Beginning
Unity in Community
14 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of disputes about opinions. 2 One person has faith to eat anything, but the weak eats only vegetables. 3 Don’t let the one who eats disparage the one who does not eat, and don’t let the one who does not eat judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and none dies for himself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this reason Messiah died and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But you, why do you judge your brother?[a] Or you too, why do you look down on your brother? For we all will stand before the judgment seat of God. [b] 11 For it is written,
“As I live, says Adonai,
every knee shall bow to Me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.”[c]
12 So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another from now on, but rather decide this—not to put a stumbling block or a trap in the way of a brother. 14 I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Yeshua, that nothing is unholy in itself; but it is unholy for the one who considers it unholy. [d] 15 For if your brother is grieved on account of food, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy by your food the one for whom Messiah died. 16 Therefore do not let what is good for you be spoken of as evil— 17 for the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and shalom and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh. 18 For the one who serves Messiah in this manner is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19 So then let us pursue what makes for shalom and for the building up of one another. [e] 20 Stop tearing down the work of God for the sake of food. Indeed all things are clean, but wrong for the man who by eating causes stumbling. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith you have, keep it to yourself before God. How fortunate is the one who does not condemn himself for what he approves. 23 But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not of faith. And whatever is not of faith is sin.
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.” [f] 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. [g] 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.”[h]
10 And again it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”[i]
11 And again,
“Praise Adonai all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise Him.”[j]
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.”[k]
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,[l] 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.”[m]
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.
Welcome the Apostolic Team
16 Now I recommend to you our sister Phoebe—who is a servant-leader of Messiah’s community at Cenchrea— 2 so you may receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of kedoshim, and help her in whatever matter she may need from you. For she herself has become a patroness of many, including me as well.
3 Greet Prisca[n] and Aquila, my fellow workers in Messiah Yeshua, 4 who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I give them thanks, but also all of Messiah’s communities among the Gentiles. 5 Greet also the community that meets in their house. Greet Epaenetus whom I dearly love, who is the first fruit in Asia[o] for Messiah.
6 Greet Miriam, who has worked hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kin and fellow prisoners who are well known[p] among the emissaries. They were in Messiah before me.
8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I dearly love in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Messiah, and Stachys whom I dearly love.
10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Messiah. Greet those from the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those from the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis whom I dearly love, who has worked hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother—who was also a mother to me.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them.
15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, also Olympas and all the kedoshim with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All of Messiah’s communities greet you. 17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eye on those who are causing divisions and stumbling blocks, contrary to the teaching that you learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such people do not serve our Lord the Messiah, but only their own belly. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 Your obedience has become known to all, so I rejoice over you—but I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. 20 Now the God of shalom will soon crush satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Yeshua be with you.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kin.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, host to me and the whole community, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and so does brother Quartus.[q]
Closing Blessing
25 Now to the One who is able to strengthen you according to my Good News and the proclamation of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages 26 but now is revealed and through the Writings of the Prophets has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God to bring about obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah, to Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.