Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves

15 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength,^(A) and not to please ourselves. ² Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.^{(B) 3} For even the Messiah did not please Himself.^(C) On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.^{(D)[a] 4} For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction,^(E) so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. ⁵ Now may the God who gives^[b] endurance and encouragement^(F) allow you to live in harmony with one another,^(G) according to the command of Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ^(H) with a united mind and voice.

Glorifying God Together

⁷ Therefore accept one another,^(I) just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God. ⁸ For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised^[c] on behalf of God’s truth,^(J) to confirm the promises to the fathers,^{(K) 9} and so that Gentiles^(L) may glorify God for His mercy.^(M) As it is written:

¹⁰ Again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people!^{(O)[e] 11} And again:

¹² And again, Isaiah says:

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him^(S) so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.^(T)

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

¹⁴ My brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness,^(U) filled with all knowledge,^(V) and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points^[h] because of the grace given me by God^{(W) 16} to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles,^(X) serving as a priest of God’s good news.^(Y) My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable,^(Z) sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus^(AA) regarding what pertains to God.^{(AB) 18} For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me^(AC) to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, ¹⁹ by the power of miraculous signs and wonders,^(AD) and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem^(AE) all the way around to Illyricum.^{[i](AF) 20} My aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named,^(AG) so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,^{(AH) 21} but, as it is written:

Paul’s Travel Plans

²² That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.^{(AJ) 23} But now I no longer have any work to do in these provinces,^[k] and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you^{(AK) 24} whenever I travel to Spain.^[l] For I hope to see you when I pass through, and to be assisted by you for my journey there,^(AL) once I have first enjoyed your company^(AM) for a while. ²⁵ Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem^(AN) to serve the saints,^{(AO) 26} for Macedonia^(AP) and Achaia^[m](AQ) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits,^(AR) then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs. ²⁸ So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds^[n] to them,^(AS) I will visit you on the way to Spain. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing^[o] of Christ.

³⁰ Now I appeal to you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit,^(AT) to join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf.^{(AU) 31} Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea,^(AV) that the gift I am bringing to^[p] Jerusalem^(AW) may be acceptable to the saints,^{(AX) 32} and that, by God’s will,^(AY) I may come to you with joy^(AZ) and be refreshed together with you.

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