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Self-denial on Behalf of Others

15 Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves. Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his [a]neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written [in Scripture], “The reproaches of those who reproached You (the Father) fell on Me (the Son).”(A) For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, [continue to] accept and welcome one another, just as Christ has accepted and welcomed us to the glory of [our great] God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant and a minister to the circumcision (Jews) on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm and verify the promises made to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy [to them, since God had no covenant with them]. As it is written and forever remains written,

Therefore I praise You among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.”(B)

10 Again it says,

Rejoice and celebrate, O Gentiles, along with His people.”(C)

11 And again,

Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him!”(D)

12 Again Isaiah says,

There shall be a root of [b]Jesse,
He who arises to rule [as King] over the Gentiles,
In Him shall the Gentiles hope.”(E)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.

14 Personally I am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge, and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another. 15 Still, on some points I have written to you very boldly and without reservation to remind you [about them] again, because of the grace that was given to me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I minister as a priest the gospel of God, in order that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable [to Him], sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have found [legitimate] reason for boasting in things related [to my service] to God. 18 For I will not [even] presume to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me [as an instrument in His hands], resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles [to the gospel], by word and deed, 19 with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] in the power of the Spirit. So [starting] from Jerusalem and as far away as [c]Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel [faithfully preaching the good news] of Christ [where it had not before been preached]. 20 Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture],

They who had no news of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.”(F)

22 This [goal—my commitment to this principle] is the reason why I have often been prevented from coming to you [in Rome]. 23 But now, with no further place for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you— 24 whenever I go [on my trip] to Spain—I hope to see you as I pass through [Rome], and to be helped on my journey there by you, after I have first enjoyed your company for a little while. 25 But for now, I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints (Jewish believers). 26 For [Gentile believers in] [d]Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints (Jewish believers) in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then they are indebted to serve them also in [tangible] material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I do come to you, I will come in the abundant blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, believers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join together with me in your prayers to God in my behalf, 31 [and pray] that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints (Jewish believers) there; 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and find rest in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all! Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:2 I.e. all those with whom we have contact.
  2. Romans 15:12 Jesse was the father of David the king, and Jesus (the Messiah) was a descendant of David.
  3. Romans 15:19 Located nearly 1,400 miles from Jerusalem, Illyricum was a Roman province of economic and strategic importance. It was a large region north of Macedonia located between the Adriatic Sea and the Danube River, and was known for its commercial seaports and gold mines. The great Roman road, Via Egnatia, started in Illyricum and ran eastward to Byzantium.
  4. Romans 15:26 In addition to Macedonia and Achaia some churches in Asia Minor also contributed to this offering.

15 We hēmeis who ho are strong dynatos have an obligation opheilō · de to bear with bastazō the ho failings asthenēma of the ho weak adynatos, and kai not to please areskō ourselves heautou. Let areskō each hekastos of us hēmeis please areskō his ho neighbor plēsion for eis his ho good agathos, to pros build oikodomē him up . · kai For gar · ho Christ Christos did areskō not ou please areskō himself heautou; but alla as kathōs it is written graphō, “ The ho insults oneidismos of those ho who insult oneidizō you sy have fallen epipiptō on epi me egō.” For gar whatever hosos was written prographō at an earlier time was written graphō for eis · ho our hēmeteros instruction didaskalia, that hina through dia · ho endurance hypomonē and kai through dia the ho encouragement paraklēsis of the ho scriptures graphē we might have echō · ho hope elpis. May the ho · de God theos of ho endurance hypomonē and kai · ho encouragement paraklēsis enable didōmi you hymeis to live in harmony ho with en one allēlōn another , according kata to Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, so hina that together homothumadon you may with en one heis voice stoma glorify doxazō the ho God theos and kai Father patēr of ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos. Therefore dio accept proslambanō one allēlōn another even kathōs as Christ Christos has also kai · ho accepted proslambanō you hymeis, for eis the glory doxa of ho God theos. For gar I tell legō you that Christ Christos has become ginomai a servant diakonos of the circumcised peritomē on hyper behalf of the truth alētheia of God theos, in eis order to confirm bebaioō the ho promises epangelia made to the ho patriarchs patēr, and de that the ho Gentiles ethnos might glorify doxazō God theos for hyper his mercy eleos. · ho As kathōs it is written graphō, “ For dia this houtos reason I will acknowledge exomologeomai you sy among en the Gentiles ethnos and kai sing praises psallō to ho your sy name onoma.” 10 And kai again palin it says legō, “ Rejoice euphrainō, O Gentiles ethnos, with meta · ho his autos people laos.” 11 And kai again palin, “ Praise aineō the ho Lord kyrios all pas you ho Gentiles ethnos, and kai let all pas the ho nations laos extol epaineō him autos.” 12 And kai again palin Isaiah ēsaias says legō, “ The ho root rhiza of ho Jesse Iessai will come eimi, even kai he ho who rises anistēmi to rule archō over the Gentiles ethnos; in epi him autos will the Gentiles ethnos hope elpizō.” 13 Now de may the ho God theos of ho hope elpis fill plēroō you hymeis with all pas joy chara and kai peace eirēnē in en · ho believing pisteuō, so eis that you hymeis may abound perisseuō in en · ho hope elpis by en the power dynamis of the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma.

14 I egō myself autos am convinced peithō about peri you hymeis, · de my egō brethren adelphos, · kai that hoti · kai you eimi yourselves autos are eimi full mestos of goodness agathōsynē, filled plēroō with all pas · ho knowledge gnōsis, and able dynamai also kai to instruct noutheteō one allēlōn another . 15 Nevertheless de on apo certain subjects meros I have written graphō to you hymeis rather boldly tolmēros so hōs as to refresh epanamimnēskō your hymeis memory , because dia of the ho grace charis that ho was given didōmi me egō by hypo · ho God theos 16 to eis be eimi a minister leitourgos of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous to eis the ho Gentiles ethnos, serving hierourgeō the ho gospel euangelion of ho God theos as a priest, so hina that my ho offering prosphora of the ho Gentiles ethnos may become ginomai acceptable euprosdektos, sanctified hagiazō by en the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma. 17 In en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, then oun, I have echō · ho reason to boast kauchēsis of my work ho for pros · ho God theos. 18 For gar I will not ou venture tolmaō to speak of laleō anything tis except ou what hos Christ Christos has accomplished katergazomai through dia me egō in bringing the Gentiles ethnos to eis obedience hypakoē, by word logos and kai deed ergon, 19 by en the power dynamis of signs sēmeion and kai wonders teras, by en the power dynamis of the Spirit pneuma of God theos, so that hōste from apo Jerusalem Ierousalēm · kai all the way around kyklōi to mechri · ho Illyricum Illyrikon I egō have fulfilled plēroō my ministry of proclaiming the ho gospel euangelion of ho Christ Christos. 20 And de thus houtōs I have always made it my aim philotimeomai to preach euangelizō the gospel , not ou where hopou Christ Christos was known onomazō, lest hina mē I should build oikodomeō on epi someone allotrios else’ s foundation themelios; 21 rather alla, as kathōs it is written graphō, “ Those hos who were not ou told anangellō of peri him autos will see horaō, and kai those hos who have not ou heard akouō of him will understand syniēmi.” 22 This is why dio · kai on so many occasions polys I was kept enkoptō from · ho coming erchomai to pros you hymeis; 23 but de now nyni I echō no longer mēketi have echō a reason topos for remaining in en · ho these houtos regions klima, and de for apo many polys years etos I have echō desired epipothia to come erchomai to pros visit you hymeis. 24 When hōs an I do go poreuō to eis · ho Spain Spania, I hope elpizō to see theaomai you hymeis as I pass through diaporeuomai and kai be helped on my way propempō there ekei by hypo you hymeis, after prōton I have enjoyed empiplēmi your hymeis company for apo a while meros. 25 But de for now nyni, I am going poreuō to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm in a service diakoneō for the ho saints hagios. 26 For gar Macedonia Makedonia and kai Achaia Achaia were pleased eudokeō to make poieō a contribution koinōnia tis to eis the ho poor ptōchos among the ho saints hagios · ho in en Jerusalem Ierousalēm. 27 They were pleased eudokeō to do so, in fact kai, they are eimi obligated opheiletēs to them autos; for gar if ei the ho Gentiles ethnos have come to share in koinōneō · ho their autos spiritual pneumatikos blessings , they ought opheilō also kai to be of service leitourgeō to them autos in en · ho material sarkikos things . 28 Therefore oun, when I have completed epiteleō this houtos task and kai have delivered sphragizō to them autos · ho what houtos was raised karpos, I will leave aperchomai for eis Spain Spania by dia way of you hymeis. 29 And de I know oida that hoti when I come erchomai to pros you hymeis, I will come erchomai in en the fulness plērōma of the blessing eulogia of Christ Christos. 30 Now de I urge parakaleō you hymeis, brethren adelphos, by dia · ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos and kai by dia the ho love agapē of the ho Spirit pneuma, to join synagōnizomai me egō in en · ho fervent proseuchē prayer to pros God theos on hyper my egō behalf, · ho 31 that hina I may be delivered rhyomai from apo those ho in en Judea Ioudaia who refuse to believe apeitheō, · ho and kai that · ho my egō service diakonia · ho to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm may prove ginomai truly acceptable euprosdektos to the ho saints hagios, 32 so hina that by dia God’ s theos will thelēma I may come erchomai to pros you hymeis with en joy chara and be refreshed synanapauomai in your hymeis company . 33 Now de may the ho God theos of ho peace eirēnē be with meta all pas of you hymeis. Amen amēn.