Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves

15 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength,(A) and not to please ourselves. Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.(B) For even Christ did not please himself.(C) On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.[a](D) For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction,(E) so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. Now may the God who gives[b] endurance and encouragement(F) grant you to live in harmony with one another,(G) according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ(H) with one mind and one voice.

Glorifying God Together

Therefore welcome one another,(I) just as[c] Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:3 Ps 69:9
  2. 15:5 Lit God of
  3. 15:7 Or because

Living to Please Others

15 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”[a] Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:3 Greek who insult you have fallen on me. Ps 69:9.