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15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”Psalm 69:9 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,[a] to the glory of God. Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles
    and sing to your name.”2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49

10 Again he says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”Deuteronomy 32:43

11 Again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
    Let all the peoples praise him.”Psalm 117:1

12 Again, Isaiah says,

“There will be the root of Jesse,
    he who arises to rule over the Gentiles;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”Isaiah 11:10

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

14 I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers,[b] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 15 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; 20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation. 21 But, as it is written,

“They will see, to whom no news of him came.
    They who haven’t heard will understand.”Isaiah 52:15

22 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 23 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 24 whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27 Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. 28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.

30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 15:7 TR reads “us” instead of “you”
  2. 15:14 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

Please Others, Not Yourselves

15 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.(A) Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.(B) For Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.(C) May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,(D) so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel for Jews and Gentiles Alike

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors(E) and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles
    and sing praises to your name”;(F)

10 and again he says,

“Rejoice, O gentiles, with his people”;

11 and again,

“Praise the Lord, all you gentiles,
    and let all the peoples praise him”;

12 and again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse shall come,
    the one who rises to rule the gentiles;
in him the gentiles shall hope.”(G)

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

Paul’s Reason for Writing So Boldly

14 I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.(I) 15 Nevertheless, on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God(J) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.(K) 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18 For I will not be so bold as to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the gentiles, by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit,[a] so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.(L) 20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation,(M) 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
    and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”(N)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

22 This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you(O) 24 when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints,(P) 26 for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.(Q) 27 They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them, for if the gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.(R) 28 So, when I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[b] I will set out by way of you to Spain, 29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[c] of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf,(S) 31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my ministry[d] to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.(T) 33 The God of peace be with all of you.[e] Amen.(U)

Footnotes

  1. 15.19 Other ancient authorities read the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit
  2. 15.28 Gk have sealed to them this fruit
  3. 15.29 Other ancient authorities add of the gospel
  4. 15.31 Other ancient authorities read my bringing of a gift
  5. 15.33 One ancient authority adds 16.25–27 here