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me ^(BQ) to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, ¹⁹ by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, ^(BR) and by the power of God's Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem ^(BS) all the way around to Illyricum. ^{(BT) [h] 20} So my aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, ^(BU) in order that I will not be building on someone else's foundation, ^{(BV) 21} but, as it is written:

    Those who had no report of Him will see,

    and those who have not heard will understand. ^{(BW) (BX)}

   

Paul's Travel Plans

 ²² That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you. ^{(BY) 23} But now I no longer have any work to do in these provinces, ^[i] and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you ^{(BZ) 24} whenever I travel to Spain. ^[j] For I do hope to see you when I pass through, and to be sent on my way there by you, ^(CA) once I have first enjoyed your company ^(CB) for a while. ²⁵ Now, however, I am traveling to Jerusalem ^(CC) to serve the saints; ^{(CD) 26} for Macedonia ^(CE) and Achaia ^{(CF) [k]} were pleased to make a contribution to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Yes, they were pleased, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, ^(CG) then they are obligated to minister to Jews ^[l] in material needs. ²⁸ So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds ^[m] to them, ^(CH) I will go by way of you to Spain. ²⁹ But I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing ^[n] of Christ.

    ³⁰ Now I implore you, brothers, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, ^(CI) to agonize together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf: ^{(CJ) 31} that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, ^(CK) that my service for Jerusalem ^(CL) may be acceptable to the saints, ^{(CM) 32} and that, by God's will, ^(CN) I may come to you with joy ^(CO) and be refreshed together with you.

    ³³ The God of peace be with all of you. ^(CP) Amen.

Romans 16

Paul's Commendation of Phoebe

 ¹ I commend to you ^(CQ) our sister Phoebe, who is a servant ^[o] of the church in Cenchreae. ^{(CR) 2} So you should welcome her in the Lord ^(CS) in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.

   

   

Greeting to Roman Christians

 ³ Give my greetings to Prisca ^[p] and Aquila, ^(CT) my co-workers in ^(CU) Christ Jesus, ^{(CV) 4} who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.

    ⁵ Greet also the church that meets in their home. ^(CW)
Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert ^{(CX) [q]} to Christ from Asia. ^{(CY) [r]}

    ⁶ Greet Mary, ^[s] who has worked very hard for you. ^[t]

    ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, ^[u] my fellow countrymen ^(CZ) and fellow prisoners. ^(DA) They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me.

    ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

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

    ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. ^(DB)

    ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman.
Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

    ¹² Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.

    ¹³ Greet Rufus, ^(DC) chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine.

    ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

    ¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ^(DD)

    ¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^(DE)
All the churches of Christ send you greetings.

   

Warning against Divisive People

 ¹⁷ Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned. ^(DF) Avoid them; ^{(DG) 18} for such people do not serve our Lord Christ ^(DH) but their own appetites, ^{(DI) [v]} and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. ^(DJ)

   

Paul's Gracious Conclusion

 ¹⁹ The report of your obedience has reached everyone. ^(DK) Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil. ^{(DL) 20} The God of peace ^(DM) will soon crush Satan ^(DN) under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. ^(DO)

    ²¹ Timothy, ^(DP) my co-worker, and Lucius, ^(DQ) Jason, ^(DR) and Sosipater, ^(DS) my fellow countrymen, greet you.

    ²² I Tertius, who penned this epistle ^(DT) in the Lord, greet you.

    ²³ Gaius, ^(DU) who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, ^(DV) the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.

    [ ²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.] ^[w]

   

Glory to God

 ²⁵ Now to Him who has power to strengthen you ^(DW) according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, ^(DX) according to the revelation of the sacred secret kept silent ^(DY) for long ages, ^{(DZ) 26} but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, ^(EA) according to the command of the eternal God, to advance the obedience of faith ^(EB) among all nations— ²⁷ to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to Him be the glory forever! ^{(EC) [x]} Amen.