Self-denial in behalf of Others

15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of (A)those without strength, and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to (B)please his neighbor [a]for his good, to his (C)edification. For even (D)Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “(E)The taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on Me.” For (F)whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the (G)God [b]who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you (H)to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that with one purpose and one [c]voice you may glorify (I)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, [d](J)accept one another, just as Christ also accepted [e]us, for the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to (K)the circumcision in behalf of the truth of God, to confirm (L)the promises given to the fathers, and for (M)the Gentiles to (N)glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:

(O)Therefore I will [f]give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing praises to Your name.”

10 Again he says,

(P)Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.”

11 And again,

(Q)Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him.”

12 Again Isaiah says,

(R)There shall come (S)the root of Jesse,
And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,
(T)In Him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all (U)joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope (V)by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 And concerning you, my brothers and sisters, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of (W)goodness, filled with (X)all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. 15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of (Y)the grace that was given to me [g]from God, 16 to be (Z)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the (AA)gospel of God, so that my (AB)offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found (AC)reason for boasting in (AD)things pertaining to God. 18 (AE)For I will not presume to speak of anything [h]except what (AF)Christ has accomplished through me, [i]resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of [j](AG)signs and wonders, (AH)in the power of the Spirit; so that (AI)from Jerusalem and all around as (AJ)far as Illyricum I have [k]fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And in this way I aspired to (AK)preach the gospel, not where Christ was already known by name, (AL)so that I would not build on another person’s foundation; 21 but just as it is written:

(AM)They who have not been told about Him will see,
And they who have not heard will understand.”

22 For this reason (AN)I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I (AO)have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I (AP)go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be (AQ)helped on my way there by you, when I have first (AR)enjoyed your company [l]for a while— 25 but now, (AS)I am going to Jerusalem, (AT)serving the [m]saints. 26 For (AU)Macedonia and (AV)Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the [n]saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For (AW)if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and (AX)have [o]put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will (AY)go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when (AZ)I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by (BA)the love of the Spirit, to (BB)strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be (BC)rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my (BD)service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the [p](BE)saints; 32 so that (BF)I may come to you in joy by (BG)the will of God and relax in your company. 33 Now (BH)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:2 Lit for what is good to edification
  2. Romans 15:5 Lit of perseverance
  3. Romans 15:6 Lit mouth
  4. Romans 15:7 I.e., accept into fellowship
  5. Romans 15:7 One early ms you
  6. Romans 15:9 Or confess
  7. Romans 15:15 One early ms by God
  8. Romans 15:18 Lit which Christ has not accomplished
  9. Romans 15:18 Lit to the obedience
  10. Romans 15:19 Or confirming miracles
  11. Romans 15:19 Lit fulfilled
  12. Romans 15:24 Lit in part
  13. Romans 15:25 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  14. Romans 15:26 See note v 25
  15. Romans 15:28 Lit sealed to them this fruit
  16. Romans 15:31 See note v 25

15 And we ought -- we who are strong -- to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves;

for let each one of us please the neighbor for good, unto edification,

for even the Christ did not please himself, but, according as it hath been written, `The reproaches of those reproaching Thee fell upon me;'

for, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance, and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.

And may the God of the endurance, and of the exhortation, give to you to have the same mind toward one another, according to Christ Jesus;

that with one accord -- with one mouth -- ye may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;

wherefore receive ye one another, according as also the Christ did receive us, to the glory of God.

And I say Jesus Christ to have become a ministrant of circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,

and the nations for kindness to glorify God, according as it hath been written, `Because of this I will confess to Thee among nations, and to Thy name I will sing praise,'

10 and again it saith, `Rejoice ye nations, with His people;'

11 and again, `Praise the Lord, all ye nations; and laud Him, all ye peoples;'

12 and again, Isaiah saith, `There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who is rising to rule nations -- upon him shall nations hope;'

13 and the God of the hope shall fill you with all joy and peace in the believing, for your abounding in the hope in power of the Holy Spirit.

14 And I am persuaded, my brethren -- I myself also -- concerning you, that ye yourselves also are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, able also one another to admonish;

15 and the more boldly I did write to you, brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God,

16 for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of God, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 I have, then, a boasting in Christ Jesus, in the things pertaining to God,

18 for I will not dare to speak anything of the things that Christ did not work through me, to obedience of nations, by word and deed,

19 in power of signs and wonders, in power of the Spirit of God; so that I, from Jerusalem, and in a circle as far as Illyricum, have fully preached the good news of the Christ;

20 and so counting it honour to proclaim good news, not where Christ was named -- that upon another's foundation I might not build --

21 but according as it hath been written, `To whom it was not told concerning him, they shall see; and they who have not heard, shall understand.'

22 Wherefore, also, I was hindered many times from coming unto you,

23 and now, no longer having place in these parts, and having a longing to come unto you for many years,

24 when I may go on to Spain I will come unto you, for I hope in going through, to see you, and by you to be set forward thither, if of you first, in part, I shall be filled.

25 And, now, I go on to Jerusalem, ministering to the saints;

26 for it pleased Macedonia and Achaia well to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who [are] in Jerusalem;

27 for it pleased well, and their debtors they are, for if in their spiritual things the nations did participate, they ought also, in the fleshly things, to minister to them.

28 This, then, having finished, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will return through you, to Spain;

29 and I have known that coming unto you -- in the fulness of the blessing of the good news of Christ I shall come.

30 And I call upon you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers for me unto God,

31 that I may be delivered from those not believing in Judea, and that my ministration, that [is] for Jerusalem, may become acceptable to the saints;

32 that in joy I may come unto you, through the will of God, and may be refreshed with you,

33 and the God of the peace [be] with you all. Amen.