The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”(a)

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”(b)

Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”(c)

And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.”(d)

And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”(e)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.

I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,

by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God.(f) So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”(g)

That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Travel Plans

(1 Corinthians 16:5–9)

But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,

I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.

For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.

So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing

(h)

of Christ.

Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,

so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.(i)

Footnotes

(a)15:3 Psalms 69:9

(b)15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalms 18:49

(d)15:11 Psalms 117:1

(e)15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see also LXX)

(f)15:19 SBL the power of the Spirit; NE and WH the power of the Holy Spirit

(g)15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see also LXX)

(h)15:29 TR and BYZ include of the gospel.

(i)15:33 Some manuscripts do not include Amen. One early manuscript places the text of Romans 16:25–27 here.

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.

For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”(a)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,(b) to the glory of God.

Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,

and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.”(c)

Again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”(d)

Again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him.”(e)

Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”(f)

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.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers,(g) that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.

But I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,

that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.

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,

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 Good News of Christ;

yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.

But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.”(h)

Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,

Paul’s Travel Plans

(1 Corinthians 16:5–9)

but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,

whenever I travel 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.

But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

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.

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 material things.

When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.

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,

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,

that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.

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

Footnotes

(a)15:3 ℘ Psalms 69:9

(b)15:7 TR reads “us” instead of “you”

(d)15:10 ℘ Deuteronomy 32:43

(e)15:11 ℘ Psalms 117:1

(f)15:12 ℘ Isaiah 11:10

(g)15:14 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(h)15:21 ℘ Isaiah 52:15