Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
15 We who are ·strong in faith [L strong] should ·help [bear with; be patient with] the weak with their ·weaknesses [failings; struggles], and not please only ourselves. 2 Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to ·help them be stronger in faith [edify them; build them up]. 3 [L For] Even Christ did not live to please himself. It was as the Scriptures said: “·When people insult you, it hurts me [L The insults of those who insulted you have fallen on me; Ps. 69:9].” 4 [L For] Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us ·patience [endurance] and encouragement so that we can have hope. 5 May ·the patience and encouragement that come from God [L the God of patience and encouragement] ·allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants [or grant you the same attitude with each other that Christ Jesus had]. 6 ·Then [L …so that] ·you will all be joined together and [L together with one voice/mouth] you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept each another, just as Christ accepted you. ·This will bring glory to God [or In this way Christ brought glory to God; L …to the glory of God]. 8 [L For] I tell you that Christ became a servant of the ·Jews [L circumcised] to ·show [confirm] that God’s promises to the ·Jewish ancestors [patriarchs; fathers] are true. 9 And he also did this so that the Gentiles could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. [L Just as] It is written in the Scriptures:
“So I will ·praise [confess] you among the ·Gentiles [nations].
I will sing ·praises [psalms] to your name [Ps. 18:49].”
10 ·The Scripture also [L And again it] says,
“·Be happy [Rejoice; Celebrate], you ·Gentiles [nations], together with his people [Deut. 32:43].”
11 ·Again the Scripture says [L And again],
“All you ·Gentiles [nations], praise the Lord.
All you people, sing praises to him [Ps. 117:1].”
12 And [L again] Isaiah says,
“·A new king will come from the family of Jesse [The root of Jesse will come/sprout; C Jesse was the father of King David].
He will ·come [rise up] to rule over the ·Gentiles [nations],
and they will ·have hope because of [put their hope in] him [Is. 11:10].”
13 I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with ·much [L all] joy and peace ·while you trust [because you trust; through your faith] in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul Talks About His Work
14 My brothers and sisters, I am ·sure [fully convinced] that you are [indeed] full of goodness. I know that you ·have all the knowledge you need [L are filled with all knowledge] and that you are able to ·teach [instruct; admonish; warn] each other. 15 But I have written to you very ·openly [boldly] about some ·things [points; L parts] I wanted you to remember. I did this because ·God gave me this special gift [or of the grace God gave me]: 16 to be a ·minister [servant] of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I ·served God [or perform priestly service] ·by teaching his Good News [for the Good News/Gospel of/about God], so that the Gentiles could be an offering that God would accept—an offering ·made holy [sanctified; purified] by the Holy Spirit.
17 So I ·am proud [have a reason to boast] of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus. 18 I will not [dare] talk about anything except what Christ has done through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done, 19 because of the power of ·miracles [signs] and ·the great things they saw [wonders; marvels], ·and because of [or acccomplished through] the power of the Spirit of God. I have ·finished my work of preaching [fulfilled my commission to preach; or fully preached] the ·Good News [Gospel] from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum [C a Roman province northwest of Macedonia; modern Albania, Serbia and Montenegro]. 20 [So; In this way] I always ·want [or try; make it my ambition] to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] in places where ·people have never heard of Christ [L Christ has not been named], ·because I do not want [or in order not] to build on the ·work someone else has already started [L foundation of others]. 21 But [L as; just as] it is written in the Scriptures:
“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard about him will understand [Is. 52:15].”
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is the reason I was ·stopped [hindered; or delayed] many times from coming to you. 23 [L But] Now I have ·finished my work here [L no more place (to work) in these regions]. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you, 24 I hope to visit you [while passing through] on my way to Spain. After I enjoy being with you for a while, I hope you can ·help [assist; support] me on my trip. 25 Now I am going to Jerusalem to ·help [minister to; provide a service for] ·God’s people [T the saints]. 26 The believers in Macedonia [C northern Greece] and Achaia [C southern Greece] were ·happy [pleased; or resolved] to ·give their money to help [make a contribution to; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Cor. 8—9] the poor among ·God’s people [T the saints] at Jerusalem. 27 They were ·happy [pleased; or resolved] to do this, and really they ·owe it [L are debtors] to them. These Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, so they should use their material ·possessions [or blessings] to ·help the Jews [L render service to them]. 28 [L Therefore] After I have completed this collection and ·delivered the money safely to them [L sealed this fruit for them; C uncertain idiom, likely indicating secure packaging or safe arrival of cargo], I will leave for Spain and stop and visit you. 29 I know that when I come to you ·I will bring Christ’s full blessing [or Christ will richly bless our time together; L I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing].
30 Brothers and sisters, I ·beg [urge; encourage] you to ·help [join; strive together with] me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love ·that the Holy Spirit gives us [L of the Spirit]. 31 Pray that I will be ·saved [rescued; delivered] from the nonbelievers in Judea and that ·this help I bring [my ministry/service] to Jerusalem will ·please [be acceptable to; be well received by] ·God’s people [T the saints] there. 32 Then, ·if God wants me to [by God’s will], I will come to you with joy, and together you and I will ·have a time of rest [be refreshed]. 33 [Now may] The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.
Greetings to the Christians
16 I ·recommend [commend] to you our sister Phoebe, who is a ·helper [or servant; or minister; or deacon; 1 Tim. 3:11] in the church in Cenchrea [C Phoebe may have been the messenger carrying this letter]. 2 I ask you to ·accept [welcome] her in the Lord in the way ·God’s people should [worthy of the saints]. Help her with anything she needs, because she has ·helped [been a benefactor/patron to] many people, ·including [or especially] me.
3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila [Acts 18:2, 18, 26], ·who work together with me [L my coworkers] in Christ Jesus 4 and who risked their own ·lives [neck] ·to save [L for] my life. I am thankful to them, and [L not only I, but] all the Gentile churches are thankful as well. 5 Also, greet for me the church that meets at their house.
Greetings to my dear friend Epenetus, who was the ·first person in Asia to follow Christ [L firstfruit of Asia for Christ]. 6 Greetings to Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greetings to Andronicus and Junia [C Junia is probably a woman’s name, though not certainly], my ·relatives [or fellow Jews], ·who were in prison with me [and fellow prisoners]. They are ·very important [prominent; or well known to/among the] apostles. They were believers in Christ before I was. 8 Greetings to Ampliatus, my ·dear [beloved] friend in the Lord. 9 Greetings to Urbanus, a worker together with me for Christ. And greetings to my ·dear [beloved] friend Stachys. 10 Greetings to Apelles, ·who was tested and proved that he truly loves Christ [or a proven servant of Christ; L approved in Christ]. Greetings to all those who are in the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greetings to Herodion, my ·fellow citizen [or fellow Jew; or relative]. Greetings to all those in the family of Narcissus who ·belong to [L are in] the Lord. 12 Greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, ·women who work very hard for [L laborers in] the Lord. Greetings to ·my dear friend [the beloved] Persis, who also has worked very hard ·for [L in] the Lord. 13 Greetings to Rufus, who is ·a special person [L chosen] in the Lord, and to his mother, who has been like a mother to me also. 14 Greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and all the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15 Greetings to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and to all ·God’s people [T the saints] with them. 16 Greet each other with a holy kiss. All of Christ’s churches send greetings to you.
17 Brothers and sisters, I ·ask [urge; encourage] you to look out for those who cause ·divisions [dissension] and who ·upset other people’s faith [create obstacles/stumbling blocks]. ·They [or Such things] are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving our Lord Christ but are ·only doing what pleases themselves [serving their own appetites/L bellies]. They use ·fancy [smooth] talk and ·fine words [flattery] to ·fool [deceive] the ·minds of those who do not know about evil [L hearts of the innocent/naive]. 19 All the believers have heard ·that you obey [about your obedience/faithfulness], so I ·am very happy [rejoice] because of you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
20 The God ·who brings [L of] peace will soon ·defeat Satan and give you power over him [crush Satan under your feet; Gen. 3:15].
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy [Acts 16:1–2; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2], ·a worker together with me [my coworker], sends greetings, as well as Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my ·relatives [or fellow Jews].
22 I am Tertius, and I am writing this letter from Paul [C Tertius was the scribe, or amanuensis, to whom Paul was dictating the letter]. I send greetings to you in the Lord.
23 Gaius [1 Cor. 1:14; Acts 19:29] is ·letting me and the whole church here use his home [L host to me and to the whole church; C churches met in homes at this time]. He also sends greetings to you, as do Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus. |24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.|[a]
25 ·Glory to God [L Now to the one] who can make you strong in faith ·by [or in accord with] ·the Good News that I tell people [L my Gospel] and ·by [or in accord with] the ·message [preaching; proclamation] about Jesus Christ. The message about Christ is the ·secret [mystery; 11:25] that was hidden for long ages past but is now ·made known [revealed; disclosed]. 26 It has been ·made clear [revealed; disclosed] through the writings of the prophets. And by the command of the eternal God it is ·made known [revealed; disclosed] to all ·nations [Gentiles] ·that they might believe and obey [or for the obedience that follows faith; L for the obedience of faith].
27 To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
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