Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves
1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, 15:1 Rm 14:1; Gl 6:2; 1Th 5:14 and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 15:2 1Co 9:22; 10:24,33; 2Co 13:93 For even Christ did not please himself. 15:3 2Co 8:9 On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 15:3 Ps 69:9, 15:3 Ps 69:94 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, 15:4 Rm 4:23; 2Tm 3:16 so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives 15:5 Lit God of endurance and encouragement 15:5 2Co 1:3 grant you to live in harmony with one another, 15:5 Rm 12:16 according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 15:6 Rv 1:6 with one mind and one voice.
Glorifying God Together
7 Therefore welcome one another, 15:7 Rm 14:1 just as 15:7 Or because Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised 15:8 The Jews on behalf of God’s truth, 15:8 Mt 15:24; Ac 3:26 to confirm the promises to the fathers, 15:8 Rm 4:16; 2Co 1:209 and so that Gentiles 15:9 Rm 3:29; 11:30 may glorify God for his mercy. 15:9 Mt 9:8 As it is written,
Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and I will sing praise to your name. 15:9 2Sm 22:50; Ps 18:49, 15:9 2Sm 22:50; Ps 18:49
10 Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people! 15:10 Dt 32:43, 15:10 Dt 32:4311 And again,
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples praise him! 15:11 Ps 117:1, 15:11 Ps 117:1
12 And again, Isaiah says,
The root of Jesse 15:12 Rv 5:5; 22:16will appear,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
the Gentiles will hope in him. 15:12 Is 11:10, 15:12 Is 11:10; Mt 12:21
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe 15:13 Rm 14:17 so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 15:13 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5
From Jerusalem to Illyricum
14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, 15:14 Eph 5:9; 2Th 1:11 filled with all knowledge, 15:14 1Co 1:5; 8:1,7,10; 12:8; 13:2 and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points 15:15 Other mss add brothers because of the grace given me by God 15:15 Rm 12:316 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, 15:16 Ac 9:15; Rm 11:13 serving as a priest of the gospel of God. 15:16 Rm 1:1 God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, 15:16 Rm 12:1; Eph 5:2; Php 2:17 sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus 15:17 Php 3:3 regarding what pertains to God. 15:17 Heb 2:17; 5:118 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me 15:18 Ac 15:12; 21:19; Rm 1:5; 2Co 3:5 by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, 15:19 Jn 4:48 and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem 15:19 Ac 22:17–21 all the way around to Illyricum. 15:19 A Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, 15:19 Ac 20:120 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, 15:20 Rm 1:15; 10:15 so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, 15:20 1Co 3:10; 2Co 10:15–1621 but, as it is written,
Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand. 15:21 Is 52:15, 15:21 Is 52:15
Paul’s Travel Plans
22 That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you. 15:22 Rm 1:13; 1Th 2:1823 But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, 15:23 Lit now, having no longer a place in these parts and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you 15:23 Ac 19:21; Rm 1:1024 whenever I travel to Spain. 15:24 Other mss add I will come to you. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, 15:24 Ac 15:3 once I have first enjoyed your company 15:24 Rm 1:12 for a while. 25 Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem 15:25 Ac 19:21 to serve the saints, 15:25 Ac 24:1726 because Macedonia 15:26 Ac 16:9; 1Co 16:5; 2Co 1:16; 2:13; 7:5; 8:1; 9:2,4; 11:9; Php 4:15; 1Th 1:7; 4:10; 1Tm 1:3 and Achaia 15:26 Ac 18:12; 19:21 were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, 15:27 1Co 9:11 then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs. 28 So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds 15:28 Lit delivered this fruit to them, 15:28 Or and placed my seal of approval on this fruit for them, 15:28 Jn 3:33 I will visit you on the way to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing 15:29 Other mss add of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, 15:30 Gl 5:22; Col 1:8 to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. 15:30 2Co 1:11; Col 4:1231 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, 15:31 2Co 1:10; 2Th 3:2; 2Tm 3:11; 4:17 that my ministry to 15:31 Lit that my service for Jerusalem 15:31 2Co 8:4; 9:1 may be acceptable to the saints, 15:31 Ac 9:13; Rm 15:1532 and that, by God’s will, 15:32 Ac 18:21; Rm 1:10 I may come to you with joy 15:32 Rm 15:23 and be refreshed together with you.
33 May the God of peace be with all of you. 15:33 Rm 16:20; 2Co 13:11; Php 4:9; 1Th 5:23; 2Th 3:16; Heb 13:20 Amen.