1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak,
and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for
that which is good, to be building him up. 3 For even Christ didn’t please
himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you
fell on me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for
our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and of
encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to
Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received
you,*1 to the glory of God. 8 Now
I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth
of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and
that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles,
And sing to your name.”
10 Again he says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 Again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Let all the peoples praise him.”
12 Again, Isaiah says,
“There will be the root of Jesse,
He who arises to rule over the Gentiles;
On him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 I
myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers*2 , that you yourselves are full
of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.
15 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because
of the grace that was given to me by God, 16 that I should be a servant of
Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that
the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the
Holy Spirit. 17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things
pertaining to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except
those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by
word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s
Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have
fully preached the gospel of Christ; 20 yes, making it my aim to preach
the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on
another’s foundation. 21 But, as it is written,
“They will see, to whom no news of him came.
They who haven’t heard will understand.”
22 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,
23 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these
many years a longing to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I
will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my
way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But
now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26 For it has
been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution
for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27 Yes, it has been
their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have
been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to
serve them in fleshly things. 28 When therefore I have accomplished this,
and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
29 I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the
blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of
the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for
me, 31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea,
and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the
saints; 32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and
together with you, find rest. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all.
Amen.
1 TR reads “us” instead of “you”
2 The word for
“brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated
“brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
|
|
