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New Testament
Romans 15
Serve One Another As Christ Served You
151We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for the good purpose of building him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who are insulting you fell on me.”[]
4Indeed, whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we would have hope. 5And may God, the source of patient endurance and encouragement, grant that you agree with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that with one mind, in one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7For this reason, accept one another as Christ also accepted you to the glory of God. 8For I am saying that Christ became a servant of those who are circumcised for the sake of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs. 9He also did this so that the Gentiles would glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
For this reason I will praise you among the Gentiles,
10And again it says:
11And again:
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
12And again Isaiah says:
There will be a Root of Jesse,
and he is the one who will rise up to rule the Gentiles;
13Now may the God of hope fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul's Goal: To Bring Christ's Name Where It Was Not Known
14I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are also full of goodness, filled with complete knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15But I have written a letter to you (rather boldly at times) as a reminder to you, because of the grace God has given me 16to be a public minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I am to do the priestly work of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles would be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17Therefore I have a reason to boast in Christ Jesus about my service to God. 18For I will not dare to speak about anything except those things Christ accomplished through me that resulted in the Gentiles' obedience. Christ accomplished them by word and deed, 19along with the power of signs and wonders done by the power of God's[] Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. 20And so I consider it an honor to proclaim the gospel where Christ's name is not known, so that I may not build on another man's foundation. 21Instead, as it is written:
Those who were not told about him will see,
Paul Hopes to Come to Rome on His Way to Spain
22This is also the reason I have been prevented many times from coming to you. 23But now I no longer have a place to work in these regions, and I have longed for many years to come to you. 24So when I go to Spain, I hope to visit you on my way. After I have enjoyed being with you for a while, I hope that you will help me on my journey there.
25Right now I am going to Jerusalem bringing assistance[] to the saints. 26For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27Indeed, they were pleased to do this and, to be sure, they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then the Gentiles owe it to them to serve them with material things.
28So, after I complete this project by delivering this fruit safely to them, I will set out for Spain and visit you on the way. 29And I know that when I come to you, I will arrive with the full blessing of Christ.[]
30Now I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to struggle with me in prayers to God on my behalf. 31Pray that I may be rescued from those in Judea who are disobedient and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32so that by God's will I may come to you in joy and be refreshed in your company.
33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- 15:3 Psalm 69:9
- 15:9 Psalm 18:49
- 15:10 Deuteronomy 32:43
- 15:11 Psalm 117:1
- 15:12 Isaiah 11:10
- 15:19 Some witnesses read the Holy.
- 15:21 Isaiah 52:15
- 15:25 Or ministering to the saints
- 15:29 Some witnesses to the text read the full blessing of the gospel of Christ.