Romans 15

1 Those of us who are spiritually strong ought to support those who are spiritually weak. We shouldn't just please ourselves.

We, then, who are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 We should all encourage others to do what's morally right, building them up.

Wherefore, let every one of us please his neighbor, as far as it is good for edification.

3 Christ didn't live to please himself, but as Scripture says of him, “The insults of those who abused you have fallen on me.”

For even Christ sought not his own pleasure: but, as it is written, "The reproaches of them who reproached you, have fallen on me."

4 These Scriptures were written down in the past to help us understand, and to encourage us so that we could wait patiently in hope.

Now whatever things were before written, were written for our instruction: that through the patience and admonition of the scriptures, we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives patience and encouragement help you to be in full agreement among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

Now, may the God who gives patience and admonition, give to you mutual unity of sentiment, according to Christ Jesus.

6 so that you can with one mind and with one voice together glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

That with one mind, and with one voice, you may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 So accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, and give God the glory.

Wherefore, cordially receive one another; even as Christ also has received us to the glory of God.

8 I maintain that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show God tells the truth, keeping the promises he made to their forefathers.

Now, I affirm that Jesus Christ became a minister of the circumcision on account of the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises made to the fathers;

9 He also came that foreigners could praise God for his mercy, as Scripture says, “Therefore I will praise you among the foreigners; I will sing praises to your name.”

and that the Gentiles might praise God on account of mercy: as it is written, "For this cause I will glorify thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name."

10 And also: “Foreigners, celebrate with his people!”

And again he says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."

11 And again: “All you foreigners, praise the Lord, let all peoples praise him.”

And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and extol him, all you people."

12 And again, Isaiah says, “Jesse's descendant will come to rule the nations, and foreigners will put their hope in him.”

And again, Isaiah says, to be a leader of the Gentiles; upon him shall the Gentiles place their hope."

13 May the God of hope completely fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you will overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Now, may the God of hope fill you with all joy, and peace, in believing; in order that you may abound in that hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 I'm convinced that you, my brothers and sisters, are full of goodness, and that you are filled with every kind of knowledge, so you are well able to teach one another.

However, my brethren, I myself am persuaded concerning you, that you also are full of goodness, being filled with all knowledge; able, also, to instruct one another.

15 I've been blunt in the way I have written to you about some of these things, but this is just to remind you. For God gave me grace

But, I have written the more boldly to you, brethren; partly, as calling things to your remembrance through the favor which is given me of God.

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the foreigners, like a priest sharing God's good news, so that they could become an acceptable offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit.

In order to my being a minister of Jesus Christ, among the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that there might be an offering of the Gentiles most acceptable; being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 So even though I have something to boast about because of my service for God,

I have, therefore, glorifying, through Christ Jesus, with respect to things pertaining to God.

18 (I wouldn't dare talk about any of this except as Christ has done it through me), I have led foreigners to obedience through my teaching and demonstration,

But, I will not dare to speak anything of what Christ has not wrought; but, of what he has wrought, by me, in order to the obedience of the Gentiles in word and deed;

19 through the power of signs and miracles done with the Holy Spirit's power. From Jerusalem all the way over to Illyricum, everywhere I've shared fully the good news of Christ.

by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Holy Spirit: so that from Jerusalem, and round about, as far as Illyricum, I have fully declared the gospel of Christ;

20 In fact I was keen to spread the good news in places that hadn't heard the name of Christ, so that I wouldn't be building on what others have done.

and so, also, that I was strongly desirous to declare the gospel where Christ was not named, that I might not build on another's foundation.

21 As Scripture says, “Those who haven't been told the good news will discover him, and those who haven't heard will understand.”

But, as it is written, "They shall see, to whom nothing has been told concerning him; and they who have not heard, shall understand."

22 That's why I was prevented so many times from coming to see you.

For which reason, also, I have been greatly hindered from coming to you.

23 But now, as there's nowhere left here to work, and since I've looked forward to visiting you for many years,

But now, having no more place in these parts, and having for many years a strong desire to come to you,

24 when I go to Spain I hope to see you when I pass through. Maybe you can give me some help for my journey once we've enjoyed some time together.

whensoever I go toward Spain, I hope, as I pass on, to see you, and to be brought on my way thither by you, when I shall first, in some measure, be satisfied with your company.

25 At the moment I'm on my way to Jerusalem to help the believers there,

But now I go to Jerusalem, ministering to the saints;

26 because the believers in Macedonia and Achaia thought it was a good idea to send a contribution to the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.

for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem.

27 They were happy to do this because they're in their debt. Now that foreigners are sharing their spiritual benefits, they owe it to the Jewish believers to help them in material things.

They have been pleased, indeed; and their debtors they are: for if the Gentiles have partaken of their spiritual things, they ought certainly to minister to them in temporal things.

28 So once I've done this, and have safely delivered this contribution to them, I'll visit you on my way to Spain.

Wherefore, having finished this affair, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will go from thence by you into Spain.

29 I know that when I come, Christ will give us his full blessing.

And I know when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30 I want to encourage you, my brothers and sisters through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join together in praying hard for me.

Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me, by prayers for me to God;

31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea. Pray that my work in Jerusalem will be welcomed by the believers there.

that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judea; and that my service, which I am performing for Jerusalem, may be acceptable to the saints:

32 Pray that I will come to you with gladness, as God wills, so we can enjoy one another's company.

that in joy I may come to you, through the will of God, and may be refreshed among you.

33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.