1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.2Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up.3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’ (Ps 69:9)4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind towards each other that Christ Jesus had,6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[1] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed9and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.’[2] (2Sa 22:50; Ps 18:49)10Again, it says, ‘Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.’ (De 32:43)11And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.’ (Ps 117:1)12And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.’[3] (Isa 11:10)13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul the minister to the Gentiles
14I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.15Yet I have written to you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done –19by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.21Rather, as it is written: ‘Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’[4] (Isa 52:15)22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Paul’s plan to visit Rome
23But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,24I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and that you will assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there.26For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.28So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.30I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.31Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favourably received by the Lord’s people there,32so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.33The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 15
English Standard Version
The Example of Christ
1We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (Ro 14:1; Ga 6:1; 1Th 5:14)2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (1Co 9:19; 1Co 9:22; 1Co 10:24; 1Co 10:33; Php 2:4)3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (Ps 69:9; Joh 5:30; Joh 6:38; Php 2:5; Php 2:8)4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Ps 119:50; Ro 4:23; 2Ti 3:16)5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (Ro 12:16)6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Joh 20:17; 2Co 1:3; Eph 1:3; Eph 1:17; 1Pe 1:3; Re 1:6)7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, (Mt 15:24; Joh 1:11; Ac 3:26; Ro 4:16; 2Co 1:20; Heb 3:1)9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” (2Sa 22:50; Ps 18:49; Ro 3:29)10And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” (De 32:43)11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” (Ps 117:1)12And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” (Isa 11:1; Isa 11:10; Mt 12:21; Re 5:5; Re 22:16)13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Ro 5:1; Ro 14:17)
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,[1] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (1Co 1:5; 1Co 8:1; 1Co 8:7; 1Co 8:10; 1Co 12:8; 1Co 13:2; 2Pe 1:12; 2Pe 3:1; 1Jo 2:21)15But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God (Ro 1:5)16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Isa 66:20; Mal 1:11; Ro 11:13; Php 2:17)17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. (Php 3:3; Heb 2:17; Heb 5:1)18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, (Ac 15:12; Ac 21:19; Ro 1:5; Ga 2:8)19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; (Ac 19:11; Ac 20:1; Ac 22:17; 2Co 12:12)20and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, (2Co 10:13; 2Co 10:15)21but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (Isa 52:15)
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. (Ro 1:13; 1Th 2:18)23But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, (Ac 19:21; Ro 1:10; Ro 15:29; Ro 15:32)24I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. (Ac 15:3; Ro 15:28)25At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. (Ac 19:21; Ac 20:22; Ac 21:15; Ac 24:17; Ro 15:31)26For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. (1Co 16:1; 2Co 8:1; 2Co 9:2; 2Co 9:13)27For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. (1Co 9:11; Ga 6:6)28When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[2] I will leave for Spain by way of you. (Ro 15:24)29I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[3] of Christ.30I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, (2Co 1:11; Php 2:1; Col 1:8; Col 2:1; Col 4:12; Heb 13:18)31that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, (2Co 8:4; 2Th 3:2; 2Ti 3:11; 2Ti 4:17)32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. (1Co 16:18; 2Co 7:13; Phm 1:7; Phm 1:20)33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Ro 16:20; 1Co 14:33; 2Co 13:11; Php 4:9; 1Th 5:23; 2Th 3:16; Heb 13:20)