Romanos 15

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.