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.
1But we who are stronger must bear with the feebleness of the weak, and not so as to please ourselves2Each one of you should please his neighbor unto good, for edification3For even Christ did not please himself, but as it was written: "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell upon me.4For whatever was written, was written to teach us, so that, through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures, we might have hope5So may the God of patience and solace grant you to be of one mind toward one another, in accord with Jesus Christ6so that, together with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ7For this reason, accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you, in the honor of God8For I declare that Christ Jesus was the minister of circumcision because of the truth of God, so as to confirm the promises to the fathers9and 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.10And again, he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, along with his people.11And again: "All Gentiles, praise the Lord; and all peoples, magnify him.12And 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.13So 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 Spirit14But 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 another15But 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 God16so 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 Spirit17Therefore, I have glory in Christ Jesus before God18So 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 deed19with 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 Christ20And so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was known by name, lest I build upon the foundation of another21but just as it was written: "Those to whom he was not announced shall perceive, and those who have not heard shall understand.22Because of this also, I was greatly hindered in coming to you, and I have been prevented until the present time23Yet truly now, having no other destination in these regions, and having already had a great desire to come to you over the past many years24when 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 you25But next I will set out for Jerusalem, to minister to the saints26For those of Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a collection for those of the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem27And 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 things28Therefore, when I have completed this task, and have consigned to them this fruit, I shall set out, by way of you, to Spain29And I know that when I come to you I shall arrive with an abundance of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ30Therefore, 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 behalf31so 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 Jerusalem32So may I come to you with joy, through the will of God, and so may I be refreshed with you33And may the God of peace be with you all. Amen
Share this chapter