Romans 15
Contemporary English Version
Please Others and Not Yourself
15 If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2 We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3 (A) Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4 (B) And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles
7 Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8 I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9 (C) so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,
“I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name.”
10 (D) The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, “Come and celebrate with God's people.”
11 (E) Again the Scriptures say,
“Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him.”
12 (F) Isaiah says,
“Someone from David's family
will come to power.
He will rule the nations,
and they will put their hope
in him.”
13 I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Paul's Work as a Missionary
14 My friends, I am sure that you are very good and that you have all the knowledge you need to teach each other. 15 But I have spoken to you plainly and have tried to remind you of some things. God treated me with undeserved grace! 16 He chose me to be a servant of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles and to do the work of a priest in the service of his good news. God did this so that the Holy Spirit could make the Gentiles into a holy offering, pleasing to him.
17 Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God. 18 In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work, so that the Gentiles would obey him. 19 Indeed, I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have preached the good news about him all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum. 20 But I have always tried to preach where people have never heard about Christ. I am like a builder who doesn't build on someone else's foundation. 21 (G) It is just as the Scriptures say,
“All who haven't been told
about him
will see him,
and those who haven't heard
about him
will understand.”
Paul's Plan To Visit Rome
22 (H) My work has always kept me from coming to see you. 23 Now there is nothing left for me to do in this part of the world, and for years I have wanted to visit you. 24 So I plan to stop off on my way to Spain. Then after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.
25-26 (I) I am now on my way to Jerusalem to deliver the money that the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia collected for God's needy people. 27 (J) This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles. 28 After I have safely delivered this money, I will visit you and then go on to Spain. 29 And when I do arrive in Rome, I know it will be with the full blessings of Christ.
30 My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. 31 Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing. 32 Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit. 33 I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.
Romans 15
Legacy Standard Bible
Bearing the Weaknesses of Others
15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of (A)those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to (B)please his neighbor [a]for his good, to his (C)building up. 3 For even (D)Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “(E)The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For (F)whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the (G)God of perseverance and encouragement grant you (H)to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one [b]voice glorify (I)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ, the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
7 Therefore, (J)accept one another, just as Christ also accepted [c]us to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to (K)the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm (L)the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for (M)the Gentiles to (N)glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,
10 And again he says,
“(P)Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
11 And again,
12 And again Isaiah says,
“(R)There shall come (S)the root of Jesse,
And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,
(T)In Him shall the Gentiles hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all (U)joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope (V)by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Ministry Plans
14 But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of (W)goodness, having been filled with (X)all knowledge and being able also to admonish one another. 15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of (Y)the grace that was given me [f]by God 16 for me to be (Z)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the (AA)gospel of God, so that my (AB)offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have (AC)reason for boasting in (AD)things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not be bold to speak of anything [g]except what (AE)Christ has brought about through me, [h]leading to the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of [i](AF)signs and wonders, (AG)in the power of the Spirit; so that (AH)from Jerusalem and all around as (AI)far as Illyricum I have [j]fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And in this way I make it my ambition to (AJ)proclaim the gospel, not where Christ was already named, (AK)so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written,
“(AL)They who had no declaration of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard shall understand.”
22 For this reason (AM)I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I (AN)have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I (AO)go to Spain—for I hope, passing through, to see you, and to be (AP)helped on my way there by you, when I have first (AQ)enjoyed your company [k]for a while. 25 But now (AR)I am going to Jerusalem to (AS)serve the [l]saints. 26 For (AT)Macedonia and (AU)Achaia were pleased to [m]share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For (AV)if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have completed this and (AW)have [n]put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will (AX)go on by way of you to Spain. 29 And I know that when (AY)I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by (AZ)the love of the Spirit, to (BA)strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be (BB)rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my (BC)service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the [o](BD)saints; 32 so that (BE)I may come to you in joy by (BF)the will of God and find rest in your company. 33 Now may (BG)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 15:2 Lit for what is good to edification
- Romans 15:6 Lit mouth
- Romans 15:7 One early ms you
- Romans 15:9 Or confess
- Romans 15:11 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 117:1
- Romans 15:15 Some early mss from
- Romans 15:18 Lit which Christ has not accomplished
- Romans 15:18 Lit to the obedience
- Romans 15:19 Or attesting miracles
- Romans 15:19 Lit fulfilled
- Romans 15:24 Lit in part
- Romans 15:25 Or holy ones
- Romans 15:26 Lit make fellowship
- Romans 15:28 Lit sealed to them this fruit
- Romans 15:31 Or holy ones
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