Self-denial in behalf 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)edification. ³ For even ^(D)Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “^(E)The taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on Me.” ⁴ For ^(F)whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ Now may the ^(G)God ^[b]who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you ^(H)to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that with one purpose and one ^[c]voice you may glorify ^(I)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ Therefore, ^[d](J)accept one another, just as Christ also accepted ^[e]us, for the glory of God. ⁸ For I say that Christ has become a servant to ^(K)the circumcision in 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 Again he says,

¹¹ And again,

¹² Again Isaiah says,

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.

¹⁴ And concerning you, my brothers and sisters, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of ^(W)goodness, filled with ^(X)all knowledge and 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 to me ^[g]from God, ¹⁶ 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, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found ^(AC)reason for boasting in ^(AD)things pertaining to God. ^18 (AE)For I will not presume to speak of anything ^[h]except what ^(AF)Christ has accomplished through me, ^[i]resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, ¹⁹ in the power of ^[j](AG)signs and wonders, ^(AH)in the power of the Spirit; so that ^(AI)from Jerusalem and all around as ^(AJ)far as Illyricum I have ^[k]fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And in this way I aspired to ^(AK)preach the gospel, not where Christ was already known by name, ^(AL)so that I would not build on another person’s foundation; ²¹ but just as it is written:

²² For this reason ^(AN)I have often been prevented from coming to you; ²³ but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I ^(AO)have had for many years a longing to come to you ²⁴ whenever I ^(AP)go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be ^(AQ)helped on my way there by you, when I have first ^(AR)enjoyed your company ^[l]for a while— ²⁵ but now, ^(AS)I am going to Jerusalem, ^(AT)serving the ^[m]saints. ²⁶ For ^(AU)Macedonia and ^(AV)Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the ^[n]saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷ For they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For ^(AW)if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have finished this, and ^(AX)have ^[o]put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will ^(AY)go on by way of you to Spain. ²⁹ I know that when ^(AZ)I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by ^(BA)the love of the Spirit, to ^(BB)strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, ³¹ that I may be ^(BC)rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my ^(BD)service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the ^[p](BE)saints; ³² so that ^(BF)I may come to you in joy by ^(BG)the will of God and relax in your company. ³³ Now ^(BH)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.