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15 Noi che siamo i forti abbiamo il dovere di sopportare l'infermità dei deboli, senza compiacere noi stessi. Ciascuno di noi cerchi di compiacere il prossimo nel bene, per edificarlo. Cristo infatti non cercò di piacere a se stesso, ma come sta scritto: gli insulti di coloro che ti insultano sono caduti sopra di me. Ora, tutto ciò che è stato scritto prima di noi, è stato scritto per nostra istruzione, perché in virtù della perseveranza e della consolazione che ci vengono dalle Scritture teniamo viva la nostra speranza. E il Dio della perseveranza e della consolazione vi conceda di avere gli uni verso gli altri gli stessi sentimenti ad esempio di Cristo Gesù, perché con un solo animo e una voce sola rendiate gloria a Dio, Padre del Signore nostro Gesù Cristo.

Accoglietevi perciò gli uni gli altri come Cristo accolse voi, per la gloria di Dio. Dico infatti che Cristo si è fatto servitore dei circoncisi in favore della veracità di Dio, per compiere le promesse dei padri; le nazioni pagane invece glorificano Dio per la sua misericordia, come sta scritto:

Per questo ti celebrerò tra le nazioni pagane,
e canterò inni al tuo nome.

10 E ancora:

Rallegratevi, o nazioni, insieme al suo popolo.

11 E di nuovo:

Lodate, nazioni tutte, il Signore;
i popoli tutti lo esaltino.

12 E a sua volta Isaia dice:

Spunterà il rampollo di Iesse,
colui che sorgerà a giudicare le nazioni:
in lui le nazioni spereranno.

13 Il Dio della speranza vi riempia di ogni gioia e pace nella fede, perché abbondiate nella speranza per la virtù dello Spirito Santo.

EPILOGO

Il ministero di Paolo

14 Fratelli miei, sono anch'io convinto, per quel che vi riguarda, che voi pure siete pieni di bontà, colmi di ogni conoscenza e capaci di correggervi l'un l'altro. 15 Tuttavia vi ho scritto con un pò di audacia, in qualche parte, come per ricordarvi quello che gia sapete, a causa della grazia che mi è stata concessa da parte di Dio 16 di essere un ministro di Gesù Cristo tra i pagani, esercitando l'ufficio sacro del vangelo di Dio perché i pagani divengano una oblazione gradita, santificata dallo Spirito Santo. 17 Questo è in realtà il mio vanto in Gesù Cristo di fronte a Dio; 18 non oserei infatti parlare di ciò che Cristo non avesse operato per mezzo mio per condurre i pagani all'obbedienza, con parole e opere, 19 con la potenza di segni e di prodigi, con la potenza dello Spirito. Così da Gerusalemme e dintorni fino all'Illiria, ho portato a termine la predicazione del vangelo di Cristo. 20 Ma mi sono fatto un punto di onore di non annunziare il vangelo se non dove ancora non era giunto il nome di Cristo, per non costruire su un fondamento altrui, 21 ma come sta scritto:

Lo vedranno coloro ai quali non era stato annunziato
e coloro che non ne avevano udito parlare,
comprenderanno.

Progetti di viaggio

22 Per questo appunto fui impedito più volte di venire da voi. 23 Ora però, non trovando più un campo d'azione in queste regioni e avendo gia da parecchi anni un vivo desiderio di venire da voi, 24 quando andrò in Spagna spero, passando, di vedervi, e di esser da voi aiutato per recarmi in quella regione, dopo avere goduto un poco della vostra presenza.

25 Per il momento vado a Gerusalemme, a rendere un servizio a quella comunità; 26 la Macedonia e l'Acaia infatti hanno voluto fare una colletta a favore dei poveri che sono nella comunità di Gerusalemme. 27 L'hanno voluto perché sono ad essi debitori: infatti, avendo i pagani partecipato ai loro beni spirituali, sono in debito di rendere un servizio sacro nelle loro necessità materiali. 28 Fatto questo e presentato ufficialmente ad essi questo frutto, andrò in Spagna passando da voi. 29 E so che, giungendo presso di voi, verrò con la pienezza della benedizione di Cristo. 30 Vi esorto perciò, fratelli, per il Signore nostro Gesù Cristo e l'amore dello Spirito, a lottare con me nelle preghiere che rivolgete per me a Dio, 31 perché io sia liberato dagli infedeli della Giudea e il mio servizio a Gerusalemme torni gradito a quella comunità, 32 sicché io possa venire da voi nella gioia, se così vuole Dio, e riposarmi in mezzo a voi. Il Dio della pace sia con tutti voi. Amen.

15 οφειλομεν δε ημεις οι δυνατοι τα ασθενηματα των αδυνατων βασταζειν και μη εαυτοις αρεσκειν

εκαστος γαρ ημων τω πλησιον αρεσκετω εις το αγαθον προς οικοδομην

και γαρ ο χριστος ουχ εαυτω ηρεσεν αλλα καθως γεγραπται οι ονειδισμοι των ονειδιζοντων σε επεπεσον επ εμε

οσα γαρ προεγραφη εις την ημετεραν διδασκαλιαν προεγραφη ινα δια της υπομονης και της παρακλησεως των γραφων την ελπιδα εχωμεν

ο δε θεος της υπομονης και της παρακλησεως δωη υμιν το αυτο φρονειν εν αλληλοις κατα χριστον ιησουν

ινα ομοθυμαδον εν ενι στοματι δοξαζητε τον θεον και πατερα του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

διο προσλαμβανεσθε αλληλους καθως και ο χριστος προσελαβετο ημας εις δοξαν θεου

λεγω δε ιησουν χριστον διακονον γεγενησθαι περιτομης υπερ αληθειας θεου εις το βεβαιωσαι τας επαγγελιας των πατερων

τα δε εθνη υπερ ελεους δοξασαι τον θεον καθως γεγραπται δια τουτο εξομολογησομαι σοι εν εθνεσιν και τω ονοματι σου ψαλω

10 και παλιν λεγει ευφρανθητε εθνη μετα του λαου αυτου

11 και παλιν αινειτε τον κυριον παντα τα εθνη και επαινεσατε αυτον παντες οι λαοι

12 και παλιν ησαιας λεγει εσται η ριζα του ιεσσαι και ο ανισταμενος αρχειν εθνων επ αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν

13 ο δε θεος της ελπιδος πληρωσαι υμας πασης χαρας και ειρηνης εν τω πιστευειν εις το περισσευειν υμας εν τη ελπιδι εν δυναμει πνευματος αγιου

14 πεπεισμαι δε αδελφοι μου και αυτος εγω περι υμων οτι και αυτοι μεστοι εστε αγαθωσυνης πεπληρωμενοι πασης γνωσεως δυναμενοι και αλληλους νουθετειν

15 τολμηροτερον δε εγραψα υμιν αδελφοι απο μερους ως επαναμιμνησκων υμας δια την χαριν την δοθεισαν μοι υπο του θεου

16 εις το ειναι με λειτουργον ιησου χριστου εις τα εθνη ιερουργουντα το ευαγγελιον του θεου ινα γενηται η προσφορα των εθνων ευπροσδεκτος ηγιασμενη εν πνευματι αγιω

17 εχω ουν καυχησιν εν χριστω ιησου τα προς θεον

18 ου γαρ τολμησω λαλειν τι ων ου κατειργασατο χριστος δι εμου εις υπακοην εθνων λογω και εργω

19 εν δυναμει σημειων και τερατων εν δυναμει πνευματος θεου ωστε με απο ιερουσαλημ και κυκλω μεχρι του ιλλυρικου πεπληρωκεναι το ευαγγελιον του χριστου

20 ουτως δε φιλοτιμουμενον ευαγγελιζεσθαι ουχ οπου ωνομασθη χριστος ινα μη επ αλλοτριον θεμελιον οικοδομω

21 αλλα καθως γεγραπται οις ουκ ανηγγελη περι αυτου οψονται και οι ουκ ακηκοασιν συνησουσιν

22 διο και ενεκοπτομην τα πολλα του ελθειν προς υμας

23 νυνι δε μηκετι τοπον εχων εν τοις κλιμασιν τουτοις επιποθιαν δε εχων του ελθειν προς υμας απο πολλων ετων

24 ως εαν πορευωμαι εις την σπανιαν ελευσομαι προς υμας ελπιζω γαρ διαπορευομενος θεασασθαι υμας και υφ υμων προπεμφθηναι εκει εαν υμων πρωτον απο μερους εμπλησθω

25 νυνι δε πορευομαι εις ιερουσαλημ διακονων τοις αγιοις

26 ευδοκησαν γαρ μακεδονια και αχαια κοινωνιαν τινα ποιησασθαι εις τους πτωχους των αγιων των εν ιερουσαλημ

27 ευδοκησαν γαρ και οφειλεται αυτων εισιν ει γαρ τοις πνευματικοις αυτων εκοινωνησαν τα εθνη οφειλουσιν και εν τοις σαρκικοις λειτουργησαι αυτοις

28 τουτο ουν επιτελεσας και σφραγισαμενος αυτοις τον καρπον τουτον απελευσομαι δι υμων εις την σπανιαν

29 οιδα δε οτι ερχομενος προς υμας εν πληρωματι ευλογιας του ευαγγελιου του χριστου ελευσομαι

30 παρακαλω δε υμας αδελφοι δια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου και δια της αγαπης του πνευματος συναγωνισασθαι μοι εν ταις προσευχαις υπερ εμου προς τον θεον

31 ινα ρυσθω απο των απειθουντων εν τη ιουδαια και ινα η διακονια μου η εις ιερουσαλημ ευπροσδεκτος γενηται τοις αγιοις

32 ινα εν χαρα ελθω προς υμας δια θεληματος θεου και συναναπαυσωμαι υμιν

33 ο δε θεος της ειρηνης μετα παντων υμων αμην

15 οφειλομεν δε ημεις οι δυνατοι τα ασθενηματα των αδυνατων βασταζειν και μη εαυτοις αρεσκειν

εκαστος γαρ ημων τω πλησιον αρεσκετω εις το αγαθον προς οικοδομην

και γαρ ο χριστος ουχ εαυτω ηρεσεν αλλα καθως γεγραπται οι ονειδισμοι των ονειδιζοντων σε επεπεσον επ εμε

οσα γαρ προεγραφη εις την ημετεραν διδασκαλιαν προεγραφη ινα δια της υπομονης και της παρακλησεως των γραφων την ελπιδα εχωμεν

ο δε θεος της υπομονης και της παρακλησεως δωη υμιν το αυτο φρονειν εν αλληλοις κατα χριστον ιησουν

ινα ομοθυμαδον εν ενι στοματι δοξαζητε τον θεον και πατερα του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

διο προσλαμβανεσθε αλληλους καθως και ο χριστος προσελαβετο ημας εις δοξαν θεου

λεγω δε ιησουν χριστον διακονον γεγενησθαι περιτομης υπερ αληθειας θεου εις το βεβαιωσαι τας επαγγελιας των πατερων

τα δε εθνη υπερ ελεους δοξασαι τον θεον καθως γεγραπται δια τουτο εξομολογησομαι σοι εν εθνεσιν και τω ονοματι σου ψαλω

10 και παλιν λεγει ευφρανθητε εθνη μετα του λαου αυτου

11 και παλιν αινειτε τον κυριον παντα τα εθνη και επαινεσατε αυτον παντες οι λαοι

12 και παλιν ησαιας λεγει εσται η ριζα του ιεσσαι και ο ανισταμενος αρχειν εθνων επ αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν

13 ο δε θεος της ελπιδος πληρωσαι υμας πασης χαρας και ειρηνης εν τω πιστευειν εις το περισσευειν υμας εν τη ελπιδι εν δυναμει πνευματος αγιου

14 πεπεισμαι δε αδελφοι μου και αυτος εγω περι υμων οτι και αυτοι μεστοι εστε αγαθωσυνης πεπληρωμενοι πασης γνωσεως δυναμενοι και αλληλους νουθετειν

15 τολμηροτερον δε εγραψα υμιν αδελφοι απο μερους ως επαναμιμνησκων υμας δια την χαριν την δοθεισαν μοι υπο του θεου

16 εις το ειναι με λειτουργον ιησου χριστου εις τα εθνη ιερουργουντα το ευαγγελιον του θεου ινα γενηται η προσφορα των εθνων ευπροσδεκτος ηγιασμενη εν πνευματι αγιω

17 εχω ουν καυχησιν εν χριστω ιησου τα προς θεον

18 ου γαρ τολμησω λαλειν τι ων ου κατειργασατο χριστος δι εμου εις υπακοην εθνων λογω και εργω

19 εν δυναμει σημειων και τερατων εν δυναμει πνευματος θεου ωστε με απο ιερουσαλημ και κυκλω μεχρι του ιλλυρικου πεπληρωκεναι το ευαγγελιον του χριστου

20 ουτως δε φιλοτιμουμενον ευαγγελιζεσθαι ουχ οπου ωνομασθη χριστος ινα μη επ αλλοτριον θεμελιον οικοδομω

21 αλλα καθως γεγραπται οις ουκ ανηγγελη περι αυτου οψονται και οι ουκ ακηκοασιν συνησουσιν

22 διο και ενεκοπτομην τα πολλα του ελθειν προς υμας

23 νυνι δε μηκετι τοπον εχων εν τοις κλιμασιν τουτοις επιποθιαν δε εχων του ελθειν προς υμας απο πολλων ετων

24 ως εαν πορευωμαι εις την σπανιαν ελευσομαι προς υμας ελπιζω γαρ διαπορευομενος θεασασθαι υμας και υφ υμων προπεμφθηναι εκει εαν υμων πρωτον απο μερους εμπλησθω

25 νυνι δε πορευομαι εις ιερουσαλημ διακονων τοις αγιοις

26 ευδοκησαν γαρ μακεδονια και αχαια κοινωνιαν τινα ποιησασθαι εις τους πτωχους των αγιων των εν ιερουσαλημ

27 ευδοκησαν γαρ και οφειλεται αυτων εισιν ει γαρ τοις πνευματικοις αυτων εκοινωνησαν τα εθνη οφειλουσιν και εν τοις σαρκικοις λειτουργησαι αυτοις

28 τουτο ουν επιτελεσας και σφραγισαμενος αυτοις τον καρπον τουτον απελευσομαι δι υμων εις την σπανιαν

29 οιδα δε οτι ερχομενος προς υμας εν πληρωματι ευλογιας του ευαγγελιου του χριστου ελευσομαι

30 παρακαλω δε υμας αδελφοι δια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου και δια της αγαπης του πνευματος συναγωνισασθαι μοι εν ταις προσευχαις υπερ εμου προς τον θεον

31 ινα ρυσθω απο των απειθουντων εν τη ιουδαια και ινα η διακονια μου η εις ιερουσαλημ ευπροσδεκτος γενηται τοις αγιοις

32 ινα εν χαρα ελθω προς υμας δια θεληματος θεου και συναναπαυσωμαι υμιν

33 ο δε θεος της ειρηνης μετα παντων υμων αμην

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)

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

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

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

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

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

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

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

15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.