The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

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- Chapter 15 -

But we who are stronger must bear with the feebleness of the weak, and not so as to please ourselves.

Each one of you should please his neighbor unto good, for edification.

For even Christ did not please himself, but as it was written: “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell upon me.”

For whatever was written, was written to teach us, so that, through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

So may the God of patience and solace grant you to be of one mind toward one another, in accord with Jesus Christ,

so that, together with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

For this reason, accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you, in the honor of God.

For I declare that Christ Jesus was the minister of circumcision because of the truth of God, so as to confirm the promises to the fathers,(a)

and that the Gentiles are to honor God because of his mercy, just as it was written: “Because of this, I will confess you among the Gentiles, O Lord, and I will sing to your name.”

And again, he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, along with his people.”

And again: “All Gentiles, praise the Lord; and all peoples, magnify him.”

And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, and in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

So may the God of hope fill you with every joy and with peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope and in the virtue of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

But I am also certain about you, my brothers, that you also have been filled with love, completed with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another.

But I have written to you, brothers, more boldly than to the others, as if calling you to mind again, because of the grace which has been given to me from God,

so that I may be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God, in order that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and may be sanctified in the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, I have glory in Christ Jesus before God.

So I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ does not effect through me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles, in word and deed,

with the power of signs and wonders, by power of the Holy Spirit. For in this way, from Jerusalem, throughout its surroundings, as far as Illyricum, I have replenished the Gospel of Christ.

And so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was known by name, lest I build upon the foundation of another,

but just as it was written: “Those to whom he was not announced shall perceive, and those who have not heard shall understand.”

Because of this also, I was greatly hindered in coming to you, and I have been prevented until the present time.

Paul’s Travel Plans

(1 Corinthians 16:5–9)

Yet truly now, having no other destination in these regions, and having already had a great desire to come to you over the past many years,

when I begin to set out on my journey to Spain, I hope that, as I pass by, I may see you, and I may be guided from there by you, after first having borne some fruit among you.

But next I will set out for Jerusalem, to minister to the saints.

For those of Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a collection for those of the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.

And this has pleased them, because they are in their debt. For, since the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they also ought to minister to them in worldly things.

Therefore, when I have completed this task, and have consigned to them this fruit, I shall set out, by way of you, to Spain.

And I know that when I come to you I shall arrive with an abundance of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ.

Therefore, I beg you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Holy Spirit, that you assist me with your prayers to God on my behalf,

so that I may be freed from the unfaithful who are in Judea, and so that the oblation of my service may be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem.

So may I come to you with joy, through the will of God, and so may I be refreshed with you.

And may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)15:8 Minister of the circumcision:That is, executed his office and ministry towards the Jews, the people of the circumcision.(Challoner)

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.

For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”(a)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,(b) to the glory of God.

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,

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.”(c)

Again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”(d)

Again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him.”(e)

Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”(f)

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.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers,(g) that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.

But I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,

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.

I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.

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,

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;

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.

But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.”(h)

Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,

Paul’s Travel Plans

(1 Corinthians 16:5–9)

but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,

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.

But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

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.

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.

When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.

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,

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,

that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)15:3 ℘ Psalms 69:9

(b)15:7 TR reads “us” instead of “you”

(d)15:10 ℘ Deuteronomy 32:43

(e)15:11 ℘ Psalms 117:1

(f)15:12 ℘ Isaiah 11:10

(g)15:14 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(h)15:21 ℘ Isaiah 52:15