The Example of Christ

15 (A)We who are strong (B)have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (C)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For (D)Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, (E)“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For (F)whatever was written in former days was written for our (G)instruction, that through endurance and through (H)the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you (I)to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify (J)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

For I tell you that Christ (K)became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order (L)to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order (M)that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

(N)“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name.”

10 And again it is said,

(O)“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

(P)“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

(Q)(R)“The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
(S)in him will the Gentiles hope.”

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

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 (U)I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,[a] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with (V)all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, (W)because of the grace given me by God 16 to be (X)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles (Y)in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that (Z)the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have (AA)reason to be proud of (AB)my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except (AC)what Christ has accomplished through me (AD)to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 (AE)by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that (AF)from Jerusalem and all the way around (AG)to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, (AH)lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written,

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

Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

22 This is the reason why (AJ)I have so often been hindered from coming to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 30

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