Romans 15
New King James Version
Bearing Others’ Burdens
15 We (A)then who are strong ought to bear with the [a]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 (B)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to [b]edification. 3 (C)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, (D)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For (E)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [c]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 (F)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may (G)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Glorify God Together
7 Therefore (H)receive one another, just (I)as Christ also received [d]us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that (J)Jesus Christ has become a [e]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, (K)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and (L)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
(M)“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”
10 And again he says:
(N)“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
11 And again:
(O)“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!”
12 And again, Isaiah says:
(P)“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all (Q)joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
From Jerusalem to Illyricum
14 Now (R)I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, (S)filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [f]one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, (T)because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that (U)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the (V)offering [g]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus (W)in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things (X)which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, (Y)to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 (Z)in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, (AA)lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written:
(AB)“To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand.”
Plan to Visit Rome
22 For this reason (AC)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and (AD)having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, [h]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, (AE)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may (AF)enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now (AG)I am going to Jerusalem to [i]minister to the saints. 26 For (AH)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For (AI)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, (AJ)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them (AK)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 (AL)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing [j]of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and (AM)through the love of the Spirit, (AN)that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 (AO)that I may be delivered from those in Judea who [k]do not believe, and that (AP)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 (AQ)that I may come to you with joy (AR)by the will of God, and may (AS)be refreshed together with you. 33 Now (AT)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 15:1 weaknesses
- Romans 15:2 building up
- Romans 15:4 perseverance
- Romans 15:7 NU, M you
- Romans 15:8 minister
- Romans 15:14 M others
- Romans 15:16 Consisting of
- Romans 15:24 NU omits I shall come to you and joins Spain with the next sentence.
- Romans 15:25 serve
- Romans 15:29 NU omits of the gospel
- Romans 15:31 are disobedient
Romans 15
International Children’s Bible
15 We who are strong in faith should help those who are weak. We should help them with their weaknesses, and not please only ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to help him be stronger in faith. 3 Even Christ did not live to please himself. It was as the Scriptures said: “When people insult you, it hurts me.”[a] 4 Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us. 5 Patience and encouragement come from God. And I pray that God will help you all agree with each other the way Christ Jesus wants. 6 Then you will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other. This will bring glory to God. 8 I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews. This was to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true. 9 And he also did this so that the non-Jews could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures:
“So I will praise you among the non-Jewish people.
I will sing praises to your name.” Psalm 18:49
10 The Scripture also says,
“Be happy, you non-Jews, together with God’s people.” Deuteronomy 32:43
11 Again the Scripture says,
“All you non-Jews, praise the Lord.
All you people, sing praises to him.” Psalm 117:1
12 And Isaiah says,
“A new king will come from Jesse’s family.[b]
He will come to rule over the non-Jews;
and the non-Jews will have hope because of him.” Isaiah 11:10
13 I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul Talks About His Work
14 My brothers, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other. 15 But I have written to you very openly about some things that I wanted you to remember. I did this because God gave me this special gift: 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the non-Jewish people. I served God by teaching his Good News, so that the non-Jewish people could be an offering that God would accept—an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17 So I am proud of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus. 18 I will not talk about anything I did myself. I will talk only about what Christ has done through me in leading the non-Jewish people to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done. 19 And they have obeyed God because of the power of miracles and the great things they saw, and the power of the Holy Spirit. I preached the Good News from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. And so I have finished that part of my work. 20 I always want to preach the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ. I do this because I do not want to build on the work that someone else has already started. 21 But it is written in the Scriptures:
“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard about him will understand.” Isaiah 52:15
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 That is why many times I was stopped from coming to you. 23 Now I have finished my work here. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you, 24 I hope to visit you on my way to Spain. I will enjoy being with you, and you can help me on my trip. 25 Now I am going to Jerusalem to help God’s people. 26 The believers in Macedonia and Southern Greece were happy to give their money to help the poor among God’s people at Jerusalem. 27 They were happy to do this, and really they owe it to them. These non-Jews have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings. So they should use their material possessions to help the Jews. 28 I must be sure that the poor in Jerusalem get the money that has been given for them. After I do this, I will leave for Spain and stop and visit you. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will bring Christ’s full blessing.
30 Brothers, I beg you to help me in my work by praying for me to God. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us. 31 Pray that I will be saved from the non-believers in Judea. And pray that this help I bring to Jerusalem will please God’s people there. 32 Then, if God wants me to, I will come to you. I will come with joy, and together you and I will have a time of rest. 33 The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- 15:3 “When . . . me.” Quotation from Psalm 69:9.
- 15:12 Jesse’s family Jesse was the father of David, king of Israel. Jesus was from their family.
Romans 15
King James Version
15 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 15
English Standard Version
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. 2 (C)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For (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 former days was written for our (G)instruction, that through endurance and through (H)the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you (I)to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify (J)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8 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, 9 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 says,
(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. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and (AK)since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go (AL)to Spain, and (AM)to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, (AN)I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For (AO)Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed (AP)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 blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[b] I will leave (AQ)for Spain by way of you. 29 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, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by (AR)the love of the Spirit, (AS)to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 (AT)that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that (AU)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and (AV)be refreshed in your company. 33 May (AW)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 15:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 30
- Romans 15:28 Greek sealed to them this fruit
- Romans 15:29 Some manuscripts insert of the gospel
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
