¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(A) I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(B) and save^(C) some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(D) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^{(E) 16} If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(F) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off,^(G) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(H) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^{(I) 19} You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(J) Do not be arrogant,^(K) but tremble.^{(L) 21} For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness^(M) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(N) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^{(O) 23} And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^{(P) 24} After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(Q) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,^(A) without quarreling over disputable matters. ² One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.^{(B) 3} The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt^(C) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge^(D) the one who does, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?^(E) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

⁵ One person considers one day more sacred than another;^(F) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. ⁶ Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;^(G) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives for ourselves alone,^(H) and none of us dies for ourselves alone. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.^{(I) 9} For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life^(J) so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.^(K)

¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister^[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?^(L) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.^{(M) 11} It is written:

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.^(P)

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment^(Q) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.^{(R) 14} I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.^(S) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.^{(T) 15} If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.^(U) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.^(V)

¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.^(T) Keep away from them.^{(U) 18} For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,^(V) but their own appetites.^(W) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive^(X) the minds of naive people. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard^(Y) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.^(Z)

²⁰ The God of peace^(AA) will soon crush^(AB) Satan^(AC) under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.^(AD)

²¹ Timothy,^(AE) my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius,^(AF) Jason^(AG) and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.^(AH)

²² I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius,^(AI) whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus,^(AJ) who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. ^[24] [c]

²⁵ Now to him who is able^(AK) to establish you in accordance with my gospel,^(AL) the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery^(AM) hidden for long ages past, ²⁶ but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings^(AN) by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from^[d] faith^(AO)— ²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.^(AP)