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Romans 15
The Voice

Paul says he is free to eat, but he is not free to injure another in what he eats. Personal freedom must always give way to corporate responsibility. To put it another way, the gospel of love demands that we surrender individual liberties for the sake of our brothers and sisters. We see this demonstrated powerfully in the example of Jesus who gave up His life and freedom for the sake of the world. When we live by this ethic, we create a community marked by warmth and hospitality. Food, drink, and holidays may well be personal options within the Kingdom. But justice, peace, and joy are communal essentials for life in the Kingdom.

15 So now what? We who are strong are not just to satisfy our own desires. We are called to carry the weaknesses of those who are not strong. 2 Each of us must strive to please our neighbors, pursuing their welfare so they will become strong. 3 The Anointed One Himself is our model for this kind of living, for He did not live to please Himself. And as the Scriptures declared, “When they insult You, they insult me.”[a] 4 You see, everything written in the days of old was recorded to give us instructions for living. We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living. 5 I pray that our God, who calls you and gives you perseverance and encouragement, will join all of you together to share one mind according to Jesus the Anointed. 6 In this unity, you will share one voice as you glorify the one True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Liberating King.

7 So accept one another in the same way the Anointed has accepted you so that God will get the praise He is due. 8 For, as I am fond of saying, the Anointed One has become a servant of the Jews[b] in order to demonstrate God’s truth. Effectively this confirms the promises He made to our ancestors 9 and causes the non-Jewish nations to glorify God for His mercy. As the Scriptures say,

For this I will praise You among the nations
    and sing praises to Your name.[c]

10 Again the Scriptures say,

Nations, celebrate with His covenant people.[d]

11 And again,

Praise the Lord, all nations.
    Raise your voices, all people; let your praises flow to God.[e]

12 Again Isaiah says,

Then, the root of Jesse will emerge—
He rises to rule all the peoples of the world
    who come to Him for guidance and direction.
In Him they place their hope.[f]

13 I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 My brothers and sisters, I am ultimately confident that you are full of goodness, knowledge, and the ability to help and instruct one another. 15 I have written to you with unflinching honesty on many topics because I do not want you to ever lose sight of the tremendous grace God has given me. 16 His grace makes me who I am, a minister of the Anointed One, Jesus, called to serve the nations.

Though Paul’s churches are made up of Jews and non-Jews, Paul’s special calling is to be God’s emissary to the nations beyond Israel, known as the Gentiles.

The good news of God is the focus of my priestly work. In effect, these nations have become an offering to God, totally acceptable, indeed made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit. 17 So in Jesus, the Anointed One, I have reason to celebrate the things I do for God. 18 I don’t want to be presumptuous, so I will restrict myself to what the Anointed has accomplished through my words and actions, which has culminated in the obedience of the nations. 19 My words and actions have been rooted in Spirit-empowered signs and miracles. The upshot is this: I have been able to preach the good news of the Anointed One in city after city from Jerusalem all the way around the Mediterranean to Illyricum. 20 I have dreamed of preaching the gospel in places where no one has ever heard of the Anointed so that I do not build on a foundation laid by anyone else. 21 But as the Scriptures say,

They will see Him even though they’ve never been told about Him;
    they will understand even though they never heard of Him.[g]

22 Because of many issues, I have not been able to visit you in the city of Rome. 23 But my time to serve those here is coming to an end, there’s no room left for me in this region, and I have longed to come to you for many years. So I plan to visit you 24 on my journey to Spain. I am hoping that I will not only see you face-to-face, but that you will assist me in the journey west after I have enjoyed our time together. 25 But right now I must make the journey to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. 26 Those in Macedonia and Achaia decided it was a good idea to share their funds to help the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 I must tell you that they were thrilled to be able to help. They realize that they are indebted to the believers in Jerusalem. If the nations share in the Jews’ spiritual goods, then it’s only right that they minister back to them in material goods. 28 When this work is complete and the funds we’ve collected are delivered, I will make my way to Spain through your grand city of Rome and enjoy some of your hospitality. 29 I’m sure that when I come to you I will come as a blessing and as one fully blessed by the Anointed One.

30 My brothers and sisters, I urgently plead with you by the name of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, and by the love of the Spirit to join together with me in your prayers to God for my success in these next endeavors. 31 Pray that I will be rescued from those who deny and persecute the faith in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem will meet the approval of all the saints there. 32 If that happens, then my journey to you will be filled with joy; and, if God wills, I can rest and be refreshed in your presence. 33 I pray the God of all peace will be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 15:3 Psalm 69:9
  2. 15:8 Literally, “the circumcision”
  3. 15:9 Psalm 18:49
  4. 15:10 Deuteronomy 32:43
  5. 15:11 Psalm 117:1
  6. 15:12 Isaiah 11:10
  7. 15:21 Isaiah 52:15
Close WYC

Romans 15
Wycliffe Bible

15 But we firmer men owe to sustain the feeblenesses of frail men, and not please to ourselves.[a]

2 Each of us please to his neighbour in good [into good], to edification.

3 For Christ pleased not to himself, as it is written, The reproves of men despising thee, felled on me.[b]

4 For whatever things be written, those be written to our teaching [they be written to our teaching], that by patience and comfort of scriptures we have hope.

5 But God of patience and of solace give to you to understand the same thing, each into (the) other after Jesus Christ,

6 that ye of one will with one mouth worship God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 For which thing take ye together, as also Christ took you into the honour of God.

8 For I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises of fathers.

9 And heathen men owe to honour God for mercy; as it is written, Therefore, Lord, I shall acknowledge to thee among heathen men, and I shall sing to thy name.

10 And again he saith, Ye heathen men, be ye glad with his people. [And again he saith, Glad, or joy, ye heathen men with his people.]

11 And again, All heathen men, praise ye the Lord; and all peoples, magnify ye him.

12 And again Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, that shall rise up to govern heathen men [that shall rise to govern heathen men], and heathen men shall hope in him.

13 And God of hope full-fill you in all joy and peace in believing, that ye increase in hope and virtue of the Holy Ghost [that ye abound in hope and virtue of the Holy Ghost].

14 And, brethren, I myself am certain of you, that also ye be full of love, and ye be filled with all knowing, so that ye be able to admonish each other.[c]

15 And, brethren, more boldly I wrote to you a part [more hardily I wrote to you of part], as bringing you into mind, for the grace that is given to me of God,

16 that I be the minister of Christ Jesus among heathen men. And I hallow the gospel of God, that the offering of heathen men be accepted, and hallowed in the Holy Ghost [I hallowing the gospel of God, that the offering of heathen men be made acceptable, and hallowed in the Holy Ghost].

17 Therefore I have glory in Christ Jesus to God.

18 For I dare not speak any thing of those things, which Christ doeth not by me [which Christ maketh not by me], into obedience of heathen men, in word and deeds,

19 in virtue of tokens and great wonders, in virtue of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem by compass to the Illyricum sea I have filled the gospel of Christ [so that from Jerusalem by compass, or environ, till unto Illyricum I have full-filled the gospel of Christ].

20 And so I have preached this gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I build upon another's ground,

21 but as it is written, For to whom it is not told of him, they shall see, and they that heard not, shall understand.

22 For which thing I was hindered full much to come to you, and I am hindered till this time. [For which thing I was letted full much to come to you, and I am forbidden till unto yet.]

23 And now I have not further place in these countries, but I have desire to come to you, of many years that be passed. [Forsooth now I not having further place, or cause of longer dwelling, in these countries, soothly having covetousness of coming to you, of many years now going before.]

24 When I [shall] begin to pass into Spain, I hope that in my going I shall see you [I hope that I passing forth shall see you], and of you I shall be led thither, if I use you first in part.

25 Therefore now I shall pass forth to Jerusalem, to minister to saints.

26 For Macedonia and Achaia have assayed to make some gift to poor men of saints, that be in Jerusalem. [Forsooth Macedonia and Achaia proved to make some collection, or gathering of money, into poor men of saints, that be in Jerusalem.]

27 For it pleased to them [Soothly it pleased to them], and they be debtors of them; for if heathen men be made partners of their ghostly things, they owe also in fleshly things to minister to them.

28 Therefore when I have ended this thing, and have assigned to them this fruit, I shall pass by you into Spain.

29 And I know, that I coming to you, shall come in the abundance of the blessing of Christ [shall come into the abundance, or plenty, of the blessing of Christ].

30 Therefore, brethren, I beseech you by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that ye help me in your prayers [for me] to the Lord,

31 that I be delivered from the unfaithful men, that be in Judaea, and that the offering of my service be accepted in Jerusalem to saints;

32 that I come to you in joy, by the will of God, and that I be refreshed with you.

33 And God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:1 Forsooth we firmer owe to sustain, or bear up, the feebleness of sick men, or unfirm in faith, and not to please to ourselves.
  2. Romans 15:3 For why Christ pleased not to himself, but, as it is written, The reproves, or shames, of men displeasing thee, fell on me.
  3. Romans 15:14 Soothly, brethren, and I myself am certain of you, that also ye be full of love, yea, full-filled with all science, or knowing, so that ye may admonish each other.
Listen to Romans 15
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Romans 15
New International Version

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak(A) and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good,(B) to build them up.(C) 3 For even Christ did not please himself(D) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a](E) 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,(F) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind(G) toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify(H) the God and Father(I) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another,(J) then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b](K) on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises(L) made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles(M) might glorify God(N) for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”[c](O)

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[d](P)

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”[e](Q)

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse(R) will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”[f](S)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace(T) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(U)

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness,(V) filled with knowledge(W) and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me(X) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.(Y) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,(Z) so that the Gentiles might become an offering(AA) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus(AB) in my service to God.(AC) 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles(AD) to obey God(AE) by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders,(AF) through the power of the Spirit of God.(AG) So from Jerusalem(AH) all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.(AI) 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel(AJ) where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.(AK) 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,
    and those who have not heard will understand.”[g](AL)

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.(AM)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,(AN) 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain.(AO) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist(AP) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem(AQ) in the service(AR) of the Lord’s people(AS) there. 26 For Macedonia(AT) and Achaia(AU) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.(AV) 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.(AW) 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain(AX) and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you,(AY) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,(AZ) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.(BA) 31 Pray that I may be kept safe(BB) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution(BC) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people(BD) there, 32 so that I may come to you(BE) with joy, by God’s will,(BF) and in your company be refreshed.(BG) 33 The God of peace(BH) be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:3 Psalm 69:9
  2. Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision
  3. Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
  4. Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43
  5. Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1
  6. Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see Septuagint)
  7. Romans 15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see Septuagint)
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