New Testament in a Year
Paul’s Desire to Take the Gospel to the Whole World
14 I myself am convinced,[a] my brothers, that you yourselves are filled with goodness and full of all the knowledge you need to be able to instruct each other. 15 However, on some points I have written to you rather boldly, both as a reminder to you and because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of the Messiah[b] Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering brought by gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore, in the Messiah[c] Jesus I have the right to boast about my work for God. 18 For I am bold enough to tell you only about what the Messiah[d] has accomplished through me in bringing gentiles to obedience. By my words and actions, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit,[e] I have fully proclaimed the gospel of the Messiah[f] from Jerusalem as far as Illyricum. 20 My one ambition is to proclaim the gospel where the name of the Messiah[g] is not known, so I don’t[h] build on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written,
“Those who were never told about him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”[i]
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as I’ve desired to do for many years. 24 Now that I am on my way to Spain, I hope to see you when I come your way and, after I have enjoyed your company for a while, to be sent on by you.
25 Right now, however, I’m going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints, 26 because the believers in[j] Macedonia and Achaia have been eager to share their resources with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were eager to do this, and in fact they are obligated to help them, for if the gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to be of service to them in material things.
28 So when I have completed this task and have put my seal on this contribution of theirs, I will visit you on my way to Spain. 29 And I know that when I come to you I will come with the full blessing of the Messiah.[k]
30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[l] and by the love that the Spirit produces, to join me in my struggle, earnestly praying to God for me 31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that if it’s God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
Doxology
33 Now may the God who grants[m] peace be with all of you! Amen.
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