Romans 15
The strong should bear with the weak and not please themselves, but rather their neighbors for edification. Christ did not please himself, but rather bore the reproaches of those who reproached God. The Gentiles are to honor God because of his mercy, and the God of hope is to fill them with joy and peace in believing. The apostle Paul expresses his confidence in the Romans' love and knowledge, and he writes to them as a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God. Paul also expresses his desire to visit the Romans on his way to Spain, and he asks for their prayers that he may be freed from the unfaithful in Judea and that his service may be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem.
But we who are stronger must bear with the feebleness of the weak, and not so as to please ourselvesEach one of you should please his neighbor unto good, for edificationFor 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 hopeSo may the God of patience and solace grant you to be of one mind toward one another, in accord with Jesus Christso that, together with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus ChristFor this reason, accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you, in the honor of GodFor I declare that Christ Jesus was the minister of circumcision because of the truth of God, so as to confirm the promises to the fathersand 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 SpiritBut 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 anotherBut 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 Godso 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 SpiritTherefore, I have glory in Christ Jesus before GodSo 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 deedwith 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 ChristAnd so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was known by name, lest I build upon the foundation of anotherbut 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 timeYet truly now, having no other destination in these regions, and having already had a great desire to come to you over the past many yearswhen 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 youBut next I will set out for Jerusalem, to minister to the saintsFor those of Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a collection for those of the poor among the saints who are at JerusalemAnd 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 thingsTherefore, when I have completed this task, and have consigned to them this fruit, I shall set out, by way of you, to SpainAnd I know that when I come to you I shall arrive with an abundance of the blessings of the Gospel of ChristTherefore, 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 behalfso 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 JerusalemSo may I come to you with joy, through the will of God, and so may I be refreshed with youAnd may the God of peace be with you all. Amen
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