15
1 Now
we who are
strong ought to
bear the weaknesses
of the weak, and
not to please
ourselves.
2 Let each
one of us please
his neighbor for
that which is
good, to be
building him up.
3 For
even Christ didn’t
please himself. But,
as it is
written, “The
reproaches of
those who
reproached you
fell on me.”
4 For
whatever things
were written
before were
written for our
learning, that
through perseverance
and through
encouragement of
the Scriptures we
might have hope.
5 Now
the God of
perseverance and
of encouragement
grant you to
be of the
same mind with
one another
according to
Christ Jesus,
6 that
with one accord
you may with
one mouth glorify
the God and
Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore
accept one another,
even as Christ
also accepted
you,
to the glory
of God.
8 Now
I say that
Christ has been
made a servant
of the
circumcision for
the truth of God,
that he
might confirm the
promises given to
the fathers,
9 and
that the Gentiles
might glorify God
for his mercy.
As it is
written,
“Therefore I will
give praise to
you among the
Gentiles
and sing to
your name.”
10 Again
he says,
“Rejoice, you
Gentiles, with his
people.”
11 Again,
“Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles!
Let all the
peoples praise
him.”
12 Again,
Isaiah says,
“There will be
the root of
Jesse,
he who arises
to rule over the
Gentiles;
in him the
Gentiles will
hope.”
13 Now
may the God
of hope fill
you with all
joy and peace
in believing, that
you may abound
in hope in
the power of
the Holy Spirit.
14 I
myself am also
persuaded about
you, my brothers,
that you
yourselves are
full of goodness,
filled with all
knowledge, able
also to admonish
others.
15 But
I write the
more boldly to
you in part
as reminding you,
because of the
grace that was
given to me
by God,
16 that
I should be
a servant of
Christ Jesus to
the Gentiles, serving
as a priest
of the Good
News of God,
that the offering
up of the
Gentiles might be
made acceptable, sanctified
by the Holy
Spirit.
17 I
have therefore my
boasting in Christ
Jesus in things
pertaining to God.
18 For
I will not
dare to speak
of any things
except those which
Christ worked through
me for the
obedience of the
Gentiles, by word
and deed,
19 in
the power of
signs and wonders,
in the power
of God’s Spirit;
so that from
Jerusalem and
around as far
as to Illyricum,
I have fully
preached the Good
News of Christ;
20 yes, making
it my aim to
preach the Good
News, not where
Christ was already
named, that I
might not build
on another’s
foundation.
21 But,
as it is
written,
“They will see,
to whom no news
of him came.
They who haven’t heard
will understand.”
22 Therefore
also I was
hindered these
many times from
coming to you,
23 but
now, no longer
having any place
in these regions,
and having these
many years a
longing to come
to you,
24 whenever
I travel to Spain,
I will come
to you. For
I hope to
see you on
my journey, and
to be helped
on my way
there by you,
if first I
may enjoy your company
for a while.
25 But
now, I say, I
am going to
Jerusalem, serving
the saints.
26 For
it has been
the good pleasure
of Macedonia
and Achaia to make
a certain
contribution for
the poor among
the saints who are
at Jerusalem.
27 Yes,
it has been
their good
pleasure, and they
are their debtors.
For if the
Gentiles have
been made partakers
of their spiritual
things, they owe
it to them
also to serve them
in material things.
28 When
therefore I have
accomplished this,
and have sealed
to them this
fruit, I will
go on by
way of you
to Spain.
29 I
know that when
I come to
you, I will
come in the
fullness of the
blessing of
the Good News of
Christ.
30 Now
I beg you,
brothers, by our
Lord Jesus Christ
and by the love
of the Spirit,
that you strive
together with me
in your prayers
to God for
me,
31 that
I may be
delivered from
those who
are disobedient in
Judea, and that
my service which
I have for
Jerusalem may be
acceptable to
the saints,
32 that
I may come
to you in
joy through the
will of God,
and together with
you, find rest.
33 Now
the God of
peace be with
you all. Amen.