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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.

Please Others, Not Yourselves

15 Now we who are strong ought to be patient with the weaknesses of those who are not strong and must stop pleasing ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building him up. For even the Messiah[a] did not please himself. Instead, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[b] For everything that was written long ago was written to instruct us, so that we might have hope through the endurance and encouragement that the Scriptures give us.[c]

Now may God, the source of endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other as you follow the Messiah[d] Jesus,[e] so that with one mind and one voice you might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[f]

Therefore, accept one another, just as the Messiah[g] accepted you,[h] for the glory of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:3 Or Christ
  2. Romans 15:3 Cf. Ps 69:9
  3. Romans 15:4 Lit. of the Scriptures
  4. Romans 15:5 Or Christ
  5. Romans 15:5 Lit. according to the Messiah Jesus
  6. Romans 15:6 Or Christ
  7. Romans 15:7 Or Christ
  8. Romans 15:7 Other mss. read us