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Romans 15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 15

Patience and Self-Denial. 1 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves;(A) 2 let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up.(B) 3 For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written,(C) “The insults of those who insult you fall upon me.”[a] 4 For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.(D) 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony[b] with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus,(E) 6 that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Fidelity and Mercy.[c] 7 Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.(F) 8 For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,(G) 9 but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

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

10 And again it says:(I)

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”[d]

11 And again:

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

12 And again Isaiah says:

“The root of Jesse shall come,
    raised up to rule the Gentiles;
in him shall the Gentiles hope.”(K)

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

VII. Conclusion

Apostle to the Gentiles. 14 [e]I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness,[f] filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. 15 But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God(M) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the holy Spirit.(N) 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,(O) 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit [of God], so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum[g] I have finished preaching the gospel of Christ. 20 Thus I aspire[h] to proclaim the gospel not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on another’s foundation,(P) 21 but as it is written:(Q)

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
    and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”[i]

Paul’s Plans; Need for Prayers. 22 That is why I have so often been prevented from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any opportunity in these regions and since I have desired to come to you for many years,(R) 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain and to be sent on my way there by you, after I have enjoyed being with you for a time.(S) 25 [j]Now, however, I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones.(T) 26 For Macedonia and Achaia[k] have decided to make some contribution for the poor among the holy ones in Jerusalem;(U) 27 they decided to do it, and in fact they are indebted to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to serve them in material blessings.(V) 28 So when I have completed this and safely handed over this contribution to them, I shall set out by way of you to Spain; 29 and I know that in coming to you I shall come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

30 I urge you, [brothers,] by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in the struggle by your prayers to God on my behalf,(W) 31 that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judea, and that my ministry for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the holy ones, 32 so that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and be refreshed together with you. 33 The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.(X)

Footnotes

  1. 15:3 Liberation from the law of Moses does not make the scriptures of the old covenant irrelevant. Much consolation and motivation for Christian living can be derived from the Old Testament, as in the citation from Ps 69:10. Because this psalm is quoted several times in the New Testament, it has been called indirectly messianic.
  2. 15:5 Think in harmony: a Greco-Roman ideal. Not rigid uniformity of thought and expression but thoughtful consideration of other people’s views finds expression here.
  3. 15:7–13 True oneness of mind is found in pondering the ultimate mission of the church: to bring it about that God’s name be glorified throughout the world and that Jesus Christ be universally recognized as God’s gift to all humanity. Paul here prepares his addressees for the climactic appeal he is about to make.
  4. 15:10 Paul’s citation of Dt 32:43 follows the Greek version.
  5. 15:14–33 Paul sees himself as apostle and benefactor in the priestly service of the gospel and so sketches plans for a mission in Spain, supported by those in Rome.
  6. 15:14 Full of goodness: the opposite of what humanity was filled with according to Rom 1:29–30.
  7. 15:19 Illyricum: Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic.
  8. 15:20 I aspire: Paul uses terminology customarily applied to philanthropists. Unlike some philanthropists of his time, Paul does not engage in cheap competition for public acclaim. This explanation of his missionary policy is to assure the Christians in Rome that he is also not planning to remain in that city and build on other people’s foundations (cf. 2 Cor 10:12–18). However, he does solicit their help in sending him on his way to Spain, which was considered the limit of the western world. Thus Paul’s addressees realize that evangelization may be understood in the broader sense of mission or, as in Rom 1:15, of instruction within the Christian community that derives from the gospel.
  9. 15:21 The citation from Is 52:15 concerns the Servant of the Lord. According to Isaiah, the Servant is first of all Israel, which was to bring the knowledge of Yahweh to the nations. In Rom 9–11 Paul showed how Israel failed in this mission. Therefore, he himself undertakes almost singlehandedly Israel’s responsibility as the Servant and moves as quickly as possible with the gospel through the Roman empire.
  10. 15:25–27 Paul may have viewed the contribution he was gathering from Gentile Christians for the poor in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Cor 8–9) as a fulfillment of the vision of Is 60:5–6. In confidence that the messianic fulfillment was taking place, Paul stresses in Rom 14–16 the importance of harmonious relationships between Jews and Gentiles.
  11. 15:26 Achaia: the Roman province of southern Greece.
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Romans 15
Tree of Life Version

15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the powerless and not just please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, for building him up. 3 For even Messiah did not please Himself, but as it is written, “The insults of those who insulted You have fallen on Me.” [a] 4 For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. [b] 5 Now may the God of patience and encouragement grant you to be like-minded with one another in the manner of Messiah Yeshua, 6 so that together with one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

Salvation for Gentiles Too

7 Therefore accept one another just as Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God. 8 For I declare that Messiah has become a servant to the circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy. As it is written,

“For this reason I will give You praise among the Gentiles,
    and I will sing to Your name.”[c]

10 And again it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”[d]

11 And again,

“Praise Adonai all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples praise Him.”[e]

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“There shall be a shoot of Jesse;
    and the One who arises to rule the Gentiles,
    in Him shall the Gentiles hope.”[f]

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and shalom in trusting, so you may overflow with hope in the power of the Ruach ha-Kodesh.

14 Now I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and also able to counsel one another. 15 But I have written rather boldly to you on some points as a reminder—because of the grace given to me by God 16 to be a servant of Messiah Yeshua to the Gentiles, in priestly service to the Good News of God—so that the offering up of the Gentiles might be pleasing,[g] made holy by the Ruach ha-Kodesh.

17 So in Messiah Yeshua, I have reason to boast before God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Messiah accomplished through me, to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem and around even to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the Good News of Messiah. 20 In this way I make it my aim to proclaim the Good News not where Messiah was already named, lest I build on another person’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told shall see,
    and those who have not heard shall understand.”[h]

Going to the Ends of the Earth

22 For this reason I was often hindered from coming to you. 23 But now with no place in these regions, and since I have had a desire for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you while traveling through when I go to Spain—and to be helped on my journey there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a bit.

25 But now I am going to Jerusalem, bringing aid to the kedoshim. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are under obligation to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they also ought to serve them in material blessings. 28 So when I have finished delivering the collection safely to them, I will head for Spain by way of you. 29 Now I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Messiah.

30 Now I urge you, brethren, through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and through the love of the Ruach, to press on together with me—with prayers to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I might be rescued from the unbelieving Judeans, and that my service for Jerusalem might be acceptable to the kedoshim. 32 Then, God willing, I may come to you in joy, and together with you find rest.

33 Now may the God of shalom be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:4 Ps. 69:9(68:10 LXX).
  2. Romans 15:5 cf. Ps. 119:9, 11, 105; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
  3. Romans 15:9 2 Sam. 22:50; Ps. 18:49(17:50 LXX).
  4. Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43(LXX).
  5. Romans 15:11 Ps. 117:1(116:1 LXX).
  6. Romans 15:12 Isa. 11:10.
  7. Romans 15:16 cf. Mal. 3:4; Isa. 66:20.
  8. Romans 15:21 Isa. 52:15(LXX).
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.