Romanos 15

The Example of Christ

1 *[Gal. 6:1] We who are strong *1 Thess. 5:14;See ch. 14:1have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 *1 Cor. 10:33;[1 Cor. 9:19,22;10:24;Phil. 2:4]Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For *Phil. 2:5,8;[John 5:30;6:38] Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, *Cited from Ps. 69:9"The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." 4 For *ch. 4:23whatever was written in former days was written for our *2 Tim. 3:16instruction, that through endurance and through *Ps. 119:50the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you *See ch. 12:16to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify *2 Cor. 1:3;Eph. 1:3;1 Pet. 1:3;[John 20:17;Eph. 1:17;Rev. 1:6]the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

8 For I tell you that Christ *Matt. 15:24;John 1:11;[Heb. 3:1]; See Acts 3:26became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order *[ch. 4:16;2 Cor. 1:20]to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order *See ch. 3:29that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

*Cited from 2 Sam. 22:50;Ps. 18:49"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

and sing to your name."

10 And again it says,

*Cited from Deut. 32:43"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."

11 And again,

*Cited from Ps. 117:1"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and let all the peoples extol him."

12 And again Isaiah says,

*Cited from Isa. 11:10*Isa. 11:1;[Rev. 5:5;22:16] "The root of Jesse will come,

even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

*Matt. 12:21in him will the Gentiles hope."

13 May the God of hope fill you with all *[ch. 5:1,2;14:17]joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 *[2 Pet. 1:12;3:1;1 John 2:21] I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,*15:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 30 that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with *1 Cor. 1:5;13:2;[1 Cor. 8:1,7,10;12:8]all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, *See ch. 1:5because of the grace given me by God 16 to be *See ch. 11:13a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles *[Mal. 1:11] in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that *Isa. 66:20;[Phil. 2:17]the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have *Phil. 3:3reason to be proud of *Heb. 2:17;5:1my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except *Acts 15:12;21:19;Gal. 2:8what Christ has accomplished through me *See ch. 1:5to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 *2 Cor. 12:12;[Acts 19:11] by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that *Acts 22:17-21from Jerusalem and all the way around *[Acts 20:1,2]to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, *[2 Cor. 10:13,15,16]lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

*Cited from Isa. 52:15"Those who have never been told of him will see,

and those who have never heard will understand."

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

22 This is the reason why *ch. 1:13;[1 Thess. 2:18]I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and *ver. 29, 32;ch. 1:10,11;Acts 19:21since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go *ver. 28to Spain, and *See Acts 15:3to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, *Acts 19:21;20:22;21:15;24:17;[ver. 31]I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For *1 Cor. 16:1-4;2 Cor. 8:1;9:2,13Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed *1 Cor. 9:11;[Gal. 6:6]they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,*15:28 Greek sealed to them this fruit I will leave *ver. 24for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing*15:29 Some manuscripts insert of the gospel of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by *[Phil. 2:1;Col. 1:8] the love of the Spirit, *Col. 4:12;[2 Cor. 1:11;Col. 2:1,2;Heb. 13:18]to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 *2 Thess. 3:2;[2 Tim. 3:11;4:17] that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that *2 Cor. 8:4my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and *[1 Cor. 16:18;2 Cor. 7:13;Philem. 7,20]be refreshed in your company. 33 May *ch. 16:20;2 Cor. 13:11;Phil. 4:9;1 Thess. 5:23;Heb. 13:20;[1 Cor. 14:33;2 Thess. 3:16]the God of peace be with you all. Amen.